Well, the team at LD Systems have done it again, delivering portability and flexibility to musicians and DJs who want quality sound. This time, it is their MAUI portable PA system that has seen a new addition to the line-up, with the MAUI 28 G3 Mix.
You can stop looking now. This is the portable PA system you’ve been searching for, with all the boxes ticked, and a big SPL from a compact unit. Get ready for bigger sound, better connectivity, and simpler setups with the MAUI G3 Mix range.
Whilst the range offers two models, available in both black and white housings, we’re focusing on the newest release today; it’s one many of you will want to get your hands on. The MAUI 28 G3 Mix is the big boy in the range, packing a solid 2060-watt peak power capable of crystal-clear audio with a 127db maximum SPL. Put simply, this thing is louder than you would expect at first glance. The narrow tower array has been carefully designed to give you the most air movement possible, without the bulk of larger boxes, and the 12” subwoofer housed in the base certainly ensures low frequencies are not left behind.
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Inside the tower, there are two 1” tweeters at the top. Then, an amazing mid-frequency array with twelve–yes, twelve–3.5” mid-frequency woofers running the length of the tower. They have filled up every inch within the framework to give you the fullest sound possible. It’s not just an empty plastic tube designed to make the unit look bigger or taller than it is. This thing is fully loaded, and you can hear the results when you’re out front. With an audience that is seated or standing, the sound covers the room, so that no one misses out. And if you need more, you can stereo link two MAUI 28 G3 Mix units for an impressive front-of-house system.
Designed to deliver a cardioid pattern of sound dispersion, the clever internal baffling ensures that the audience right in front of the system hears just as well as those out to the side of the room. The space in between two stereo-linked units is perfectly filled out, so there are no dead spots, except on the stage, so you’re not caught in a deafening feedback trap. This is helped with LD Systems BEM high-frequency waveguide and mid-range phase plugs, which are key elements to the performance of these towers, yet cleverly hidden away behind the grill. The structure of these components ensures a smooth delivery of the high and mid-range frequencies in the direction you need, with a smooth and silky crossover. The BEM waveguide ensures the high frequencies are dispersed vertically, to cover the room, so those in the front row don’t suffer from a bass-heavy mix. At no point is there a lack of definition.
The real genius with the MAUI 28 G3 Mix is its integrated 6-channel digital mixer. With a range of connection possibilities, including XLR, TRS and Bluetooth, you can build the mix to a basic level from the physical controls on the rear of the subwoofer, or deep dive with the included app using a tablet or smartphone as the interface. It’s available for iOS or Android, so no one’s left behind!
Here, you have a full host of features that can be accessed, including powerful DSP effects, the likes of which you don’t usually find on a portable PA system. Effects and monitor levels can be easily assigned to each channel, so you can build a foldback mix as well as a front of house mix, and apply effects to each channel as you need.
In Expert Channel Mode, you are able to make use of compression, gate, EQ and other features independently for each channel. And it’s not just a simple 3-band EQ with a vague preset mid-range curve–you get a full parametric-EQ with a visual interface on the touchscreen that will be familiar to anyone who uses computer recording software. You can really narrow in on the shape of the sound with the visual display as you let your ears tell you what works.
You can save your mix settings for easy recall at the next gig, and even store different mixes for different venues. This way, you can have your PA tuned into a room in a matter of moments, making bump-in all the more enjoyable.
When running two MAUI 28 G3 Mix systems in stereo with the Syslink feature, you not only double up on the speakers and the power, but on the inputs too. This allows you to connect more microphones or instruments to the system as you have additional physical inputs. The MAUI G3 Mix app then allows you to bring all inputs together into the one digital mixer (in both Expert and Easy Modes) so you can build bigger and fuller mixes.
Now, anyone on stage can take the role of the front of house engineer, the foldback engineer and the stage tech all at once—with the mixing desk hidden away in their pocket! This makes it easy to adjust the main or monitor mix at any stage during the night. Additional options for music streaming playback from Bluetooth devices can also be controlled, so you can easily run the entire evening.
The LD Systems MAUI 28 G3 Mix is the portable PA system that is going to make your friends jealous and leave your audience wanting more. Big sound, easy setup and full control is what it’s all about. You need to hear one of these systems for yourself, so you can understand just how those 15 drivers all come together. Get into your nearest LD Systems dealer today and demand a demonstration of the MAUI 28 G3 Mix. Hearing it in operation will have you wanting one, or probably a pair.
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