The German manufacturer's next step was to make a compact version of the Cohedra - a compact compact line array, if you like. This was the product that HK proudly unveiled at its headquarters in the small town of St Wendel, in southern Germany, at the end of September. Following a presentation and demonstration to HK's international distributors and the pro audio press, the system was tested in a true live setting, with a concert performance at a local venue, Saalbau, by Jon Lord - ex-keyboard player for Deep Purple - and an accompanying orchestra. Lord was mixed by FOH engineer Rob Hogdkinson, using an InnovaSon Sy48 digital desk.
The Compact packs a similarly impressive amount of punch, relative to its size, as its bigger brother, and brings HK's line array performance to a whole new range of bread-and-butter sound reinforcement applications - something that Dennis Drumm, MD of HK's UK distributor John Hornby Skewes, is keen to exploit. It's designed around three optimally matched components: a mid/high unit (the CDR 108), a subwoofer (the CDR 210 C) and an amp rack (the PR 8). A flying/stacking frame and the truck-optimized flightcases are optional extras. The CDR 108 measures just 50cm wide, by 26cm high and 32.5cm deep; the sub around double the height. The mid/high unit uses two 1" compression drivers and an 8" - the latter with a compression chamber to achieve a faster response time.
The system demonstrates some clever thinking, in terms of both acoustics and practical handling, as HK's in-depth presentation demonstrated. An example of the former is in the acoustic lens: when a coherent wavefront like that generated by a line array moves through the air, its upper and lower edges are diffracted outwards as contact is made with non-moving air molecules adjacent to the wavefront. This diffraction causes the wavefront to assume a spherical shape, and results in a reduction in level over distance. To compensate for this physical effect, Cohedra and Cohedra Compact employ an acoustic lens to produce a concave wave at source: the action of the non-moving air molecules then has the effect of straightening out the wavefront before it can begin to distort - making it more effective over distance.
On the practical handling side of the equation, the mid/high boxes weigh less than 17kg. Flying and kelping is easily achieved, with all pins and hardware integrated. The stacking/flying frame gives a useful ground-stacking option which will suit a broad range of smaller applications, saving time and effort for hire companies. (It's worth noting that the thinking here is similar to that offered by Logic System's Ethos (see L&SI September 2004), both companies evidently identifying a wider, simpler market for the compact line array.)
Even after the detailed technical presentation, it still came as a surprise to see and hear the system - with such a powerful and clear sound emanating from this innocuous little ribbon of boxes.
Behind the brand
HK Audio's origins date back to the mid-70s, when Lothar Stamer - drummer and engineering student - began developing his own sound reinforcement products. In 1979 he founded Stamer Musikanlagen (Music Systems), which today develops and manufactures all of HK Audio's products.
Hughes & Kettner, conceived as the company's audio brand name for the European market, appeared in 1984. The first product - the relatively compact full-range cabinet QX 4, was an instant hit: in 1985 the product range was expanded around the QX 4, making Hughes & Kettner the most successful newcomer on the German audio scene. The brand now covers all of the company's musical instrument audio produ
