Short answer: the DB Audiotechnik 44S. It ranks #9 of 16 compact 5 to 6.5-inch pa speakers by sound quality (rated 3.6/5); the Meyer Sound Ultra X23 ranks #15 (rated 3.3/5).
The case for the DB Audiotechnik 44S: A 3.6kg cabinet with dual 4.5-inch drivers and a rotatable horn that reaches 123dB, with a low on-axis deviation (narrow-band 0.37). The catch: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music.
What the Meyer Sound Ultra X23 does well: The widest-coverage member of Meyer’s ULTRA-X20 family, with a 110° x 110° horn for close-in fill where listeners sit far off to the sides. The catch: Manufacturer measurements give a 1.73 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer preference score, well below its narrower-coverage X20 and X22 siblings, with a 4.1dB reference band.
Buy the DB Audiotechnik 44S. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Meyer Sound Ultra X23.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| DB Audiotechnik 44S | Meyer Sound Ultra X23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | - |
| Ranked | #9 of 16 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers | #15 of 16 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers |
| 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) | - |
| 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) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to DB Audiotechnik 44S:
- Meyer Sound Ultra X22 vs DB Audiotechnik 44S
- EAW MKC50 vs DB Audiotechnik 44S
- DB Audiotechnik 44S vs Meyer Sound Ultra X20
- DB Audiotechnik 44S vs Turbosound NuQ62
- DB Audiotechnik 44S vs Kling Freitag CA 106 Pro
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
DB Audiotechnik 44S Passive eBay
Pros: A 3.6kg cabinet with dual 4.5-inch drivers and a rotatable horn that reaches 123dB, with a low on-axis deviation (narrow-band 0.37). Vendor Spinorama data gives preference scores of 3.14 standalone and 6.61 with an ideal subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 122Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music. It is passive and works properly only with d&b amplifiers, and pricing is dealer quoted.
Full DB Audiotechnik 44S review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 150W RMS / 500W peak handling rating |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 122Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker |
| Coverage | Rotatable CD horn (measured 90° x 30°) |
| DSP | No (passive; used with d&b amplifiers for presets) |
| Drivers | Dual 4.5” neodymium woofers, dual 1.25” dome tweeters on a rotatable CD horn |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 17kHz (-5dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 150W RMS / 500W peak (manufacturer specified) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.14 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) (13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) with backbox) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Meyer Sound Ultra X23 eBay
Pros: The widest-coverage member of Meyer’s ULTRA-X20 family, with a 110° x 110° horn for close-in fill where listeners sit far off to the sides. Bass reaches 71Hz at -3dB from two 5-inch woofers around a concentric 2-inch compression driver, and a built-in 860W peak amplifier with Meyer processing makes it self-powered. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Manufacturer measurements give a 1.73 standalone and 4.53 ideal-subwoofer preference score, well below its narrower-coverage X20 and X22 siblings, with a 4.1dB reference band. Output tops out around 123.5dB, and it is sold only through Meyer dealers.
Full Meyer Sound Ultra X23 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 860W peak, 3-channel Class D |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 62.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Self-powered 2-way concentric compact loudspeaker |
| Coverage | 110° x 110° |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 19.1”H x 7.5”W x 8.6”D (484 x 191 x 218 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5” cone woofers, concentric 2” compression driver |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Maximum SPL | 123.5dB peak (M-Noise, ULTRA-X20 family, manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.53 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons