HM Electronics was celebrating its 35 years in the development of wireless audio technology. New products included the WH200 ComLink wireless headset, which provides flexibility for users of HME's award-winning DX series of digital wireless intercoms.

EAW was highlighting its NT Series of loudspeakers, which feature its 'Gunness Focusing' DSP technology, which EAW tell us corrects the inherent sonic problems in compression driver phase plugs, horns, and LF driver technology: combined with high quality internal amplification, this allows both high sonic performance and high output levels.

The 2-way NT speakers are available in 12" and 15" LF driver models, with differing coverage patterns available, depending on application. The trapezoidal design makes them suitable for either main PA or floor wedge use. The companion NT Subwoofer complements the full-range boxes. The full-range loudspeakers are bi-amplified, meaning the LF and HF drivers each have their own Gunness Focusing DSP and built-in, high-efficiency amplifier (1000W LF and 500W HF). The subwoofer is dual-amplified, meaning each driver has its own built-in,

DPA Microphones made its first ever appearance at this year's PLASA Show on the stand of UK distributor, Sound Network. Along with a selection of its products, DPA showed the recently introduced 4090 and 4091 instrument microphones, which are just as at home in the studio on acoustic instruments as they are running as overheads during a live performance.

Spanish amplifier manufacturer RAM Audio was overflowing with new products on their stand at this year's PLASA. Show virgins included the S-Series of lightweight high power amps, available in both two- andfour-channel configurations. At the heart of the units are state-of-the-art QuantaPulse EVO power supplies, the 'brain' of which keeps tabs on many of the amplifier's parameters to ensure optimum power delivery at all times.The DQX range, designed for the live sound and touring markets and also based on QuantaPulse technology, were on display and are available in configurations up to 7.kW RMS per unit. The amps are also modular in design for easy servicing and can be remotely controlled using EtheRAM and a PC. Additionally, the R-Series for the budget conscious buyer, and the BUX II Series high quality installation amps were also on show. RAM is gearing up to celebrate it's 25th

Computer DJ were back with their wide range of products for DJs, clubs, pubs, hotels, etc. New at the show was the PCVJ video software which amalgamates video and audio files, and Q-Play - a multi-zoned software for hotel and pubs that sends feeds from a single PC system to up to four destinations or zones. The company also showed its popular 00DJ "all in one" DJ module, containing everything needed to 'plug and play' in one briefcase.

Current Thinking showed a wide range of their commercial installation products, including range of induction loops, the VoCall Fire Telephone and Disabled Refuge system and the Unity and Audio Logistics ranges of voice alarm equipment. New for PLASA '06 was the PC Configuration suite for VoCall and the DCD digital audio routing frame with its enhanced DSP output card featuring 20-band parametric EQ and ambient noise-sensing on every output.

In only two short years, American company APB Dynasonics has become recognised in the live sound arena as a provider of quality analogue mixing consoles. The company used PLASA to launch the MixSwitch, which enables easy switching between two consoles such as main act and support, or in SUM mode allows the simultaneous use of both consoles. A digital version of MixSwitch is also available, allowing the switching of AES/EBU inputs and outputs.

With 25 years' experience, Triple Onda is a major player in the Spanish and European sound market. This year, the company displayed its Full XLA V3/4/6 three-way line array system. The unique feature of this system is that it does not require any separate sub-bass units to make it full-range - boasting a frequency response down to 35Hz. The XLA array is self-powered and DSP-controlled and is also available as a two-way system for use with external subs if required.

The Full XLA has been used on over 300 events since April 2005 and was recently put to the test at the Tele Taxi Radio Anniversary celebrations in Can Zam Park, Spain, where just 32 cabinets were used to cover an audience of over 700,000 people.

CableJog Ltd director Eddie Zych was on hand to demonstrate the AudioJog Pro, which is now manufactured into a metal box for the desktop version, while the rackmount version and prices stay the same. The AudioJog testing system can also be used to complete end-to-end testing where cables are installed using two units and has the added ability to store correctly wired cable configurations for later comparison.

Shown last year in prototype, the production version of Canadian speaker system manufacturer Adamson's T21 sub is now available. A 6kW unit running two 21" drivers with 6" dual coils on double spiders, this beast produces super powerful extended low-end. Shifting one box in a stack of three back one quarter length - and using some slick DSP - can eliminate most of the backward firing energy of what is generally an omni-directional radiator at such low frequencies.

Italian innovator Outline continued its own trend by again launching new products at PLASA 2006. The first of these was the LAB 15 self-powered 15" sub, capable of 134dB/1m SPL continuous and which can be used on its own or in stacks.

Outline was also showing pre-release versions of the Mini COMPASS Line Array. The ultra-compact, self-powered system is an install version of the COMPASS, which won an Award for Innovation at last year's PLASA Show. It has variable dispersion from 60-150° in 15° steps (manually adjusted), and will be available in the next two to three months.

Australia - Australian based manufacturer ARX, have released their new DI-6SMLine Mixer and Microphone / Line Splitter. The DI-6SM now features in one 1RU package, Six active D.I. (Direct Injection) boxes, plus a six into one Line Mixer, plus a one to six Microphone or Line Splitter.

This unique and flexible Pro audio toolbox allows unbalanced audio sources to easily and quietly interface with balanced pro audio systems, either to individual channels or summed down to one Master output and distribution of Microphone and Line Inputs to balanced outputs, all with individual gain controls.

With many handy functions, plus a 'user friendly' layout, ARX calls the DI-6SM 'The 1RU Interface King'.

(Chris Henry)

The Veris range of speakers took pride of place on the Community (CUK) stand. Good for anything from a small dance studio to the demands of a big club environment, Veris sports 18 models, mostly two-way cabinets, with - at the top of the range - three 3-ways and two dedicated subs. All are of plywood construction, with Community's ownwell-known Dynatech voltage protection. Available in the UK in early '07.

Also on the CUK stand, the Kind products, offering install quality multi-channel amplifiers (MCX and KDL range) with integral digital limiters, perfectly complement Veris, said a spokesman. So too Ethersound products from Digigram - also available through CUK Ltd.

AKG (Harman Pro) gave its new large diaphragm, multi-pattern condenser microphone, the Perception 400, its first European outing at PLASA. The Perception, which features selectable cardioid, omni and figure-eight polar patterns is also equipped with a 10dB pad, bass cut filter and spider shock-mount. The introduction of the 400 completes AKG's range of large diaphragm microphones.

Just four years old, and appearing at PLASA for the first time, EM Acoustics (distributed in the UK by Autograph Sales) showed off their new DA1, a single 18" (utilising a Precision Devices driver) sub in a 9ft folded horn capable of reproducing high SPLs down as low as 30Hz, with a recommended upper roll-off at 200Hz.

Sharing the stand was Global 9, another new company to the PLASA show, showing their G9-G series of six installation speakers. Four cabinets are full-range and based variously on 6.5", 8", 12" and 15" drivers; low-end grunt can be added with either the G-212B (2 x 12") or the G218B (2 x 18") dedicated subs.Specialist analogue desk-only manufacturer APB also shared the stand with EM and Global 9. Having showed their prototype Spectra Series console last year, the full production version is now available.

Chevin Research were showing their new range of line level and audio amps on their stand at PLASA. Launched last year at Frankfurt, the S-Series are available in 100, 50 and 70V line configurations, where as theA-Series amps - increasing in power from the A2000 at 1.2kW through to the A6000 rated at 3kW into 2 ohms - were also on show. Bob Metcalf, UK sales manager, commented: "This has been a really good show for us. We have had a lot of distributors visiting the stand and we have been getting some great feedback on service."

UK - Marquee Audio have carried out a discrete sound system installation for the new, prestigious Club Bar & Dining, an upscale restaurant and bar in London's Soho, on the site formerly occupied by The Sugar Club.

Situated in Warwick Street, the venue comprises an informal bar and dining room with 80 covers on the ground floor, and a downstairs cocktail lounge bar, with seating available for 100 people.

The operation is a joint venture between successful Soho operator Brenhan Magee, and entrepreneur and Crystal Palace FC chairman Simon Jordan. Magee has worked with The Breakfast Group over the past 11 years and was instrumental in setting up bars and restaurants including Jerusalem and recently Salvador & Amanda.

Having been heavily involved with the Breakfast Group over the years, and worked on the sound system installation at Salvador & Amanda, Marquee Audio tendered succe

The occasion of Martin Audio's 35th anniversary saw attention firmly fixed on three areas of product development. In monitor world, the smooth lines of the new LE Series follow on after a decade of success with the 400 and 700 models. The LE1200 and 1500 sport a 12" or 15" with a 1.4" compression driver onto a 'differential' horn producing pattern control narrowing from 100° to 60° as you move back from the wedge's main axis. The LE2100 model is a bi-amp 3-way version with 2x12".

The Longbow addition to the Wavefront line array system was seen at last year's show: main features are an extended low-end response, down from 50Hz to 35Hz, and added SPL, now 142dB continuous in the high end.

Martin also featured 'Engineer' on it's stand; a matrixing product with some exclusive extra features, it is made by Team Projects in Holland. Besides the expected f

Marquee Audio were showing the range of Optocore PTP32 point-to-point fibre network audio distribution system and the new DD6 interface that can provide access to Ethernet ports on the network. On similar lines, sales director Andy Huffer demonstrated the Auvitran range of EtherSound networked audio interfaces, including the AVB32-ES Ethersound AES/EBU bridge

UK - Leading UK-based amplifier manufacturer MC2 Audio Ltd. has expanded its lightweight (switchmode) E Series with the E4-75 power amplifier.The E4-75 comes after 18 months of development - working closely with distributors and users - and is designed for use in a wide variety of applications, including touring monitor racks.

The E4-75 is a 4-channel amplifier capable of producing 750W RMS per channel into four or eight ohms; it has automatic impedance sensing and changes the power accordingly. MC2 had been receiving requests for such a unit since the E-Series came onto the market in 2003, they report. Much of the R&D has been spent addressing the use of onstage monitoring. Inputs are via four XLR sockets, which can be linked to the next channel via a rear panel switch providing greater flexibility to supply more speakers with the same input signal. Each channel has a separate

Apex had two new products to present to visitors at the show in the form of the dBC-8 compressor/limiter and dGB-8 eight-channel noise gate. These products were on display along with the company's flagship Intelli-X loudspeaker management system.

BSS Audio (Harman Pro) announced installations of SoundWeb across Europe, including the Norwegian Parliament building, Do & Co in Austria and the Rome Underground utilising London Architect and HiQNet: "Programming the DSP gain structure, using HiQnet London Architect couldn't have been easier," said BSS distributor Edisco's project manager, Gino Fioravanti.

On the Raycom-SBS stand, international sales director Bardy Hayes was on hand to demonstrate the SLS range of Planar Ribbon Loudspeakers from the USA. Their outing at PLASA was the first in the UK and Hayes was happy to discuss the advantages of ribbon technology. With high power handling and low distortion, the units are ideal for line array and this is implemented in the RLA/2 and RLA/3 'true line arrays' as well as the PLS8695 self-powered column array, the LS6583S compact line array and the PS8R full-range double 8" two-way studio monitor.

Formula Sound introduced the ZMR-80 Modular Zoning system at PLASA. The concept allows the installer to configure the systems for differing applications with possible 2-12 outputs or zones and 2-6 inputs. Paging is available via a paging module to all zones as is remote source selection and volume control via passive remote panels in any zone.

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