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 Seeburg X1 ranks #19, rated 3.4/5, at $866, $634 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 2.52 for the Seeburg X1. The catch: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music.
The Seeburg X1 is the deeper-bass pick. A small passive coaxial speaker for fills, small rooms and speech, with consistent coverage and wall or ceiling mounting points. Its bass reaches about 97.5Hz before falling 3dB, against 122Hz for the d&b audiotechnik 44S. The catch: Bass is very limited, at 97.5Hz for -3dB and about 85Hz for -10dB, so it needs a subwoofer for any music at volume.
Buy the d&b audiotechnik 44S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $634 you would save on the Seeburg X1 does not close the gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| d&b audiotechnik 44S | Seeburg X1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 Passive | $866 Passive |
| Ranked | #10 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers | #19 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 2 x M8 inserts on rear panel | 4x M10 points |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker | Passive 2-way coaxial compact speaker |
| Drivers | Dual 4.5” neodymium woofers, dual 1.25” dome tweeters on a rotatable CD horn | 6.5” neodymium woofer (2” voice coil), coaxial 1” neodymium compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 17kHz (-5dB, manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 19kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 150W RMS / 500W peak handling rating | Passive speaker; requires external amplification (self-powered X1 dp version available) |
| Power Handling | 150W RMS / 500W peak (manufacturer specified) | 200W AES / 600W peak |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB (manufacturer specified) | 120dB 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) | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 122Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 97.5Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.14 | 2.52 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 | 5.99 |
| 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 |
| Dimensions | - | 12.2”H x 7.9”W x 8.7”D (310 x 200 x 220 mm) |
| Sensitivity | - | 92dB (1W/1m) |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 84.9Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
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