The “Brit Floyd Experience” saw a Turbosound rig of Aspect and Flex Array loudspeakers provided by Mansfield, UK–based ESS. UK dates so far have included London’s Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena, three shows at the Liverpool Echo Arena, and festival shows at Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight. The 70-date 2011 Brit Floyd tour goes into the UK and Ireland next spring.
The sound system for the majority of the venues is based on a 48-box Aspect rig, supplemented on occasions with Flex Array sub-rented in from colleague Turbosound stockist companies. “Normally, we’re flying 24 Aspect TA-890H three-way mid/highs on 3-wide bars with 19 TA-890L double 15-inch cabinets, and eight TSW-218 double 18-inch subs on the floor,” says ESS’ Phil McDaniel. TQ-445s are brought into use as front-fills and side hangs where required, depending on the venue.
“We kicked off at the Royal Albert Hall earlier in the year, which was an absolutely stunning show,” adds McDaniel. For this show, the P.A. was configured as a mono source with three hangs each of 12 TFA-600H Flex Array mid/highs and a further hang of 15 Aspect TA-890L double 15-inch bass in the center, and eight ground-stacked TSW-218 subs in a single block.
“I don’t think I’ve heard the rig sound so good,” he says. ESS is also busy handling SR for theater shows with Steve Earle and then Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa—both with a 6-a-side Flex Array rig. The Max Boyce comedy tour is employing a TQ-440 theater rig.
