Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Walsh" <steve352@s...> wrote:
The z-5500d system is
> great for practice but it has 5 smaller speakers for 5.1 surround 
sound
> which means that it's not very practical for live gigs. If you get 
a chance,
> call up one of your local computer shops and see if they'll let you 
try the
> brain experiment before you purchase the z-2300 system. Let me know 
how it
> works out. If you decide against using a computer speaker system 
I'd suggest
> going with a powered mixer and speakers instead of just an amp. A 
powered
> mixer and speakers won't cost you that much and the mixer will have 
an
> equalizer that will help you get around distortion problems.

I have no intention to rain on this parade. I have the utmost respect 
for anything Keith has to say on any subject. But I do feel compelled 
to interject something on this topic just for the sake of 
comprehensiveness. I've never heard the Logitech systems, but as PC 
sound systems, they have inherent limitations in amplifier and 
speaker design that keep them from reproducing the sound of an e-kit 
with the authority of professional amps/speakers. I would think that 
they would suffer comparatively in volume and in bass response (with 
the related problems of distortion and accuracy). Although the sub on 
the Logitech is rated to 30 Hz, Logitech doesn't say anything about 
how flat the frequency curve is. You may be think that you are 
getting strong low bass, but the common practice of many speaker 
manufacturers (professional and consumer) is to boost response at 80 
Hz or so to give the illusion of deep bass. Anyone who's heard full 
flat bass down to 20-30 Hz will not be fooled by exaggerated output 
in the mid-bass. 

The most recent amplification that I've tried is the Bose PAS system, 
which, believe me, is far more robust than the Logitech system. It is 
rated to reach a flat 40 hz with sub boxes that, although modest in 
size, are much heftier than the Logitech sub. I tested the frequency 
response myself, using two subwoofers in the system. The subs were 
flat at 40 Hz, as advertised. They still had some energy at 31.5, 
decidedly less at 25, and none at 20. Anyone who's interested can do 
their own test of the Logitech's frequency response using an AVIA, 
Digital Video Essentials, Sound & Vision, Stereophile, or any other 
test disk. Kick drums and toms at a genuine 40 Hz can be thunderous; 
they certainly are on the Bose. The designers of the PAS made the 
conscious decision to limit bass to that frequency, since going 
deeper would require much much more size and power. Although the 
DTXpress could probably take advantage of such an extension, the Bose 
is hardly at a loss as is.

On paper, the Logitech's specs (the ones published, anyway) are 
similar to those of the Yamaha 50 watt satellite/100 watt sub 
monitors, which experienced users have not reviewed favorably--and 
unlike the Logitech, the Yamaha was manufactured to work expressly 
with e-drums' transients and bass, which are punishing even on 
dedicated home audio systems. I do not doubt that the Logitech system 
will generate enough volume and punch to satisfy many users (at 
home), and, at the price, that would be great. But it might be a 
mistake to leave the impression that it gives an accurate impression 
of an e-kit's power and glory. 

Although Steve's alternate suggestion of a powered mixer and speakers 
again might be a satisfactory way to monitor the kit for many users, 
the same caveat applies. Depending on the model of powered 
mixer/speakers, the limiting factor in this configuration could be 
the amp section in the mixer, which may not be adequate to the 
DTXpress full capacity (unless it cost considerably more than the 
Logitech). Frankly, however, I think that it may have more to offer 
in certain respects. 

This seems like a good thread to pursue. Agree?

Ed