Equipment

Compared to consumer-grade audio equipment, professional audio equipment tends to have such characteristics as:

• Greater mechanical robustness and reliability
• Many more options for "tweakability" and modification than typical consumer grade equipment. For example, whereas a typical home audio grade active subwoofer may have a factory set-audio crossover to determine at which point the audio signal will be routed to the subwoofer and a factory preset phase control and equalizer setting, pro audio active subwoofers (with built-in amplifiers and electronics) may offer adjustable crossover points, user-selectable phase control and equalizer controls[a]
• Heavy-duty industrial-grade connectors, e.g. XLR balanced audio cables (for audio signals) rather than unbalanced cables and Speakon speaker connectors, rather than 1/4" speaker jacks
• Designed for touring and transportation. This includes the use of 19-inch rack-mount devices for electronic effects units and power amplifiers, the provision of handles and/or dolly wheels on heavy equipment to facilitate moving gear onstage (large speaker enclosure cabinets for subwoofers and sound reinforcement system main speakers typically have handles and wheels)
• Balanced audio interfaces (XLR) for lower noise and hum
• Higher analog audio signal levels of 0 dBu or more[3]
• AES/EBU digital audio interfaces
• Lower-noise audio equipment with less Total Harmonic Distortion

The broadcast quality of professional audio equipment is on a par with that of consumer high-end audio and hi-fi equipment, but is more likely to be designed purely on sound engineering principles and owes little to the consumer-oriented audiophile sub-culture.[4]