GEAR 23_COVER - JHS

PA’s, whether large or small, conventionally have always tended towards a traditionally symmetrical
‘stereo’ layout to them. Now though Fishman’s innovative line array-based SoloAmp makes a good
case for a re-write of the PA rulebook, reckons Brian Barnes.
‘Because the hardest thing a performer should have to carry is a
tune’ is how Fishman themselves advertise their intriguing new
SoloAmp PA system. Well, we like the sound of that already.
Aimed primarily at the performing singer/songwriter, SoloAmp
is intended to provide ‘exceptional sound quality and coverage’,
thanks to its stated ability to pump out 220 watts of clean
power via a vertical line array of six custom high-excursion
speakers and soft-dome tweeter. Radical...
So why have we tended to accept over the years that in club
and pub-sized gigs, the twin speaker column PA set-up is best?
Well, this is effectively an optimum way of spreading the FOH sound
screen at most gigs in a balanced output format for us two-eared,
stereo-detecting humans. Mostly though, live gigs feature mainly
mono sound going into two output channels, but the twin speaker
layout still works well in providing optimal sonic coverage. So you
might look at the SoloAmp set-up and think, ‘where’s the other
column then?’ perhaps followed by ‘where’s the amp and mixer?’...
Obviously there are many more conventional styles of
acoustic amplifiers available on the market, including
Fishman’s own excellent Loudbox, offering full range
reproduction with facilities for vocal input as well as
an instrument. However, these are more often than
not floor-mounted units, even though in the case of
the Loudbox they are in a monitor wedge style format
with the sound projecting forwards and upwards.
However, this can only ever offer limited audience
coverage unless the sound is also fed into a dedicated
accompanying PA, which is a significant additional
cost factor – and a lot more to carry in to the gig.
Commendably, Fishman have looked at these problems
with a more ‘wide-screen’ approach. With the SoloAmp,
Fishman have opted to utilise state-of-the-art line
array technology, notable by its distinctive ‘vertical
tower’ speaker arrangement designed, say Fishman, to
‘With the SoloAmp, Fishman have opted to utilise
state-of-the-art line array technology’
When confronted with the Fishman SoloAmp for the first time,
especially if you haven’t really considered what it might physically
look like, there are a number of surprises in store for you where your
brain might have to have its ‘reset’ button pressed.
You might also have heard that the SoloAmp focusses heavily on
the use of ‘new technology’, and so maybe you’re expecting some
crazily mad futuristic-looking box of techno-tricks. If that’s the case,
then that first look at Fishman’s SoloAmp will leave you seriously
impressed by how elegant, stylish and
compact it all looks – minimalist and
‘futuristic’ too, even – and how
well engineered the unit is.
provide ‘... exceptional sound quality and coverage’ with
its compact line array set-up.
SOLOAMP SPECIFICATION
Okay, so that’s a brief intro, and we’ll check out how it all
performs in a paragraph or two, but what sort of specification
is involved? Well, as stated, the SoloAmp is designed to
pump out a healthy 220 watts RMS; behind that
chunky protective perforated metal front
grille are no less than six vertically-stacked
4” mid-woofers pushing out 200 watts
via a servo power amp, with a single
1” neodymium soft dome tweeter
adding the remaining 20
watts. The internal
servo power amp
eliminates the
need for any
additional bass-boosting subwoofer, and the enclosed tower also
includes all the related electronics, amplifier and controls for the system,
greatly increasing the portability and convenience of the SoloAmp.
Better still, much of the technology used in the SoloAmp comes
from already having proved itself in their Loudbox units.
So, it’s a two-channel, full-range system where, on
the impressively user-friendly recessed front control
panel, both mic/instrument channels feature
both balanced XLR and unbalanced standard jack
inputs. Switchable 48v phantom power is available
for each channel alongside independant 10dB input
gain pad push switches. Each channel has its own
column of 3-band EQ rotaries, with the input Gain rotary
and accompanying clip warning LEDs. Four selectable levels
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