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 Meyer Sound Ultra X23 ranks #20, rated 3.3/5, and costs $5,540, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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 1.73 for the Meyer Sound Ultra X23. The tradeoff: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music.
The Meyer Sound Ultra X23 is the deeper-bass option. A very wide coverage self-powered speaker, built for close-in fill with listeners far off to the sides. Its bass reaches about 71Hz before falling 3dB, against 122Hz for the d&b audiotechnik 44S. The tradeoff: Manufacturer measurements give a 1.73 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer preference score, well below its narrower-coverage Meyer Sound Ultra X20 and Meyer Sound Ultra X22 siblings, with a 4.1dB reference band.
Buy the d&b audiotechnik 44S. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Meyer Sound Ultra X23 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| d&b audiotechnik 44S | Meyer Sound Ultra X23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 Passive | $5,540 |
| Ranked | #10 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers | #20 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 2 x M8 inserts on rear panel | 4 x M8 inserts; 4 x M6 wall-mount holes; optional pole adapter |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker | Self-powered 2-way concentric compact loudspeaker |
| Drivers | Dual 4.5” neodymium woofers, dual 1.25” dome tweeters on a rotatable CD horn | 2x 5” cone woofers, concentric 2” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 17kHz (-5dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 150W RMS / 500W peak handling rating | 860W peak, 3-channel Class D |
| Power Handling | 150W RMS / 500W peak (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB (manufacturer specified) | 123.5dB peak (M-Noise, ULTRA-X20 family, manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | Rotatable CD horn (measured 90° x 30°) | 110° x 110° |
| DSP | No (passive; used with d&b amplifiers for presets) | Yes |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) (13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) with backbox) | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 122Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 71Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.14 | 1.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 | 4.53 |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| 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 |
| Dimensions | - | 19.1”H x 7.5”W x 8.6”D (484 x 191 x 218 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 62.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
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