PA amplifiers

	The model SH-727 trolley-type wireless PA amplifier from China’s Betterway supports multimedia interfaces.

Product development is undeterred by the line’s maturity. Suppliers explore emerging economies as export markets.

Product development in China’s mature professional A/V equipment industry is not as prolific as it was prior to the global financial crunch in 2H08. As such, the country has fallen behind other hubs, including Japan and South Korea, which benefit from higher technological know-how.

Most China-made products, as a result, fall under the entry-level and midrange categories. Some companies, however, have models that boast enhanced or advanced features and better price-to-performance ratio. These enterprises have overseas backing or some form of relationship with electronics giants such as Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.

Amid these challenges, R&D efforts are continuous, albeit minimal. Recent targets include multifunctionality, low power consumption, enhanced form factors and appearance, and better quality.

This has enabled many companies to prepare for a shift toward the midrange and high end. The last comes in light of projections of stronger demand for upscale models although orders from traditional shipping points such as Europe and North and South America are currently slow.

For now, suppliers are focusing on several emerging markets, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East. To spur orders, makers are planning to lower prices slightly in the next six to 12 months. Falling component costs also play a key role in this undertaking.

China’s selection of professional A/V equipment includes audio mixers and amplifiers, PA systems and speakers, crossovers and analyzers, DMX controllers, smoke machines, and disco and stage lights. Products meet CE, FCC, CB, UL and RoHS requirements.

More than 70 percent of audio mixers produced in China are analog. Models have four to 64 input channels with mainstream units boasting 12 to 16. Other common specifications include 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response, three or four EQ bands per input channel, and a master bus with multiband EQ processor.

In general, entry-level products have four to 12 input channels, 70dB S/N ratio, two EQ bands per input channel and built-in phantom power.

Midrange audio mixers have 12 to 24 input channels, 80dB S/N ratio, three EQ bands per input channel, built-in phantom power and amplifiers.

Units with 24 to 64 input channels, 90dB S/N ratio and at least three EQ bands per input channel are considered high-end. They also have one or two master bus with multiband EQ and digital effects processors and amplifiers.

China-made PA amplifiers, systems and speakers cater to a niche market that includes owners of venues that can hold large crowds, and educational, military and religious institutions. Prices have remained competitive even as makers offer mostly midrange and high-end models.

Featured suppliers said all-in-one or integrated systems will be the trend in the next 12 months. Models may have cassette, CD, VCD, DVD and MP3 players, FM/AM receivers, A/V out, an SD/MMC/MS/CF card slot and a USB port. They are also compatible with wired and wireless microphone accessories.

Entry-level PA amplifiers are suitable for audiences of 50 or less, use VHF band, and support 5 to 30W power output. They usually have built-in cassette player.

Midrange products can be used in venues with 100 to 300 people. They run on VHF and UHF bands and support 30W to 200W of power. Models have cassette, CD and VCD players, FM/AM receivers, an SD card slot and a USB port.

Locations that can fit crowds of 500 or more require high-end PA systems.

High-end systems are suitable for audiences of 500 or more, use UHF band and boast at least 200W power output. Products are fitted with cassette, CD, VCD, DVD and MP3 players, FM/AM receivers, an SD/MMC/MS/CF card slot, USB ports, LCD panel and an in-car interface.

Regardless of the target segment, most products use Ni-H batteries. This is under efforts to comply with the EuP directive of the EU, which aims to accelerate the environmental performance of energy-using products throughout their entire life cycle. The components are usually sourced from domestic providers.

China suppliers of disco and stage lights offer mainly LED and laser models. Best-selling units generally produce multicolor effects with high brightness.

Laser lights have vivid colors, long reach and can be manipulated to make intricate and novelty patterns. Power consumption ranges from 10mW to 100W.

Amplifiers, audio mixers, equalizers and PA speakers are among the professional A/V equipment available from Hong Kong. Models for disc jockey-use, including turntables, CD/MP3 and media players, controllers, and multichannel A/V mixers take up prominent space in many suppliers’ catalogs. Further, most companies continue to offer vinyl turntables, usually in combination with CD players.

One visible trend in the past few years is the integration of iPod-compatible functions into traditional DJ equipment. Single or multiple iPod docks with recharging capability have been introduced in many mixers and workstations.

Some suppliers have even released compact mixers with an iPod dock. Most new DJ equipment also supports MP3 players and other USB storage devices, including flash drives and hard disks.

Designwise, many Hong Kong models resemble top-brand products such as those from Pioneer.

DJ Tech Ltd’s selection of professional A/V equipment features Europe designs and is manufactured in mainland China. The model U2 media player does away with a CD player and laptop by adding two USB inputs. It includes nine editable DSP effects, a BPM counter, multijog mode, master tempo, seamless loop, reloop and cue play. The device comes in 3U size and is firmware upgradeable.

Aside from various DJ products, the company supplies PA systems, loudspeakers, guitar and power amplifiers, microphones and headphones.

Greenway Industrial (HK) Co. Ltd’s DJ CD mixers and media players also accommodate extra music sources. The CDDEX3 model has an SD card slot, USB and slot-in CD player. It comes with full DJ control and is compatible with CD, CD-R and MP3. Scratch, brake and reverse DSP effects are supported, as well as crossfader control, pitch VR adjustment and triband EQ control.

The model MD-100 midi player, also from Greenway, supports MP3, M4A, WMA, Ogg Vorbis and WAV formats. The product comes with a 3-band equalizer per channel, 10-band master equalizer and adjustable sound effects including reverse, vinyl, brake, loop and dump. It provides one each of a stereo RCA input, microphone 6.3mm input and stereo 6.3mm output. Crossfader and three auxiliary cue points are included.

There are at least 15 suppliers in Hong Kong capable of manufacturing professional A/V equipment according to buyers' specifications. Many also have ready-made products available for channel distribution or customer labeling.

A growing number of wireless microphone systems, which operate from 20 to 100m, are shifting from VHF to UHF. The latter costs 10 percent less to adopt. Its mainstream frequency carrier range is 600 to 960MHz whereas that of VHF is 160 to 260MHz . Models do not exceed $80.

Wired microphones, meanwhile, are priced below $20. IR models are quoted $100 and above and units with PLL control are from $100 to $200. High-end microphones with true diversity exceed $200.

Adoption of UHF is likewise common in audio systems, as is switching from analog to digital.

Audio mixers come in 2 and 4-channel solutions with a recording function and USB interface for PC connection.

Taiwan makers also offer professional CD players and equipment for disc jockey-use such as MIDI controllers with sound cards, a jogwheel and mixer function. Some devices, including the iPod DJ mixer model, support iPod connectivity.

PA systems are available in different configurations. Ecen Electronics Co. Ltd’s products, for instance, come in wall-mount and floor-standing versions. Systems with a lead-acid battery are priced at least $80. Models with a Li-ion battery are $100 and above.

High-end wired PA models with CD/DVD players and a memory card slot, and support digital audio playback and recording do not exceed $300. Their wireless counterparts are more than $300.

Digital voice recorders, meanwhile, are between $80 and $150.

Bulbs and LEDs are used in stage lighting equipment produced in the island. Depending on their size, products can exceed $100.

The more expensive LED solutions are becoming popular because of their power-saving feature and longer service life. A few makers, including Sincere State Electronics Co. Ltd, offer both bulb- and LED-based lighting.

Superstar Lighting Co. Ltd, meanwhile, will release LED models in coming months.

Mainstream stage lights in Taiwan have a power consumption of 12, 18, 24 and 36W and are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Casings are usually aluminum and stainless steel and are water-resistant and anti-static.

Bulb-based models with 3W power consumption are priced at $17 or $18. Units rated 7.5W are about $27. Projection lights suitable outdoors and with 12W power consumption are $90 and above, while 36W models exceed $155.

Units that emit special effects such as waterfall or have multicolor triple lenses that produce light shows are quotedat $70 to $80.

For smoke machines, prices are influenced by the wattage of the heater. Models with 650 to 700W heaters, for example, are quoted between $30 and $40. Large units that use at least 1,000W are from $100 to $200.