The popular Harbinger VARI Live powered speaker line was given a significant performance, construction and tech refresh at the beginning of 2024. However, the refinements and enhancements didn’t stop with the previous 2400 and 3400 series. The new V4412 and V4415 deliver considerable upgrades to their maximum volume specs, making the 4400 system loud enough for almost any non-arena environment, as well as having the signal headroom to maintain clarity and dimension for lower-volume gigs. Further improvements include an onboard digital mixer with effects and a color LCD.

The recent trajectory of VARI Live speakers has been guided by innovation and increased value for the user, so it might be a bit difficult to keep up with all the changes and what they can mean for you as a working musician. Fortunately, Harbinger Product Manager Patrick O’Connor is here to explain why the 4400 series represents “our most powerful and capable loudspeakers yet.”

Can you detail the main differences between the VARI Live 2400 series, VARI Live 3400 series and the new VARI Live 4400 series speaker systems?

I’ll start by saying all VARIs are versatile loudspeakers that can be used as main speakers or floor monitors. They all include five simultaneous inputs, Bluetooth audio, onboard DSP, multiple application-specific voicings, Smart Stereo and subwoofer integration capabilities.

The V2408 and V2410 are small format, moderate-volume units that feature 8" or 10" low-frequency drivers. They are perfect for situations where you don’t need super-high volume—although they can easily fill a medium-sized pub, church or other space. There’s also the VS12 12" subwoofer available when you need extended low frequencies to complement V2400 series speakers.

The V3412 and V3415 are full-size, high-volume units, featuring 12" or 15" low frequency drivers. The 3400 series include proprietary, upgraded sound components to achieve what we call PEEK Performance—smooth, clear and articulate high frequencies, extended low frequencies, and well-managed midrange frequencies and imaging. They have a larger variety of those application-specific voicings, and the ability to customize the voicing and control your speaker with our free VARI Series app. You can even tune the sound of a full stereo-plus-VS18-subwoofer setup from the audience position to optimize audio in any venue.

The new 4400 series takes those V3400 capabilities and pushes things to the next level. Maximum volume is stepped up to 130dB for the V4412 and 131dB for the V4415, and both feature a built-in digital mixer with effects. This series also adds an informative color LCD display, and the VARI Series app lets you control your full mix from onstage or the audience position, as well as giving you extensive capabilities for customization and control.

Pictured: Harbinger V4412 I/O's and Rear Controls

In practical terms, what does 130dB maximum SPL mean for users?

Well, 130dB is extremely high volume—beyond what most plastic-cabinet loudspeakers can achieve. That level of power is what you want when you’re taking on something like an outdoor gig with a high-volume rock band, or a DJ set in a large hotel ballroom or club. But, equally important, it also means you have ample headroom for those times when you’re operating at lower volumes. Where another speaker might be edging near its limits, VARI 4400 isn’t even close to straining its capacity, and that means it’s giving you better sound at that volume than that other speaker.

Why do you feel wattage specs are less-than-ideal specs for establishing a speaker’s real-world performance?

When speaking about power and volume, many people assume watts is the most important number, but, in fact, wattage claims are often inflated, and don’t tell you the actual volume capability of a speaker. One key reason is different drivers can have very different efficiencies in converting power—or wattage—to volume. Guitarists know this from the amp world. Different speakers can vary by several dB in efficiency, which is why swapping a different speaker into a guitar amp can sometimes make a big difference in volume—even though the wattage hasn’t changed. That’s why we focus on Max SPL as the key specification for volume.

Pictured: Harbinger V4400 Series Loudspeakers Carrying Handle

The VARI Live 3400 series introduced PEEK Performance audio components. Were there any specific improvements or enhancements to those components for the 4400 series?

The PEEK Performance audio components—meaning the drivers and cabinet—are the same for 3400 and 4400, but we’ve built more headroom into the 4400 series. In addition, we tuned the sound to be a little more linear than 3400. There’s more midrange energy balancing the extended lows and transparent high frequencies of V4412 and V4415 speakers. The result is that people who have loved the sound of the 3400 series tell us they find the 4400 series to be even better.

What are some of the practical and sonic benefits of custom-engineering various components exclusively for the Harbinger VARI Live series?

Many companies use titanium tweeters, but VARI 4400 and 3400 use polyetheretherketone—or PEEK—an innovative material that maintains excellent mechanical integrity. This means there’s a lack of deformation or instability when under high temperatures and mechanical stress—which are the conditions constantly experienced by a tweeter when outputting high-volume audio. As a result, the tweeter provides more accurate sound, preserving critical sonic details such as harmonic structure, imaging and articulation. People tell us they can “hear into the mix” with more clarity, and that, even at extreme volume, the high frequencies are not harsh and fatiguing. We team up that tweeter with a custom-engineered, large-magnet woofer to provide extended lows—which you can really hear and feel when amplifying electronic dance music, kick drum and bass. Then, we put everything into a custom-engineered cabinet that’s made with a gas-assisted, injection-molding process to provide consistent high density throughout the cabinet material, resulting in great sound projection and well-presented midrange frequencies.

Pictured: Harbinger V4412 2-Way Powered Loudspeaker Used as a Stage Monitor

Can you detail the digital mixing capabilities built into the VARI 4400 series?

Our onboard digital mixer lets you mix five different sources at once—all without an external mixer. Inputs 1 and 2 can handle a microphone, guitar or other instruments, and offer 3-band EQ, High Pass Filter, Compressor, Reverb and Chorus. Input 3 lets you simultaneously connect three more sources—stereo balanced line inputs, stereo mobile devices and Bluetooth audio. You can adjust all the details of your mix from the informative color LCD on the VARI rear panel, or from the free app. You can also save your mix to the VARI’s memory and recall it any time from the LCD display or the app.

How can the VARI Live 4400 Voicings be deployed at performances?

The VARI Live 4400 Voicings include Club, Live Band, Speech, Acoustic Guitar with Vocals, and Floor Monitor. You can select any Voicing from the color LCD display or use the free app to select and customize any of the voicings. The great thing about using the app is you can select Voicings from the audience position, take stock of what they are hearing and dial in things for the best experience. The app interface lets you control a 7-band EQ to tailor frequency response for the best sound in a particular venue, or match your personal preferences. Both the app and LCD display show the EQ curve that results from your current setting. You can save your adjustments to the memory of the VARI, so they’ll be ready for instant access any time—with or without the app.

Pictured: Harbinger V4412 On-board LCD Display and Controls

We’re assuming adding a subwoofer to a 4400 system is as easy as it is for the 2400 and 3400 series, but are there any additional benefits offered by the 4400 series?

Every VARI Live series speaker makes it easy to add a subwoofer and have the optimal distribution of frequencies between the subwoofer and the full-range loudspeakers. But VARI Live 4400 gives you a deeper ability to customize that setup. You can change the frequency for the crossover, and you can invert the signal sent to the subwoofer to account for any difference in polarity between loudspeakers and subwoofer. There’s also a time-aligning delay for the subwoofer signal, which can be very helpful when you need to compensate for a less-than ideal physical placement of the subwoofer compared to the full-range speakers. Without a time-aligning delay in that situation, you can lose low-frequency impact. You can also use the LCD or the app to adjust the volume balance between the subwoofer and full-range speakers.

Could you describe the Smart Stereo feature, as well as a practical use case?

Smart Stereo lets you share the full set of audio inputs, mixing and sound settings from a master speaker to another VARI Live speaker by simply linking the two with a single microphone cable. You can dial in the complete mix, EQ and effects for your performance—along with the sound of the speaker itself—and have that “auto-magically” shared between the left and right speakers without any added complication. You don’t have to bring a separate mixer or effects units to get that done.