The new sound system, designed and installed by leading Albanian sales and installation company (and EAW's Albanian distributor) Prosound Shpk, is composed of eight EAW JFL210 Compact Line Array Modules configured in two arrays of four speakers each, buttressed by four EAW LA400 Bent Horn Subwoofers under the stage. And the DJs can hear themselves loud and very clear thanks to a pair of EAW FR129z Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers used as stage monitors.

The owners of the two-story, 4,000-square-foot nightclub were looking for a very high-energy sound system using speakers placed as fills throughout the club. However, Kliton Gjika, Sales Manager for Prosound Shpk, immediately recommended the EAW JFL210 line array. "The JFL210 has an amazing sound, it's very easy to rig, and has wide horizontal coverage that can fill the entire club and with vertical coverage to reach all the way to the front of the club and to the balcony, which is 50 feet away," he explains. "It was the perfect solution."

Gjika is amused by how visiting DJs and bands are surprised by the quality and coverage of the sound system from a line array in a dance club. "They all ask, how its possible just these few speakers to cover the entire club?" he says. "But when they hear it, they believe it."

Gjika says he choose the EAW LA400 sub due to its punchy bass and consistent medium throw, perfect for the bass-heavy house music favored by the international DJs and live bands hosted at Mumja. "Sometimes we have to turn down the sub," he says. "It has 500 watts RMS, and the output is comparable to using double 18-inch subs. That means we don't have to push the power amplifiers as hard, so the sound stays clear."

Prosound introduced EAW to the Albanian installed-sound market several years ago, initially with the KF730 Compact Line Array Module as rental items. Demand and inventory have grown since to also include the EAW Avalon Series, a favorite of nightclubs around the world, and EAW's SMS Surface Mount Series of loudspeakers. "The EAW brand has become well respected in Albania as the leading brand of loudspeakers for clubs, bars and discos," notes Gjika. "It offers great overall clarity at all frequencies, clear highs, warm midrange and amazing low-frequency response, even at high SPLs. They're just great speakers."

The package assembled by MS-Max Company included 12 EAW JFL210 Compact Line Array Modules and four EAW JFL118 Subwoofers. Processing is handled by the EAW UX8800 Digital Signal Processor, and the system is powered by Crown MT-series amplifiers.

The circus, which features such spectacles as tigers, lions and other large animals, is performed "in the round," with the audience surrounding the performers in a complete circle. The biggest issue with the sound system was that it evenly cover the 360-degree audience area with clear, uniform dispersion. When approaching the installation and implementation of the new system, MS-Max Specialists Serge Velichko and Ilya Samoletov placed the loudspeakers in four separate arrays in the circus ring's center, under a dome. By all accounts - including audience members, project supervisors, technical personnel, performers and even tigers - the system has provided transparent, rich sound with the right coverage to project the show's thrilling energy to every seat in the house.

EAW loudspeakers selected for the space included 15 EAW AX366 and AX344 Arrayable Install Loudspeakers, six EAW JF50S Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers, eight EAW SB1000z Large Format Subwoofers, five EAW MW12 MicroWedge Stage Monitors and two EAW UX8800 Digital Signal Processors. Amplification was provided by ten Lab.gruppen FP+ Series amplifiers and one Lab.gruppen PLM 10000Q Powered Loudspeaker Management System. The EAW AX Series models were arranged in a low-profile, aesthetically pleasing design in two arcs following the contour of the church. The JF50S units were used as lip fill. Four SB1000z subs were ground stacked, and the remaining four were flown, using different high pass filter (HPF), low pass filter (LPF) and delays to create a constant low frequency response throughout the church. The MicroWedge 12 monitors were spaced along the edge of the stage.

Northwind Recording principal Niklas Fairclough is a firm supporter of the EAW brand, having completed three previous installations in South Africa using EAW AX Series Arrayable Install Loudspeakers. Fairclough commented, "When we tested the system, we were blown away. With an SPL of 110 dB at the front-of-house position, the system sounded superb and very clean, and we still had massive headroom available."

Ruan Joubert from Surgesound, the Distributor of EAW in South Africa, was at the final stages of the installation to act as the System Engineer and represent EAW South Africa. After using Smaart to make fine-tune adjustments to the system, he commented, "With the combination of detailed acoustic design, carefully planned EAW Model selections, the Pre-Install Planning and system design with help of EAW ASG, everything came together, culminating in very a successful project with outstanding audio performance, which exceeded all the client's expectations."

"The large concentric horn design of EAW's AX366 disperses the sound evenly throughout the room," explains Ken Coey, Commercial Sales Manager and Systems Designer at Hollowood. "The AX366 was the perfect fit for this project." Two of the loudspeaker enclosures were used, flown from the ceiling near the sidewalls, which kept reflections to a minimum.

"We used the AX366 in a similar installation recently for Franciscan University's Field house, and they were the perfect solution there, too," recalls Coey. "And the AX366's extended frequency range meant we didn't have to use a subwoofer, so that saved the school even more money without sacrificing any sound quality. My designs always start with the speakers, and EAW is always my first choice. The application-specific design of their products means I'll always have the right speaker to base a design off of."

The EAW AX366 has a horn pattern of 60° x 60°. All AX enclosures, including the companion AX122 subwoofer, have an identically sized, dual trapezoidal shape. The MF/HF transducer loads into a large, common horn via a modified version of the EAW's patented Radial Phase Plug. A unique HF waveguide is integrated within the center of the phase plug. It is acoustically transparent to the MF energy while being acoustically opaque to and acting as a waveguide for the HF energy.

Now available is the newest version of DX Navigator software (v1.0.1.2) for the DX1208 Matrix Mixer.

The key upgrades visible to users are:

1)  Now functional on PCs running Windows Vista 64

2)  Conflicts between DX Navigator and EAW Pilot are now resolved

DX Navigator v1.0.1.2 can be downloaded under the "SOFTWARE" heading here:

   

http://www.eaw.com/products/dx1208/specs.html

EAW, a world leader in audio system solutions, debuts the KF740 Three-Way Full Range Line Array Loudspeaker, a high-output, extremely lightweight compact speaker module that capitalizes on EAW's modern engineering and manufacturing technology, resulting in EAW's next-generation line array. Based on input from key end-users, and engineered by the same Whitinsville, Massachusetts-based design team responsible for EAW's critically-acclaimed KF Series, the new KF740 line array system brings a new level of performance to modules of its size, having been optimized for the widest possible range of touring and fixed installation applications. The symmetrical design, large horn and spaced woofers provide exceptional pattern control while EAW Focusing and EAW Resolution software, both exclusive, proprietary technologies, further enhance system performance. The KF740 is perfect for applications of nearly any size and delivers output resembling the much larger KF760, but has the footprint and weight of the more diminutive KF730. Because of this optimum ratio of weight, size and output, the KF740 is the ideal solution for a wide variety of applications including touring sound, corporate A/V, sports arenas, houses of worship, performing arts centers, hotel ballrooms and clubs.

Like all KF Series loudspeakers, the KF740 delivers premium, high-output, 3-way performance, in a package that is extremely compact and easy to set up. Each module contains two HF compression drivers with 2.5-inch voice coils and two 8-inch MF transducers with 3-inch coils, all of which are integrated into a single horn that occupies the entire face of the enclosure. This allows for consistent 90-degree pattern control, even at frequencies down to 160Hz, as the MF frequencies are transitioned to a spaced array of four 10-inch LF transducers with 2.5-inch voice coils. Two of the LF transducers are mounted within the horn, and two are side-mounted, providing as much as 18dB of off-axis rejection. EAW Focusing, as provided by EAW's UX8800 DSP, easily and precisely transitions from one system subsection to another. Also, all magnet structures within the KF740 utilize neodymium magnets.

A full KF740 array provides seamless coverage, from directly below the array, to hundreds of feet in front. The vertical output can be tailored to match the requirements of any space by varying the splay at the rear of the enclosures as directed by EAW Resolution software. The resultant configuration repeatedly produces a continuous, coherent wave front of extended-range, high-resolution audio over the entire defined coverage area. And, unlike other line arrays, the KF740 features a smooth, uniform transition when the listener moves from on-axis to an off-axis position, thereby increasing the soundfield. Broadly applicable line sources can be constructed solely of KF740 modules. The versatile KF740 can also be integrated above KF730 modules or beneath KF760 modules to extend the reach of the range to any application imaginable. The KF740 has an unprecedented low-end response from a cabinet of its size; however, the impressive low frequency output and extension of the KF740 can be even further enhanced by the use of the complementary SB1002 flying subwoofer.

The truck-pack friendly KF740 is assembled in the U.S.A. and is meticulously constructed for structural integrity, long life and impeccable sonic reproduction. The exterior-grade Baltic birch plywood enclosure, wear-resistant textured coating and powder-coated steel grille work to protect each module. The extruded structural aluminum rigging, precision quick-release rigging pins and Neutrik STX series NL8 connectors are ideal for touring applications.

Australia-based Production Audio Services Director Graeme Stevenson and Systems & Projects Engineer Ben Clarke, who are EAW's Australia distributor, were part of the Alpha-testing program for the new KF740. "When we fired up the system for the first time, it really impressed everyone who heard it, and over the next few days of testing and tweaking, the KF740's full potential became extremely evident. The KF740 represents a truly significant moment in loudspeaker design and technology. Jeffrey Cox, Kenton Forsythe, Nathan Butler and Jeff Rocha should be very proud of their work and the team," stated Stevenson.

Ben Clarke echoed his sentiments: "The KF740 Alpha-testing is the third development project we've worked on and I regard it as equally industry-defining, and it certainly continues to solidify the path EAW is taking. The system has amazing clarity, high power, lots of low frequency output and excellent high frequency extension. The KF740 exhibits a very precise horizontal dispersion with an identical frequency response and character across the coverage area, which results in a very wide stereo image. We will find the KF740 being used in bigger venues than people expect due to its output capability."

"We really like the physical form factor of the NTL720, as well as the way it sounds," says Walker, who notes that the NTL720's compact dimensions, flexible mounting possibilities and scalable deployment let it be used in a wide range of situations. For instance, at the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival, which attracts over 50,000 people each year, Flamingo Audio used 16 NTL720 boxes, set up eight per side on a stage that hosted music acts ranging from brass bands to rock bands to a flamenco guitarist. "The system had to cover a music performance area of about 1,000 people and cover all these types of music without sounding hyped," he explains. "The NTL720 performed flawlessly for every genre on that stage." For the University of Puget Sound's last two annual commencement ceremonies, 12 NTL720 boxes per side easily covered an event attended by an estimated 8,000 people, with EAW NT29 Self-Powered Full-Range Loudspeakers used as fills. "The last two years with NTL720s required very minor system EQ during setup, which is a good thing - we never get a soundcheck with the actual people speaking, and hear them for the first time with the rest of the audience." he says.

The NTL720 turned in the same flawless performance when the Suquamish Tribe hosted the 2009 Tribal Canoe Journey, where eight NTL720s covered a 5-acre food and gathering area with a single cluster, and for U.S. Navy change-of-command ceremonies, where, as Walker jokes, "You cannot even think of making a mistake." Citing the NTL720's consistently great sound in such varied environments and how its captive rigging allows it go up quickly and safely, Walker says the NTL720 has been a huge help for his business. "It's a great box for so many reasons," he says. "I can't imagine where we can't use them."

DX Navigator v1.0.1.00 can be found under the "SOFTWARE" section here: http://www.eaw.com/products/dx1208/specs.html

Software/Firmware Compatibility
DX Navigator Version Firmware
1.0.0.9 1.00 4 Release
1.0.0.13 1.00 4 Release
1.0.1.0 1.01 2 Release

Also posted is the RS-232 Control Protocol (v1.002) for the DX1208. The protocol document can be found in the "DOCUMENTS" section of the DX1208 page.

Release notes for v1.0.1.00 can also be found under the "DOCUMENTS" section.