Canadian audio manufacturer Adamson has a new twin 18" sub for its acclaimed Y10 line array system, available this November. Designed to be flown alongside the line system, the sub also incorporates fittings for use as a stable base for ground-stacking the whole system.
Adastra Electronics has seen a great deal of growth in the last three years, with an increased staffing level on the PA installation side and within the company as a whole. In 1999, it had a staff of six - and now has 29. PLASA 2002 saw the launch of the new Skytronics catalogue.
Alesis was launching a variety of MI and professional products, including no fewer than 14 portable effects units. The Akira programmable stereo multi-effects processor is aimed at the semi-pro market, offering two-channel, 24-bit/48kHz A/D and D/As, 28-bit internal processing, MIDI in/out, balanced 1/4" analogue audio connections and 100 programs, including reverbs, delays, pitch mod, filters and special effects.
This year’s must-have-but-can’t-get DJ product is Allen & Heath’s Xone:V6. Described as ‘an audiophile rotary club mixer’, this retro unit incorporates completely discrete circuitry, as well as two stereo valve pre-amp sections to ‘warm up’ digital sources such as CD players. Top-of-the-range rotary faders and meters from industry-standard names help to justify the V6’s spectacular price-tag - and its place on the ‘A’ list of professional DJ equipment.
PLASA also saw the introduction of the iDR series of installation matrix processors, which revolves around the iDR-8 unit. Input and output expanders are included in the range, as well as a set of user-friendly wall-plate panels for non-technical operation. Also from A&H, came the PA series of self-powered mixers. Intended for more professional applications than previous MI designs, the PA12-CP and PA20-CP provide 12 and 20 channels respectively. A unique feature of the PA design is a Constant Power amplifier, providing either more current or higher voltage to generate 500W per side into either 4 or 8 ohms without loss of power.
Ambience Audio launched a new range of audio equipment including a mixture of speakers straddling a range of applications - from installation to mobile DJs - and available in a variety of finishes, including a striking silver cabinet. Manufactured by Shenzhen Bao Ye Heng in China, the range was displayed alongside various mixers and amplifiers and a new DMX lighting controller for the mobile DJ market.
American DJ had plenty of interest in its Velocity dual-CD player, targeted at pro DJs for creative scratch performance and packed with features like Power Touch interactive jog wheel, Digital Scratching 2.0 and nine on-board effects. The company also featured a new single-CD player, the new QD-5 pro scratch mixer with optical fader and the new DX5R rotary mixer.
Ampekko was showing the Running Man range of voice alarm systems and Neil Voce reported a busy time lately on a variety of projects. Recent sound install projects for Ampekko have included Leicester City FC, Hull Community Superstadium, as well as shopping centre installations such as The Gate in Newcastle and Old Square in Walsall. The company also recently completed a huge sound masking system for Lloyds Registry in the City of London. The system, which works by cancelling key elements of offending speech frequencies, utilized over 1,000 ceiling loudspeakers from WHD.
The news from Ampetronic is its sponsorship of GBR America’s Cup Challenge via the development of a "groundbreaking communications system". Working with German compan
