Pro Audio processors-- is LAKE worth the $$?

[akxx]

In looking at the following processors:

LAKE Contour Pro 26
Ashley Protea 2.24C
BSS Audio FDS 366
XTA DP226

The LAKE is significantly more expensive than the others, but features some so-called "proprietary feautures" such as:
"ISO-float ground isolation"
Ethernet Port
"SmaartLive integration"
"40-bit floating point"
"Raised Cosine Filter"
"Linear Phase X-over"

My questions:
Do these "unique features" truly distinguish the LAKE from the others from a real, operational standpoint?
How so?

Responses from those who 1) have real experiences with these processors or 2) have heard second hand would be greatly appreciated!

[xstatic]

Actually, I believe the XTA and the BSS offer transformer isolated outputs as well, integrate easily with Smaart Live, and have linear phase crossover options as well. I have used all of those processors you listed. Of those, I would remove the Ashly from the list. In my opinion it just does not sound as good. As far as the others go, it's a real toss up. Personally I like the control software for the XTA's the best, but I have not used the new BSS software yet since all of my BSS crossovers are a few years old now. If someone were buying me one I would choose the XTA first, BSS second, Lake third, Klark Teknik fourth, DBX driverack fifth, and Ashly sixth.

They are all very usable though. I think the biggest difference between the sound of the BSS, XTA and Lake is going to be...

first... the person configuring them
second... the system they are running

In my opinion there are a lot of variables that will come in to play before the difference in sound quality between does or doesn't become an issue. If the Lake costs that much more, I would look at the BSS (it should be the most affordable of the three).

[akxx]

xstatic, thanks for sharing your experience...
Did you get to use the Tablet PC interface on the Lake? I'm curious if that becomes a significant differentiator. The Lake is ~$1000 more than the XTA.

Are the "Brick wall" crossovers (180dB) unique to the Lake? (And practically speaking, are they significantly useful over the standard filters?)

[xstatic]

I really have no idea whether or not the brick wall crossovers are specific to Lake, but I also don't think that would be all that "musical" either. I have not used the tablet PC with the Lake yet, but most companies offer a similar functionality now adays. Especially with all the complicated networks that people setup nowadays.

[flattop100]

I've never seen any other company brag about 180db/octave crossovers. I'm thinking that's a Lake exclusive.

I'd love to hear what that sounds like.

[akxx]

What's amazing is that they are able to achieve these steep curves with zero phase shift(!!).

Combined with their MESA assymetrical filters (seperate curves for low and high ends of the filter), it seems that they have a unique advantage in the market.

Anyone else think these are industry-leading features? Especially anyone with first-hand experience, please chime in!

[xstatic]

Every company seems to have "gimmicks" that make their equipment "better" than the competitors. Some times those things are an advantage, but more often than not they are either something very minor in the scheme of things, or are something very similar to competing products with a diiferent title on it to catch attention. I have yet to run into anyone that would not be very happy with either Lake, BSS, or XTA.

[DAS]

I haven't used these products, but I do have a ton of live sound experience (It's just that I haven't done much recently - day job and all...). The "idea" of very steep filters with no phase shift is intriguing to me. Not having multiple (different types of) drivers covering the same frequency ranges (around the x-over point) is bound to be an improvement in some set ups.

[akxx]

XSTATIC--I tend to think along your lines of "same gimmick, different name" However, I am trying to educate myself to see if some of these features may indeed be unique.

While I discovered that the XTA also allows asymetric filtering, I have yet to discover a filter that provides as steep slopes with zero phase shift that the Lake offers. It appears that there just may be something to their proprietary linear phase, "raised cosine" filter.

[xstatic]

Possibly. It is also possible that it is just that, a gimmick. It's quite poosible that a filter that steep just doesn't sound that good in a typical cabinet or a typical musical environment. I do know that BSS has some new crossover filters that are a little steeper, but not out to 180 db. Plus, even a 36 db roll off is pretty darned steep. But I could be wrong and it might be new technology and sound great:)

[dpd]

High rate digital filters and linear phase just require lots of computing horsepower which seems to be in abundance these days.

As far as 'asymmetric' goes, my best guess is that they have developed a very high order set of Linkwitz-Riley filters. These filters are constant power across the crossover transition frequency range. Constant power means flat overall speaker response through the crossover region.

The other good thing about high order filters is that the beaming of the speaker shouldn't tilt up/down due to the phasing between the low/high frequency drivers in the crossover region - this is a classic problem in the design of loudspeaker crossovers.

Another cool thing is that the high rate filters do an incredible job of limiting the bandwidth required of each driver. That means higher power handling by the drivers themselves and lower distortion.

I've heard a couple of the 1st audiophile active DSP crossovers on dynamic driver speaker systems and let me tell you, they are the real deal. You'd be amazed at what they can do to a simple pair of two-way speakers.