Mastering powered by Lambda Labs QX3.

Because most electronic music ends up on large club and festival systems, not just headphones. Mastering on a real, horn-loaded PA at reference quality allows engineers to make decisions under true live conditions — spotting low-end smearing, phase issues, and transient inconsistencies that nearfield monitors can’t reveal.

The QX3 at KYBERNETIK.LAB is not running generic factory presets. It’s been engineered as a room-specific reference array using a combination of manufacturer data, advanced measurements, and psychoacoustic criteria relevant to electronic music mastering.

Key aspects of the tuning:

• Custom crossover topology: Rather than a fixed 2-way or 3-way split, each bandpass is optimised for the actual acoustic output in the flush-mount baffle wall, compensating for horn loading and boundary effects. This includes fine-tuning the sub-to-kick and kick-to-top transitions so there’s no phase rotation or group delay build-up in the 60–150 Hz critical punch range.
• Target curve alignment: The system is EQ’d not to “flat anechoic” but to a translation-optimised target that mirrors the spectral balance of top-tier club rigs while preserving mastering accuracy. This ensures that tonal decisions in the studio map directly to real-world playback conditions.
• Phase-optimised time alignment: Measured impulse responses from each component are phase-wrapped and aligned to within a few samples, ensuring summation gain is maximised and comb filtering is minimised at the listening position.
• Low-frequency modal control: Because the QX3 is flush-mounted into a heavily damped front wall with membrane absorption down to 25 Hz, the LF EQ can be far more surgical, allowing true sub-bass extension without exciting standing waves common in untreated rooms.
• Psychoacoustic tuning: Listening tests at high SPL verify transient clarity, stereo image stability, and the perceived localisation of low-mid elements — aspects often overlooked in purely measurement-driven setups.

In short, the KYBERNETIK.LAB QX3 behaves like a scaled-down festival rig in a mastering room, with its crossover, EQ, and alignment designed not just for “flat” measurements, but for context-specific translation into the environments where the music will live.

The QX3 system is a modular, horn-loaded PA solution built for the largest and most demanding live events .

It is made up of three core components, each handling a specific frequency range:

• QX3 A – Top module → High- and mid-frequency reproduction
• QX3 B – Kickfiller module → Mid-bass “punch” between subs and tops
• DH-18 – Digitalhorn subwoofer → Extreme low-frequency foundation

Together, these modules cover the full audio spectrum from below 30 Hz up to 20 kHz with phase-coherent, horn-loaded power.

It's a horn-loaded, ultra-coherent 5-way system with extreme precision and dynamic range. Unlike Funktion-One or d&b, the QX3 maintains full-range linearity and impulse accuracy even at extreme SPL — without phase smearing or tonal masking.

• Perfect dispersion ratio for consistent coverage
• Clusterable up to 360° without phase smearing
• Ultra-fast transient response for punchy, precise low-end
• Amplitude shading for even vertical coverage from front row to back
• Engineered for both power and fidelity, making it as suitable for orchestral playback as it is for hard-hitting techno

No. I use both. Nearfields (Genelec) offer surgical detail. The QX3 gives scale. Great mastering requires both perspectives.

Everything that needs to perform on large sound systems: Peak-time Techno, Psytrance, DnB, Bass Music, Ambient, Drone. If your music plays loud, fast or deep — this system gives you the reality check.

You’ll find the QX3 at:

• Major electronic music festivals
• High-end nightclubs
• Outdoor events and stadium shows
• Special installations where maximum sound quality and coverage are required

Lambda Labs QX3 is used at festivals like Masters of Puppets, Mechatronica, Boom and various underground raves across Europe. But if you want to analyze your track on one — you’ll need to come here.

Drivers:

• 2 × 12″ horn-loaded woofers
• 32 × 2″ mid-drivers
• 8 × 1″ HF drivers

Frequency range: ~28 Hz – 20 kHz

Maximum SPL: 130+ dB continuous

Design: Horn-loaded, five-way, phase-coherent

Coverage: Clusterable up to 360°

The QX3 B Kickfiller is a dedicated 2 × 15″ horn-loaded kick module designed for the 60–200 Hz range.

It bridges the gap between subwoofers and tops, delivering:

• Tight, controlled kick drum impact
• Fast, defined transients
• Perfect integration with QX3 A tops and subs

The DH-18 is Lambda Labs’ flagship extreme high-power subbass system, often paired with the QX3.

• Driver: 1 × 18″ ultra long excursion, 5.3″ voice coil, reinforced composite cone

Modes:

• S-Mode: Extended low frequency to 28 Hz, 102 dB sensitivity
• D-Mode: More output (+2 dB) and rear attenuation, LF down to 30 Hz
• Power handling: 3600 W RMS
• Sensitivity: up to 104 dB (1W/1m) in D-Mode
• Dimensions: 962 × 582 × 962 mm, 58.5 kg

Special features: Three metres of internal horn path, stackable configurations, integrated wheelboard & M20 distance rod mount

Horn-loading focuses and amplifies sound energy through an acoustic horn, resulting in:

• Higher efficiency
• Lower distortion at high SPL
• Better throw for long-distance coverage
• Improved transient accuracy — crucial for electronic music’s kicks and basslines

Amplitude shading is a technique where the output of individual driver rows is adjusted to create even vertical coverage.

In the QX3:

• Upper driver sections focus on long-range throw
• Lower driver sections cover the nearfield
• Listeners at different distances hear balanced sound without hotspots or drop-offs

The QX3 system is typically powered by the Lambda Labs KW-18, a four-channel touring amplifier designed for maximum output and sonic precision.

Output power (all channels driven):

• 4 × 1 200 W @ 16 Ω
• 4 × 2 300 W @ 8 Ω
• 4 × 4 500 W @ 4 Ω
• 4 × 4 000 W @ 3 Ω

Technical specifications:

• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz (+0/-3 dB)
• Voltage gain: 30 dB
• Damping factor: 800 @ 1 kHz, 8 Ω
• THD+N: 0.02 % (20 Hz–20 kHz @ half power)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 128 dB(A)
• Minimum load impedance: 2 Ω per channel
• Weight/Dimensions: 18 kg · 483 × 584 × 89 mm (19″ / 2 RU)

This amplifier is optimised for high-efficiency, horn-loaded loudspeakers like the QX3 A top, QX3 B kickfiller and DH-18 subwoofer, ensuring ample headroom and full control at the highest SPL levels.

Lambda Labs does not publish official list prices, but market data and dealer information give a clear picture of the investment level:

• QX3 A Horn-Top (5-way top cabinet): > €15 000 each (manufacturer list price, excl. VAT)
• QX3 B Kickfiller (2×15″ mid-bass module): ~ €10 000 – €12 000 each (estimated based on comparable pro-audio hardware and system pricing)
• DH-18 Digitalhorn Subwoofer: ≈ €2 800 used / ~€4 000 – €5 000 new
• KW-18 4-channel amplifier: ≈ €5 334 used / ~€6 400 new (incl. VAT)

A small-venue stack with 2× QX3 A tops, 2× QX3 B kickfillers, 1× DH-18, and 1× KW-18 amp typically totals €55 000 – €63 000 (net), depending on condition, configuration, and dealer terms. Larger festival rigs with more cabinets scale well into six-figure territory.