By Full Compass LiveIf you’re speaking at an engagement or event, you’ll need a clear and crisp sound so the audience can understand every word and pick up on every emotional cue. If you’re a DJDefinition:
(Disk Jockey): 1. Traditionally applied to people who played recorded music on the radio or at events. 2. Artists who perform using any combination of pre-recorded music, samples, turntables, and musical instruments. or a performer/musician, your audience needs to hear clear and punchy sound with powerful bass. The crowd needs to feel the music. Portable column array systems are a rapidly emerging category within the Pro Audio market. With a small and compact format, these portable column speakers are a convenient and interesting category. Because the size is fairly small, they are often misunderstood and purposed only for solo acts or acoustic duo projects. I found the Maui28G3 to be much more than a small solo-act system.
Fast Setup
Setting up the Maui28G3 was fast and easy. The subwooferDefinition:
A low-frequency speaker, typically optimized for response below 120 Hz, for augmenting full-range sound systems. simply plugs into the wall with a power cable. The low midrange column slips right into the top of the sub with 4 metal stakes. The high midrange column slips right on top of the low-mid column in the same way, and that’s it. In my test I used a small mixerDefinition:
Combiner, controller, and router for multiple audio or video signals. for my audio sources. I simply connected two XLR/mic cables from the mixer (left and right output) to the Maui28G3 (left and right input) was all set to play some music!
For the first test I used the BluetoothDefinition:
A short distance (less than 33 feet) wireless data transfer standard. It utilizes UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz. A similar but medium distance (less than 1000 feet) wireless data transfer standard is "Bluetooth 5.0". function on the Maui28G3 to playback some pre-recorded music. (I did not need to use the mixer for this function.) I held down the button for 4 seconds to activate the Bluetooth and connected my phone. On the back of the Maui there is a master volume to control the overall level. One of my favorite features on this system is the sub volume which allows for full control of subwoofer volume. I started with both volumes at 12 o’clock and adjusted them up and down until I found the ideal sound. Very simple, very clear, and great punch over a range of rock, pop, jazz, and hip-hop styles. The sub control really made it easy to dial in the ultimate sound for each track!
For my next test I plugged in an SM58 into channelDefinition:
1. In radio, television, citizen's band radio, and other wireless communications modes, a specific frequency for communication. 2. In mixers and video, an input or output signal path with controls. 3. In MIDI, one of 16 data paths. 1 of my mixer. I was amazed how loud and clear the sound was without any feedbackDefinition:
1. A squealing, chirping, or ringing sound when a microphone feeding a loudspeaker picks up audio from that loudspeaker. Also called howlround. 2. The state where a device's output connects back to the input. while standing right in front of the columns! I plugged an acoustic guitar into channel 2. Sound was crisp and full. The two 1" horns along with the 12" mids made my guitar sound more natural than I’ve ever heard it when plugged in to any other system. It reproduced the natural sound. My bassist plugged into channel 3 directly from his amplifierDefinition:
1. A device that increases the voltage or power of a signal. 2. In music performance, a device such as a guitar amplifier that includes speakers and controls to increase the sound level of acoustic or electric instruments. DIDefinition:
DI (Direct Injection): Also called Direct Instrument. A method of connecting a sound source, such as an electric or electronic instrument, directly to a recording or mixing device without a microphone.. The 12" sub sounded like a 15" and, again, was clear as a bell. The Nord keyboard went into channel 4. The piano was clean and pure while strings and organ patches shook the ground. Lastly, we used a D112 on our drum kit and a SM57 on snare. Kick was punchy and the snare cracked. I think this system really shines with live music. Once we were all plugged in, we ended up jamming for over an hour and never experienced any feedback or clipping–there was nothing but clear and enjoyable music that was heard throughout the neighborhood!
German Design
The Maui28G3 has many features that I haven’t seen in any other column array system. As I mentioned earlier, the separate sub volume control is unique and totally useful. In fact, I don’t know why all other speakers don’t offer this feature. The 12" sub is expandable. The simple sub output allows for another to be added. However, the cool thing is that you can select between cardioidDefinition:
A microphone's heart-shaped directional pickup pattern. mode on or cardioid mode off. With cardioid mode selected, you reverse the additional sub and point behind you. When this was selected, it added more sub and an additional 10db is pushed out of the front of the Maui28G3 with a tight and focused punch. When using the cardioid off mode, you face both subs towards the audience. This feature added bass with a different flair. I preferred the tight and punchy cardioid on function and couldn’t believe the difference in low-end performance.
The columns are equally unique. The back side of each column has a screen mesh so there’s almost no sound coming out of the back. Instead, sound is pushed out the front, keeping the stage silent behind the columns and allowing more SPLDefinition:
See Sound Pressure Level. out of the front end. I haven’t seen these on any other column arrays on the market. The bottom column has six 3.5" drivers. The top column has six additional 3.5" but with phaseDefinition:
Sound waves are variations in air pressure that, like water waves, have peaks and troughs. Phase is the waveform's position in its current cycle. For example, if two versions of the same waveform are both at their peak, or at their trough, they're considered in phase. If one is at its peak and one is at its trough, they are considered out of phase. If one is at its peak and the other is at zero (between the peak and trough), then the two waveforms are 90 degrees out of phase. See also: Polarity plugs/wave guides for a midrange separation and true full-range sound. Topped off with two 1" tweeters, this system really covers the gamut of frequencies, and the end result is crisp, clear, punchy bass that sounds much bigger than it looks. One thousand watts of true RMSDefinition:
(Root Mean Square) An accurate measurement of average power that can be produced by an amplifier, or consumed by a speaker, or generated by an audio signal.. and 120° of even dispersion make this system a full-on PADefinition:
(Public Address) A sound system intended to provide audio coverage to large groups of people. system that will shake the ground without being too loud while standing in front of the speakers (which is one of the most important selling features, in my opinion).
Takeaway
I was more than pleased with the sound of the Maui28G3. In my opinion, it’s the ultimate full-range column array. Easy to use, excellent build-quality, light and fast setup with a brilliant sound on all instruments and applications I tested.
I wouldn’t be afraid to use this system with a full band, a DJ, or at an event for up to 200-300 people.
