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]

	Created by Aleksandar Iliev over 6 years ago

Short description what the pro audio is