Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. in Buena Park, Calif., announces the launch of several new products by NEXO France, which are debuting this week at this year’s ProLight+Sound Expo in Frankfurt, Germany. The new products cover all aspects of sound reinforcement, including line arrays, networking, amplification and system processing.
NEXO STM line array
The STM Series (Scale Through Modularity) loudspeaker cabinets are designed for touring, festivals, and sound company rental, the new system combines NEXO Alpha functionality with NEXO GEO waveguide designs. Scale Through Modularity (STM) enables line array systems to scale up or down depending on event audience size, from 1,000 to 100,000 people.
The NEXO STM system can be configured from four discrete loudspeaker elements: M46 main, B112 bass, S118 sub-bass, and M28 “Omni” modules. System configurations can comprise arrays of main cabinets only, or main plus bass, or bass plus main plus bass. STM offers the ability to add extra bass cabinets to the system in order to increase power and headroom without introducing unwanted phase anomalies, as it is said to be the first vertical array system to offer scalable LF. Deploying the dedicated sub-bass cabinets, either in the arrays or as ground-stacks, further increases the system’s options. The “Omni” fill speakers complete the coverage pattern, whatever the scale of the system.
The NEXO STM Series main, bass and Omni cabinets are injection-molded for maximum durability and weather-resistance. Plus, the bass cabinet has a stated frequency response of 63 to 200 Hz, overlapping that of the sub and main modules to increase in LF headroom. The sub can achieve a similar SPL output to the NEXO CD18 unit using one 18-inch driver. Two subs can be used back-to-back in cardioid mode, or side-by-side in omnidirectional mode.
The M46 main cabinet’s flat-membrane drivers promise complete, even, and full-range coverage over the entire 90-degree horizontal dispersion. HF frequency range remains completely linear using Kepton Polymer diaphragms that enhance tonal response and long throw. The M46 features 4×6.5 inch LF/MF drivers, 4x HF compression drivers, has a 145dB peak SPL, and a frequency response of 85 to 20k Hz. The main cabinet is 13.8×22.6×28.2 inches (HxWxD), weighing 121 pounds.
The B112 bass cabinet features a Neodymium high excursion 3,000-watt 12-inch bass driver with 4-inch voice coil and shares the same dimensions, weight, and gravity center as the M46. The hybrid horn-loaded design maximizes the efficiency of the driver, and is said to deliver 6dB more than a standard front-loaded driver in this frequency range. The bass has a 1×3,000W +/- 3cm excursion 12-inch LF driver, a 141dB peak SPL and a frequency response of 63 to 200 Hz. The B112 is 13.8x 22.6×28.2 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 121 pounds.
The S118 sub-bass cabinet features a Neodymium high excursion 3,000W 18-inch driver. A bandpass load ensures SPL output equivalent to conventional dual 18-inch sub-basses. The unit uses a 1x 18-inch LF Driver, has a 143dB peak SPL and a frequency response of 25 to 85 Hz. The sub-bass cabinet is 27.6×22.6×28.2inches (HxWxD) and weighs 187 pounds. The S118 can be flown in the array or ground-stacked in line and can run in omnidirectional or cardioid sub mode.
The M28 Omni cabinet is used for downfill and provides 120 degrees of horizontal dispersion and 0- to 15-degree splaying angle between modules. The cabinet features 2x 8-inch LF drivers, 4x 4-inch MF drivers, 1x HF compression driver, with a 140dB peak SPL and frequency response of 60 to 20k Hz. The Omni cabinet is 9.2×22.6×28.2 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 84 pounds. It can also be used independently from the M46 or B112.
The STM system uses a range of dolly and bumper accessories, and can be prepped in the warehouse, loaded onto dollies for transport, and wheeled into a venue. All aspects of the STM sound system’s use have been re-engineered, and its PistonRig and REDLock rigging technology allows for one rigger to fly a 72-cabinet arena system.
The STM cabinets are paired with the NEXO Universal Amp Rack, or NUAR, which contains plug-and-play digital patches, real-time system monitoring and control network functionality in addition to two NXAMP4x4s, which together can power up to 12 STM speakers, in groups of three. The innovative NUAR includes a new dual-voltage version of the NXAMP and works in conjunction with the new Digital Meter Unit (DMU), an intelligent input patch panel providing digital communication with the NXAMP, and the new Digital Patch Unit (DPU), an intelligent output patch panel.
For inclusion in the rack, NEXO is offering a choice of network card solutions. Along with NEXO’s long-established NXES104 EtherSound network control, the company announces the new NXDT104 Dante audio plug-in card for the NXAMP, enabling NEXO loudspeaker systems to use a high-performance AVB-ready digital networking solution. The NXDT104 will distribute digital audio plus integrated control data, automatically configuring its network interface and finding other Dante devices on the network. The NXDT104 can receive four 24-bit/48kHz audio streams in Dante format. It offers a dual port for redundancy and third port for additional remote control, and a direct connection to PC using the ASIO format.
Yamaha states that in the near future, the first release of NeMo, an App for the iPad and iPhone providing remote control over a NXAMP network from anywhere in the venue, will be available for download from iTunes.
Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems Inc. will show the new NEXO STM System at InfoComm 2012 in Las Vegas. The system is targeted for availability in late summer. For more information on the new product line from NEXO, visit www.yamahaca.com.
