In my experience with line array systems, they are more efficient than a standard system. In the company I used to work for we had a professional level line array with something like a 110 degree splay for the stack. We would take the measurement of the room, and it told us how far apart to put the stacks. If we were hanging the system, we would take a tape measure and hang it from the ceiling, and then that would tell us what the "curl" of the speaker cluster would be. All of the dimensions were put into a computer program and it would then tell you "If you are hanging it at X feet off the floor, put the pin in hole 8 and then the the thing would curl around and you get the most efficient sound dispersion. It was all really scientific to me. But basically the idea behind it was that there wasn't really anywhere in the room that it didnt sound the same. No drop off in the middle or right under the cluster hang. You might still use a front fill, but that is just for a little extra umph. Also with the system we had, there were no amp racks because each speaker had its own amp built in. They were the first powered speakers I had ever seen, before Behringer and all the ones like that became popular. We just ran power and an XLR with signal to the first speaker and then jumped them together with short XLRs. Me and one other guy did a two cluster hang with 8 speakers on each side in about 45 minutes. That was rolling the cases in and hooking them up to the chain and pulling them out of the box. Three speakers per box. Roll the next case under the first three and hang them underneath then use the motor to pull them out of the box. No lifting at all Everything about them was easier than stacking boxes. In the old days we would hand four 600 pound speaker boxes and you would have to pull a rope attached to them to get the sound spread throughout the room. The whole LA cluster weighed as much as one of the old speakers. If you have been to a big concert in the past 10 years and have seen the big speaker groups hanging at the corners of the stage and curving back then you know what I mean.
Now, obviously you wouldnt be having to deal with all of this unless you've hit the bigtime and are playing in a big arena or something like that! I know there are some local band level line array systems out there by people like Bose and maybe Behriger or Harbinger and the like that do essentially the same thing at floor level. But in my opinion, a powered system and a LA are kind of the same thing in a local band situation, except for the way they project the sound. Think of a line array PA like a water hose on spray and the two showers of water crossing in the middle. If you are outdoors a lot a LA might be the way to go, but in a small inside club it would be overkill IMO
As for the comment about the wedges I dont really know what to say about that. I've used wedges for probably 25 years and if you know how to turn down the level for that send, then it should never feed back. Mastering a recording and live sound are not even the same thing. I would ask someone who does live sound.
Sorry I got so long winded in that first paragraph, but I was working sound reinforcement when line arrays first hit the field and it was really cool and exciting to see how they changed the way we did pretty much everything for the setup.
Ive got some pictures from back in the day somewhere that shows all of this. If I can find them I'll post them later.
BnB
PS -- JBL makes a really killer VRX rig that works like a line array but it's pricey. However, three boxes and a 3-4 subs per side will WASTE the average high school gymnasium. Really great rig.
