Paris-based developer Nexo has revealed a radical yet simple progression in large-format PA design at Prolight + Sound. The STM Series steers away from the conventional line array arrangement and presents users with a modular, “Swiss Army knife” approach, according to technical director François Deffarges.
Significantly, Nexo has invested heavily in a rigging mechanism ? which will enable one engineer working alone to build a complete PA.
Introduced by Nexo’s Stuart Morch-Kerrison (pictured) STM is Nexo’s response to the emergence of so-called “second generation” line array systems. It also taps into the Nexo “DNA” of supplying users with versatile and powerful but compact cabinets.
STM (“Scale Through Modularity”) comprises four types of enclosure of proportional dimensions: Main, Bass, Sub and Fill. The Main cab contains four 6.5” drivers for the mid-range and four Kepton-polymer membrane HF drivers which give a smoother response from 10 to 20kHz.
Speaking exclusively to PSNEurope, Deffarges said: “We’ve gone for a horn-loaded 12” speaker in the Bass cab for 63-200Hz coverage. That allows a splaying angle of 0 to 10º. When you give users the ability to couple from 0-10º, it is much more versatile and useful to them than one that couples 0-5º.”
The Fill speaker, which can be splayed to 15º, will handle side and downfill needs; the Sub is designed to “project LF and give even coverage”.
“Using the system is going to be very simple,” continues Deffarges. “You build what you need, like putting together Lego bricks. The recommended set-up ratio is simple too: one Bass, one Main, one Sub – ready to play.
“The 12” horn-loaded Bass cab will surprise people with the concentration of power it produces.”
Versatile in the air, STM can be flown one wide, two wide or three wide on a single bumper. Critically, says Deffarges: “Our Main and Bass units, flown side-by-side, are smaller and more powerful than any competitive line array. A Main and Bass cabinet together will compete with any existing high-end system.”
