Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based Anderson Audio recently augmented its existing inventory of Lab.gruppen amplifiers with the purchase of twelve PLM 10000 Q Powered Loudspeaker Management systems. According to Anderson Audio owner Chris Anderson, the new PLM units – each of which incorporates two full modules of Dolby Lake Controller processing along with four channels of amplification – will afford greater flexibility in reconfiguring his largest touring system as well as a more compact form factor.
“The flexibility is the biggest thing that attracted us,” states Anderson. “The cool thing about [the PLM 10000Qs] is basically every one of the channels drives a speaker, so four channels of the amp covers the four channels that the speaker system needs. All you do is dial in the PLM to whatever you want that speaker to do.”
According to Anderson, enhanced flexibility makes it easier to reconfigure his “A” system of EAW KF-760/761 cabinets for various venues, as processing must be changed for the long-throw and short-throw applications. It also simplifies reconfiguration when running more loudspeaker boxes per amplifier channel for spoken word events, or fewer for hard rock shows. “When the amplifier can be turned into whatever you need it to be, that’s a huge selling point,” he adds.
The new PLM 10000Q units supplement an inventory of twelve Lab.gruppen FP+ Series amplifiers (4 x FP 13000 and 8 x FP 7000) which are normally used to drive the systems subwoofers and EAW KF730 cabinets.
Anderson notes that a further benefit of his move to new Lab.gruppen amplifiers is major contraction in the form factor. “We’ve gone from where we were using 14- to 16-space amp racks down to an eight space rack – three amps plus a power distro. You go into an arena show and all you see are four eight-space racks on each side. It doesn’t look right, but it gets just as loud as it ever did.”
In their first month of duty, the new PLM 10000Qs were on the road constantly for a combination of full production and “racks and stacks” shows. In addition to hard-rock shows by Pat Benetar, Elvis Costello and Gov’t Mule, the schedule included dates for country singer Sara Evans and corporate events for Hershey Foods. The PLM 10000Qs also played it cool for Nobel Prize winner Al Gore and his global warming presentation at the 20,000-seat Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
“Gear-wise, we’re at the top end of companies in this regional market, so the PLMs fit right in,” summarizes Chris Anderson. “The form factor is amazing, and the sound is great.”
A long time Lab.gruppen user, Anderson Audio recouped much of its earlier investment in fP 6400 models by taking advantage of Lab.gruppen’s unique Certified Pre-Owned program, which assists companies seeking to purchase or sell select models of pre-owned Lab.gruppen amplifiers. “That program certainly let us step up to the PLMs much more easily,” Anderson remarks.
The PLM Series of Powered Loudspeaker Management systems was introduced in September 2007 and is now available worldwide. Developed jointly by Lab.gruppen and Dolby, the PLM Series utilizes proven Dolby Lake Processor technology and expands upon it with a suite of load verification and performance monitoring features. The power amplification section builds on the foundation of the road-tested FP+ and legendary fP Series, providing the same sonic signature for seamless integration of system using any or all of the Lab.gruppen products. The PLM Series also incorporates advanced Dante multichannel networked digital audio standard, along with proprietary features for load verification and real-time performance monitoring of amplifier channels and all connected loudspeakers.