Short answer: the d&b audiotechnik 44S. It ranks #10 of 39 compact 5 to 6.5-inch pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $1,500. The Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro ranks #18, rated 3.5/5, at $1,045, $455 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The d&b audiotechnik 44S is the more accurate pick. A small passive speech and fill speaker with dual 4.5 inch drivers and a rotatable horn, built for d&b amplifiers. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 3.14 against 2.53 for the Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro. The tradeoff: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music.
Why pick the Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro: A passive 6.5 inch installation speaker with a rotatable horn for even coverage, suited to distributed systems with a subwoofer. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off early, about 69Hz at -10dB, so it needs a subwoofer for music, and its 125dB peak output suits near-field and moderate-distance use rather than large rooms.
Buy the d&b audiotechnik 44S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $455 saving on the Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro is not enough to make up the difference.
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Specifications Side By Side
| d&b audiotechnik 44S | Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 Passive | $1,045 Passive |
| Ranked | #10 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers | #18 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 2 x M8 inserts on rear panel | 12 x M8 and 2 x M6 threaded inserts |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker |
| Drivers | Dual 4.5” neodymium woofers, dual 1.25” dome tweeters on a rotatable CD horn | 6.5” woofer, 1” exit compression driver on rotatable CD horn |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 17kHz (-5dB, manufacturer specified) | 73Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 150W RMS / 500W peak handling rating | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Power Handling | 150W RMS / 500W peak (manufacturer specified) | 200W nominal / 400W program / 600W peak |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB (manufacturer specified) | 125dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | Rotatable CD horn (measured 90° x 30°) | 90° x 60° (rotatable) |
| DSP | No (passive; used with d&b amplifiers for presets) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) (13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) with backbox) | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 122Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 132Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.14 | 2.53 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 | 5.73 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Impedance | - | 16 ohms |
| Cabinet Material | - | 12mm multiplex |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 68.9Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
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