'ELEPHANT'S BUM' COVERS ALL!

Grabbed your attention with this headline, didn't we? That's just as well, because this is something that you should definitely know about. The product is JBL's new 4660 'defined coverage loudspeaker' which has already earned itself the nickname 'the elephant's bum' (on account of its looks - not the sound it produces, we should add!).

The 4660 delivers a uniquely defined coverage pattern of sound dispersion, which matches the shape of the area as seen from the horn. Traditional PA horns tend to have too narrow a coverage at the front of your audience, with too wide a sound dispersal at the back. The JBL4660, on the other hand, is a completely new type of unit which gives an even spread of sound to both the front and back of a hall.

With a frequency range quoted at 40Hz-15kHz, a frequency response of +4dB 80Hz-12kHz and a power capacity of 150 watts RMS, the 2-way 4660 (with a crossover frequency of 800Hz) looks like introducing a completely new dimension in horn design. It would seem to be ideally suited for small/medium sized PA rigs. More details on all JBL products from Harman (Audio) UK Ltd., (Contact Details).

APRS - A Perfect Recording Show

IT readers interested in the professional aspects of recording should make a definite note in their diaries of the dates for this year's APRS (that's the Association of Professional Recording Studios) annual exhibition - which is to be held on June 12th, 13th. and 14th. from 10am to 6pm. The venue is the Kensington Exhibition Centre, Derry St. Kensington, London W.8. On display will be equipment from all the major studio equipment suppliers, making this the recording industry show. IT readers should note, however, that admission is limited to those who turn up on exhibition days with their business cards - showing that they are professionally involved in the audio industry. Alternatively, write (as soon as you can) to Mr. EL Masek, Secretary, APRS, (Contact Details) asking for an invitation.

IN TUNE will be covering the APRS Show, of course, and visiting readers can pick up copies of the mag. from the Quark Stand (No. 133). Let's hope we'll be seeing you there!

MEANWHILE, DON MOVES HIS SHOW

Don Larking Audio Sales (one of the UK's leading studio and recording equipment suppliers) will be having their own show for recording aficionados, on June 12th, 13th & 14th at the London Tara Hotel Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London W.8. Opening hours are from 2p.m.-8p.m. on the 12th, 11a.m.-8p.m. on the 13th and 11a.m.-8p.m. on the 14th. Don will be showing gear from Aiwa, Aphex, Applied Microsystems, Bel, Fostex, Lexicon, MXR Quad, Rauch, Rebis, Soundcraft, Soundtracs, Studer/Revox, Tannoy, TC Electronics, Trident Teac/Tascam, Westlake and Yamaha. Entry is open to anyone interested in recording - so don't miss it!

OTARI HEAD NORTH

Otari fans based in the North of England have, at last a fully-fledged sales and service organisation on their doorsteps in the form of AVM Ferrograph, based in Jarrow, Tyne & Wear. The Otari range has been added to the specialised AVM-Ferrograph Series 77 mono/stereo recorder, as well as Ferrograph's audio test equipment and, AVM tell us, full service and repair facilities are to be available on site.

More info, from Audio Video Marketing Ltd., (Contact Details).

HHB UNLEASH THE BEAST

What better surroundings to unleash the latest monster power amp from Amcron than London Zoo - complete with its wild animals? That was the venue chosen for the U.K launch of the Amcron Micro-Tech 100, the latest in the range of what must be, surely, the world's best-selling power amp range, by British distributors HHB.

Apparently, the new Amcron is the first of a new generation of this maker's amps, and is a miniature high-tech power amp designed for studio monitoring, PA and general power amp use, where it can be employed to deliver a staggering 1,000 watts of power - all from a single 3 1/2" rack mounting package.

Designed to withstand the most abusive conditions of use, the new Amcron Micro-Tech 1000 features the Amcron 'Output Device Emulator Protection' circuitry, which enables it to detect and compensate for overheating and overloading. Like previous Amcrons, it doesn't require any fan-assisted cooling.

The new Amcron offers 3 configurations: 400 watts per side into 4 Ohms, 500 watts stereo into 2 Ohms and an incredible 500 watts per channel into 2 Ohms. You can even extract 1,000 watts from the Amcron, by bridging the output to mono and driving a 4 Ohm load. With a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz at 1 watt into 8 Ohms, a Harmonic Distortion rated less than 0.05% from 20Hz-20kHz, IM Distortion better than 0.05% from 25 mWatts to 250 watts per channel into Ohms, a slew rate greater than 13 volts per microsecond and so on, the Micro-Tech 1000 looks like becoming a very cost-effective PA and monitoring power amp where maximum sound pressure levels are required from the minimum of rack space.

RRP of the Amcron Micro-Tech 1000 is £950 + VAT. More details from U.K distributors HHB Hire & Sales, (Contact Details).

'BIG MAC' FROM McKENZIE

Already well known for their speakers, McKenzie Acoustics have just launched a complete new range of PA and instrument enclosures which look particularly suitable for the working band.

On the PA front keep your eyes open for McKenzie's 2,000 watt 4 way PA system designed into 3 compact units, flightcased for extra transport protection. Made of seasoned birch ply, the system comprises a bass 15" flare (handling 300 watts at 8 Ohms) with a Xover point recommended at 400 Hz. Next in the system is a midrange 12" flare (also taking 300 watts, with a Xover frequency suggested at 1200Hz). Top frequencies are delivered from a 10" speaker loaded cab. which takes 400 watts.

Bands needing less power should look to the McKenzie 1Kw system, a more compact 3-way package, again made of seasoned birch ply, comprising a 300 watt 2x10" + bullet arrangement taking a Xover feed above 5,000 Ohms. Bass frequencies are handled by a 200 watt devouring tuned bass enclosure with a recommended Xover point of 800 Hz. Fully flightcased, using XLR connectors and with steel mesh protection of the drivers, the new McKenzie PA gear looks perfect for very many bands embarking on buying their own PA systems.

Meanwhile, IT readers looking for instrument speakers should check-out two new instrument cabs from McKenzie. The first of these is a 400 watts RMS 4x12" lead enclosure claimed to have outstanding 'crispness and attack'. It's said to be impervious to the effects of wet or dry heat. The new McKenzie lead enclosure is matched by a 400 watt RMS rated bass guitar system for advanced quality bass guitar sound reproduction. This system comes in two parts, the first being a 200 watt RMS 15" reflex tuned enclosure, and the (optional) second unit a tuned 2x10" unit taking 200 watts running up to 8 kHz. The complete rig would, we reckon, be ideal for the contemporary 'slap' style bass player who needs fast transient attack in his or her sound.

More details on the new McKenzie enclosures from McKenzie Acoustics Ltd., (Contact Details).

JBL Amps Hit the Road - Hard

Designed (so they tell us) to be exceptionally rugged, JBL have just announced two new power amps, apparently well suited for PA applications.

Called the 6230 (2x150 watts) and the 6260 (2x300 watts), the new amps are being built for JBL by the famed studio equipment makers UREI. Both models employ discrete circuitry 'to give a fast slew rate, allowing the amplifier to produce full output at the extremes of the audible range' the makers claim, and they also feature several fail-safe measures internally, to ensure reliability. These include an output relay during power up/down phases, high temperature protection, current limitation under adverse loads, clipping indication and diagnostic indication of any sources of possible difficulties.

Constructed from a frame of 14 gauge steel, protected against 'road fever' damage, the new JBLs look like being highly interesting competitors in the roadworthy PA amp stakes.

More info from Harman (Audio) UK Ltd., (Contact Details).

Taurus - No Bull - from Carlsbro

Yet more PA gear news this month! This time it's from Carlsbro, who have just announced details of their new Taurus range of PA Cabs and systems.

The handsome new Taurus range comprises a complete line of very affordable PA gear from Carlsbro, including 7 new models. These are, in order, the ST2120 (RRP Inc. Vat £221.03) 150 watt rated 1x12" + HF Radial Horn enclosure, the RRP £256.68 ST2150 (150w 1x15" + HF Radial Horn), the RRP £217.47 ST4080, a 200 watt rated 2x8" + 2x Radial Horn enclosure, the ST4100 (£303) a 200 watt 2x10" + 2x HF Radial Horns, the ST8150 (£383.20) a 200 watt 1x15" + 1x8", + HF Radial Horn, the ST8100 (£352.94) 2x10", + 2 Radial Horns and, finally, the ST8180 (RRP £355.11), a 300 watt rated 1x18" enclosure.

As if this complete range of medium-cost PA enclosures wasn't enough, Carlsbro have also launched two new mixer amps, the Cobra X-90 (RRP £160.43) a 90 watt 3 input, 3 channel mixer amp, and the Marlin X-150, a 150 watt 3 input, 3 channel mixer amp destined to retail for just £199.64. Both these mixer amps are designed to offer basic 'no frills' mixer amps, designed primarily for Pub and Club applications, and will accept tape, mike and instrument inputs.

More details on Carlsbro equipment from Carlsbro (Sales) Ltd., (Contact Details).

FRAZER FABLED

Making considerable waves among Pro players, Frazer-Wyatt's DX range of ultraperformance speaker enclosures has just been expanded by the launch of eight new speaker systems for PA, keyboards, electronic drums, bass guitar and disco use. Frazer-Wyatt's DX speakers are very different from the average enclosure; designed, the makers claim, to eliminate bass resonance, hence delivering a clean bass performance with high efficiency and unusual clarity. Now the Frazer-Wyatt range has been expanded downwards towards the sort of prices more affordable to the average player and P.A. user with the newly announced ZX/FX/KX and VX enclosures, available in 100 and 200 watt versions.

The new range of Frazer-Wyatts begins with the FX-100 (RRP £279 per pair) suited to PA vocals and acoustic instruments. The RRP £440 per pair FX-200 comes in LH and RH pairs and features a 12" horn + tweeter. A sensitivity of 100dB and frequency range of 50 Hz-16 kHz completes the spec

Suited to keyboard (with what Frazer-Wyatt describe as a 'high clarity, deep, clean bass') there are two enclosures offered, the KX100 and KX200 12" + horn tweeter systems. These cabs run a frequency range from 40Hz-16kHz. For a really punchy low-frequency keyboard system, and to add real wallop to electronic drum sounds, Frazer-Wyatt also offer their new ZX100 (£182) and ZX200 (£260) models, fitted with 15" speakers and horn tweeters. With a sensitivity delivering 101dB and a frequency range quoted at 30Hz-16kHz they should certainly add impact to any keyboard orientated sound system.

Bass guitarists are catered for by the VX models, the 100 (at £169) and the VX-200 (selling for an RRP of £220). These are 15" enclosures with sensitivity rated at 101dB, and a frequency range of 30Hz-5kHz. Judging by the way that many Pro players have accepted the Frazer-Wyatt DX Series, these lower cost models should prove highly useful to less well off semi-pro musicians, and we're trying to arrange a review sample for a future issue of IT. Meanwhile you can get more details from Frazer-Wyatt Industries, (Contact Details).