DDA's 800th

Mark IV PAG shipped their 800th DDA CS3 console in the summer following the product's launch last November. UK distributor PAG Direct sent off the 800th to distributors Raper & Wayman.

By now we should all know what the CS3 has to offer. Its compact size combined with LCR panning and its top class sound have made it a real winner. But what amazes me more than anything about statistics of this nature is the vast quantities of consoles sold, I mean, where are they going? A variation on that question and probably a more honest confession is 'why do all these thousands of people/companies have money to splash out on juicy gear when I don't?' In part answer to these questions: current users include Riverdance, where the LCR mode is used for featured solo instruments and percussion (reason why they can afford the CS3 and I can't — they're a hugely successful West End dance production... and I'm not); BBC Pebble Mill's outside broadcast unit (reason — they've got masses of cash thanks to people's addiction to 'the box'... and I'm regrettably part of this TV licence conspiracy) and finally, classical label BMP Productions (reason — unknown).

Mark IV PAG. (Contact Details).

Peavey - do you take plastic?

Peavey in the last few months have been busy introducing, lots of new kit.

Moulded plastic speaker systems are all the rage and Peavey have thrown down the gauntlet with the Impulse 200 and the Impulse 200P powered model. Both speakers are of a rugged design, featuring two-way 12-inch woofers and a stackable, array able, mountable trapezoid enclosure. The powered model features a bi-amplified system (200W to the woofer, 125W to the tweeter) with a speaker/driver protection system.

The CS 1800 G is a professional sound reinforcement power amplifier capable of 1800W RMS into 4 Ohms bridged or 900W per channel into 2 Ohms. Being a Peavey amp, it will, of course, be highly respectable, and at 35 pounds in a 2U rack space, eminently luggable.

The MAQ Series of graphic equalised power amplifiers are built to be optimised for feedback suppression. The equalisers provide 12dB of boost and 18dB of cut at one-third octave spacing between 500Hz and 4kHz, with two-third octave spacing above and below. The units also offer a clever 'Feedback Locating System', causing an LED indicator to glow red above the EQ slider controlling the loudest signal — the theory being that you simply pull down the indicated slider. The MAQ 300 combines two channels at 150W RMS, while the MAQ 600 features two channels of 300W RMS.

Lastly, the HV 1280 and the HV 1580 are speakers available with either painted or natural finishes. These full-range, two-way enclosure units are designed specifically for permanent installation. Constructed of 3/4-inch plywood with a painted or natural birch finish, the trapezoidal cabinets are reinforced with 10-gauge steel bracing for use in flying arrays. Each has an opaque grille permanently attached to the baffle to provide component protection and cosmetic appeal. Very nice indeed.

Peavey Electronics Ltd. (Contact Details).

Sex & Plugs & Rock'n'Roll

Electrospeed announces a new full colour illustrated 'connections' brochure called 'Sex & Plugs & Rock'n 'Roll' which provides an introduction to the wide range of specialist high quality audio connector products from Deltron aimed at the audio, studio, and broadcasting industry. The brochure introduces Deltron's new Silent Jack now available from Electrospeed. The beauty of the quarter-inch Silent Jack is the 'complete elimination' of the annoying buzz when the jack is inserted or removed, which doesn't do much for the performance of an otherwise high quality jack. The copper tip incorporates a spring loaded sliding sleeve which acts as a switch, keeping tip and sleeve connected until the jack is fully inserted, when a movement of the sleeve provides a clean noise free connection.

Electrospeed. (Contact Details).

Dynamix take centre Stage

Dynamix have announced the release of their new PA package, the Stage 250 Special. Although anything with the word 'Special' at the end of its name reminds me of a '50s American gas-guzzling automobile, I'm assured that this package does in fact consist of a Dynamix Stage 250 PA mixer amp and a pair of custom designed trapezoidal DT15-150 enclosures. The amp offers 250 Watts of power, five fully balanced input channels, three-band EQ on each channel, and a switchable auxiliary between the on-board spring reverb and external send. The speakers feature a 15-inch woofer with twin driver ceramic horn. At £649, the Stage 250 Special is designed for maximum affordability.

Dynamix Professional Audio Ltd. (Contact Details).