What's so exciting about this new wedge, then? Surprisingly it's the first time that NEXO, for 30 years an elite manufacturer of high-end sound reinforcement for performance, has ever produced a purpose-designed stage monitor. However, it is also a logical progression from their patented line-array design technology, drawing on the 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 very 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.
An ingenious 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 (ideal for live TV production), 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, "We believe our design philosophy of line control will offer real benefits to engineers, performers and audiences."
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