Line monitoring with Nexo's 45°N-12 loudspeaker

With the first large orders being placed by prominent sound rental companies in Germany (Babbel & Haeger and Pro Musik Trier), NEXO's 45°N-12 monitor loudspeaker will be highlighted again at Prolight+Sound 2011in Frankfurt, Germany. Visitors to PLASA 2010 in London and ISE saw the world debut of NEXO's 45°N-12 monitor loudspeaker, a radical new concept in stage sound - that of line monitoring. The innovative Nexo 45°N-12 wedge monitor brings all the benefits of line-array technology to the stage. It draws on Nexo's patented Hyperbolic Reflective Wavesource which is used throughout the GEO range of high-performance loudspeakers. The design works by wavesourcing, creating virtual acoustic sources behind the enclosure itself and below the stage, using reflection rather than coercion to determine the shape of the wavefront. Unlike a conventional high frequency waveguide in which the exit is rectangular, the Nexo monitor's waveguide forms a 'smile', enabling cabinets to be linked together to form arrays without interference between wavefronts. Monitor engineers will find that the N-12 design produces a sharply defined dispersion pattern at the same time as offering a huge improvement in terms of level before feedback. The focused coverage results in lower acoustic power on stage. SPL and frequency response are consistent up to 2.5 metres back. A magnetic locking system joins multiple monitors together, allowing scalability for both coverage and SPL level. The compact, low-profile design is less conspicuous than conventional monitors, and the 45°N-12 features a non-slip base with a skid system and ergonomic handle for easy repositioning on stage. Says François Deffarges, Nexo's technical director, "This is actually the first purpose-designed wedge that Nexo has ever made, although our best-selling PS15 cabinet is used for stage monitoring applications all over the world. We believe our design philosophy of line control will offer real benefits to engineers, performers and audiences." The 45N-12's features include an LF 1 x 12" (30 cm) high excursion Neodymium 8Ω driver along with a 1.4" throat Neodymium 16Ω compression driver withy a 3" voice coil on a 22.5° hyperboloid reflective wavesource. It weighs in at 28 kg and measures 392 x 492 x 576 mm (15.43" x 19.37" x 22.67"). The enclosure's main structure features Baltic Birch Ply finished with structured black coating, rear lower and bottom section is of Aluminium with dark grey coating. The injected polyurethane front vents and the rear upper section feature black coating. Four ergonomically mounted handles allow for ease of moving. Systems specifications with NX TD Controller include a frequency response of 55Hz - 19kHz ±3dB providing a usable range of 50Hz - 20kHz at -6dB, a sensitivity of 1W/1m, a nominal SPL of 106dB (104dB SPL Wideband), a nominal peak SPL of 137 to 140dB at 1 m with a single unit (140 to 143dB Peak with two units), an HF Dispersion of 30° horizontal with scalable 30° steps when arrayed as well as 22.5° diagonal (Coupling Plane) and scalable 22.5° steps when arrayed. 60° vertical (asymmetrical for constant level 0 to 2.5m/8ft). The crossover frequency of 1kHz can internally be configured to be set actively or passively with nominal Impedances of 8Ω HF 16Ω. and passive 8Ω. For active mode recommended amplifiers should deliver 1000 to 1500 W into 8Ω for LF and 250 to 500 W into 16Ω for HF. Suitable amplifiers for passive mode should supply 1200 to 2000 W into 8Ω.