A truly portable array system. Excellent, highly versatile design. Fresh back from Frankfurt and Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound 2016, we ran this hands-on test, which we had already started a few days before leaving. This type of portable array has evolved enormously over the past year. The show floor was flooded with systems in this category, built around a powerful subwoofer with an integrated mixer, plus a vertical column or satellites for mids and highs. The trick is that they have to sound good, be “affordable for what they offer,” provide good coverage and intelligibility and, finally, be easy to transport.
Unboxing
This is the way we like to get to know gear best: opening the box and assembling the instrument, system or product with our own hands. Skipping the marketing copy about its virtues and really putting it through its paces to see what happens and how it behaves. The infamous economic crisis has meant that not everyone can send products to the labs for testing, whether for lack of new releases, stock or other reasons. So whenever we test equipment live, we take comfort in knowing exactly what we're talking about because we've been able to see it, touch it and try it out for you.
One of the things I've always liked about this company is its attention to detail: attractive, sturdy packaging, manuals in our language, carefully executed finishes and, above all, durability. I can tell they're genuinely concerned with offering users a good product at a competitive price.
We were in Frankfurt for Musikmesse and Prolight + Sound, shows that by now everyone knows as the most important in Europe, and perhaps the world. The presence of the LD Systems brand and its manufacturer Adam Hall was especially bright, big and eye-catching this time. They took up more space at their PLS2016 stand, with an overwhelming amount of floor space and product, and they were also present in the Musikmesse halls.
The product we're reviewing today, its development and design, is in line with this presence of the brand on the world stage: more brilliant, efficient, visible and energetic every day. In our test room, the CURV 500 arrived perfectly packed in a box only slightly bigger than the subwoofer itself. In a jiffy we unboxed it and had the system ready. It really took just a few minutes, thanks to a plug-and-play system that makes setup as simple as putting together 4 or 5 pieces of a big Lego set.
The Design
As I mentioned above, this type of portable P.A. has proliferated lately. It started with the Maui series (at this company) and, in parallel, with other brands on the market, such as the prestigious BOSE. By now, almost every self-respecting manufacturer has developed systems with this architecture. So it seems those of us who use them like the format: powerful, portable and suited to a wide variety of events and situations.
The CURV 500 stands out especially for its design, which won the German Design Award 2016.
For the tests, we set up a Maui 5 and, right next to it, the CURV500. It was a good way to see how one has evolved from the other in height, weight and the natural quality of the sound. What I find most appealing about the CURV 500's portability is how easy its satellites are to store and carry; they're built as small 12 x 12 cm cubes that barely take up any space.
The Maui systems already featured vertical columns that assembled in two pieces (making them easier to transport), but in our opinion this version is more practical. Also, because the array satellites are stackable cubes with two positions (angles), we can fine-tune the coverage: the ideal one for our audience, depending on where we are and the type of event (lots of bass pressure and loudness, or a priority on good speech intelligibility, and so on).
Its modular system (micro-cubes) also lets you organize the signal output in many different ways: stacked, or with satellites in various positions that enhance the stereo image and the number of sound sources. In short, it's a highly versatile rig for small functions, gigs, conferences, meetings and moderately sized events in general.
System Features
The CURV 500® Entertainer Set consists of a 10" bass-reflex subwoofer and an easily configurable array with four satellites. It delivers 460 W RMS and a peak SPL of 128 dB. It's a compact array that can be expanded with up to 4 satellites interconnected via the SmartLink® adapter. At just 12 x 12 cm, the array satellites incorporate LD Systems' WaveAhead® technology.
The arrangement of one 4" driver and three 1" drivers delivers a coherent, highly detailed sound with great power and dynamics.
The 10" bass-reflex subwoofer houses a Class D amplifier with limiter and short-circuit, overheating and overvoltage protection, plus a 4-channel mixer with 16 digital effects presets and Bluetooth®. The combo and speakON-compatible connectors offer plenty of connectivity options; the subwoofer also has 4 digital presets, an M20 threaded socket and 3 ergonomic handles.
The Entertainer Set can be used in a stereo configuration with up to eight array satellites (four per side at most). This option is particularly useful for speech applications, when bass reproduction isn't a priority. It provides clarity, transparency and the typical advantages of array systems that speakers and presenters especially appreciate. With the Power Extension Set, the Entertainer Set can be expanded for even more low-frequency output, like the powerful Power Set. In addition to the subwoofer with mixer and four satellites, the CURV 500® Entertainer Set includes a SmartLink® adapter, an extension pole and the speaker cable.
Sound
We connected several sources to the mixer built into the subwoofer. There are two channels with input level and treble and bass EQ, plus an effect level knob (a DSP processor with several effects is included). We also tried an iPhone connected via Bluetooth and by cable to hear the differences, on its channels ¾ (mono or stereo as the case may be). For setting up a quick party with no cables and at full blast, the system plus Bluetooth and an iPad is perfect.
With the two main knobs for master volume and sub volume, we can set up an overall mix of everything connected, adjusting the bass and treble (via the channel EQs) and channel volume with quite a bit of flexibility, as well as the subwoofer's presence in the final signal depending on the sound we need. The results of our tests were truly satisfying. I think LD Systems stands out especially in its range of small P.A. products and portable systems, offering very competitive value for the money. The sound is powerful and round with plenty of low-end punch, though controlled as needed. The mids are quite natural and, to top it off, the highs add sparkle without harshness and carry speech and detail well.
Compared with the Maui 5, the CURV500 strikes us as somewhat more natural in the mids and less nasal. In our opinion it's a bit more versatile across different configurations and easier to transport.
Conclusions
We think it's one of LD Systems' most brilliant developments in portable P.A. It offers good sound quality for a competitive price and enough power for a small event, function or gig. It's well suited for speech, conferences, bass-heavy parties, a small instrumentalist's P.A. or a light band, and so on.
Its flexible setup, range of possibilities and easy transport round out this design, which in our eyes is one of the best from the company.
