The DML500 is a very transparent audio reproduction device. The better the sound you send to it, the better it sounds. When the DML500 was released in 2019, we were using modern Class D amplifiers with built in DSP running at 48Khz and we felt that it sounded amazing.

About 3 years ago, we started driving DML500 with amplifiers from LEA Professional (now our partner) with onboard DSP running at 96Khz and many thought the DML500 was a version two, it sounded noticeably better in many ways.

What we are discovering is that the purer the sound you send to the DML500, the better the results you will hear.

Unfortunately, this can also work in reverse. We do receive contact from individuals who have an amplifier already, and they just want to upgrade their loudspeakers. Often they have an older amplifier, still working fine from 10 years ago or more. While this will work, and likely will give them a huge improvement especially over the similar vantage point-source loudspeakers they intend to replace, it can leave a lot of sonic benefit on the table. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Depending on the age, the amplifier in question may be an older Class A, Class B, or Class AB amp. While there's nothing inherently wrong with these amplifiers, due to their age, they capacitors are likely getting a little noisy, and any "hiss" that is generated by the amplifier will be clearly noticeable on the DML500 due to it's sonic transparency

  2. Amplifiers dating back from before Class D was the defect standard, likely are lower power amplifiers. Using DML500 in a live sound setting being driven by a 300 w/ch amplifier will rob you of the extra energy to faithfully reproduce those transient sounds like a snare drum hit. In addition, a 300 watt amplifier in most live sound settings will be running at or near max output - and max output is traditionally where amplifiers are at their worst point of distortion. A DML500 does not have measurable distortion, and so once again, we're leaving good sonic performance on the table. "But my amplifier says 1000w/ch?" Also be sure to read your amplifier's specifications carefully. The true output of your old Crown CE1000 is likely nowhere near 1000 w/ch.

  3. Perhaps you have a Class D amplifier with lots of watts, from a decade ago. The challenge now is that the DSP has come so far since then: it's become more accurate, with more detail than ever before. And if your amplifier is operating at 48Khz, there's even more to be had by 96k.

 

This is not even discussing modern amplifier capabilities, such as Dante or AES67—yet another thing in the signal chain that can help keep it as pure as possible.

Of course, we understand there are budget requirements at play driving your decisions - and if you are replacing your 20 year old point-source loudspeakers with DML500, even with an inferior amplifier, things will still sound better. Just know that you still have an opportunity to take your sound to the next level, once budget can be freed up to purchase a modern amplifier.