The Genesis of the DR300: A Solution to Unmet Needs
Audio engineer Bill Fitzmaurice designed the DR300. It’s more than just another loudspeaker; it’s a meticulously engineered solution that addresses a gap in the professional audio market. Its creation stemmed from the absence of a commercially available product that could simultaneously meet demanding performance, size, weight, and cost requirements. This wasn’t about incremental improvement, but achieving a previously impossible combination of attributes.
Specific Design Goals: The Foundation of the DR300
Specific technical parameters drove the DR300’s design. All had to be met concurrently:
- Frequency Response: It needed a precise operating range, with ±3dB tolerance from 80Hz to 12kHz, ensuring broad and accurate sound reproduction.
- Sensitivity: It required a high average sensitivity of 108dB/watt, enabling high sound pressure levels (SPL) with less power.
- Peak Output Capability: It had to reach a peak output of 135dB, demonstrating its ability to handle high-volume audio without distortion.
- Size and Weight Constraints: It needed to be lightweight (under 100 pounds) and compact (no more than 12 cubic feet) for easy transport and setup.
- Cost Effectiveness: It needed to be achievable at under $2,000, making high-performance audio accessible.
These weren’t mere aspirations; they drove the DR300’s development. The fact that no existing speaker system could meet all these criteria simultaneously highlights the DR300’s innovative design.
Key Features and Performance: Unmatched Capabilities
The DR300’s design translates into unmatched performance characteristics:
- Unrivaled Combination: It uniquely combines efficiency, bandwidth, output capability, size, weight, and versatility.
- Superior Output: It offers a remarkable 135dB long-term low-frequency output capability, 7dB higher than the benchmark EAW KF760, meaning significantly louder low-frequency sounds without distortion.
- Power Efficiency: It achieves this high performance with only an 800-watt amplifier, compared to the EAW KF760’s 2000-watt requirement.
- Amplification: As a two-way system, it requires only two power amplifiers, unlike the EAW KF760’s three, simplifying setup and reducing costs.
- Crossover Flexibility: You can run the DR300 with a passive crossover, offering greater amplifier configuration versatility, an option unavailable with the EAW system.
- Compact and Lightweight: Despite its powerful output, the DR300’s cabinet volume (approximately 30x24x28 inches) is similar to the EAW KF760, but significantly lighter, weighing less than half as much.
- High-Quality Components: The 1m/1W SPL chart, featuring one Eminence 3012HO Twelve and two NSD2005 HF drivers, reflects its performance.
Scalability and Venue Suitability: Tailored for Large Venues
The DR300 scales to accommodate different crowd sizes:
- 6 cabinets: 800-1600 people
- 8 cabinets: Up to 3000 people
- 12 cabinets: Up to 5000 people
- 16 cabinets: Up to 8000 people
However, its narrow dispersion, long-throw design makes it most effective when positioned at a distance from the audience and projected to a specific area. It’s not recommended for venues with a minimum speaker-to-audience distance of less than thirty feet, or fewer than 800 seats.
Cost and Value: A High-Performance Speaker Without the High-End Price
The DR300’s estimated retail value of $4499 positions it firmly in the high-end market.
Subwoofer Pairing: Enhancing the Low End
For optimal performance, the DR300 pairs seamlessly with the following subwoofers:
- Tuba 30
- Tuba 60
- Titan 48
In Conclusion
The DR300 is a carefully engineered loudspeaker designed to meet specific performance criteria unmet by other products. It provides high output and wide bandwidth with high power efficiency, scaling for different venue sizes. Its long-throw design makes it suitable for larger venues. The DR300 offers a unique combination of performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, setting a new standard in the professional audio market.