What parameters are they looking for? How is the test conducted?
All I know is they're evaluated based on how effective of a tool they would be in their role in the process of producing a good recording. I don't know where in the chain they would come in, so I'm not sure exactly what that role is. At least part of the evaluation is conducted using recordings that the producer produced and is therefore very familiar with, and apparently sound quality is a top priority, as from what I was told that's the area where the Prisma surpassed the seven grand monitors.
I'm using the word "produce" here without knowing whether that's really the right term; I don't know whether what he does is primarily recording and tracking, mixing. mastering, or some combination thereof. It's whatever one can win a Grammy for, so it probably includes mastering.
In my amateur (and everso everso unbiased) opinion the Prismas are pretty good at letting you hear the differences from one recording to the next without superimposing a characteristic sonic signature on top of everything, and if they truly excel at that sort of thing, it might make them a good tool.
How were you selected to face off with all active speakers?
The producer apparently has a requirement for a speaker that is more capable than what he currently has on hand. One of the associates of the producer, who is also a producer and who designed and built the first producer's studio, has heard enough good things about my speakers (primarily from master acoustician
Jeff Hedback - I think it's okay for me to drop his name) to put them on his radar screen. The associate borrowed the Prismas from one of my customers and evaluated them at his place first, and apparently was impressed. Based on his evaluation he told me that the Prismas would be his recommendation, but that the choice of course was the producer's. So that's how they made the short-list.
I'm pretty sure the associate is familiar with the nine grand bad boy, so his endorsement is certainly encouraging.
Actives dominate this segment of the market, and are considered to be more convenient, so I have to overcome that hurdle. But on the other hand if an internal amp goes down, an expensive active speaker is offline until it can be repaired.
Can you say what amp is powering the Prismas?
My understanding is that yesterday a Yahama amp that dates from the early 90's was used, but the recommended amp for this application is a Crown DSI-1000. They're trying to come up with one, and hopefully will before the title match.
[edit: I have since learned that the Crown XTi-2 series has an updated DSP engine relative to the DSi series, so the XTi-2002 would be my suggestion for prosound. I may be able to become a Crown dealer and offer it as part of a package.]
