Adamson CS-Series Intelligent Loudspeakers
By Maxime Brunet
On Oct . 14 , 2020 , Adamson Systems Engineering held a
small outdoor demo at their Port Perry , ON factory to showcase its new speaker line , the CS Series . Guests were able to hear flown arrays of CS7 and CS10 boxes matched with CS119 subs , as well as their point source models , the CS7P matched with a CS118 sub , as well as a pair of stand-alone CS10Ps . Adamson ’ s Head of Education and Applications , Jeremiah Karni , as well as Brian Fraser , head of product and technology , led the product demo before inviting a guest FOH engineer to mix on the different products .
Karni and Fraser s tarted the event by showcasing the CS7p and CS10p speakers . Both models demonstrated remarkable coverage for such small boxes . As full range compact point source speaker models , they would be a great addition to rental houses or venues requiring a smaller speaker box for sightline or space issues , without having to compromise audio quality . Even in the windy fall weather , both speaker models provided rich , full sound and even coverage . Guest FOH engineer Jason “ Redz ” Reynolds , whose clients include Shaggy , The Marley Brothers , and Koffee , noted that he was impressed by the massive sound provided by such a compact point source system :“ I ’ m completely blown away by how mixing the CS7p / CS118 combination sounds out of the box !”
Attendees were then treated to a demo of six CS7s and three CS119s per side . Typical of Adamson products , the CS-Series features Kevlar transducers . The CS7 contains two 7-in . Kevlar Neodymium transducers and a 3-in . compression driver . The CS-Series features a custom-designed amplifier with built-in DSP controlled by daisychainable network using AES70 ; each of these endpoints are Milan ready for AVB audio transport . The speakers also have an analog in that can be used to drive the system or as part of a digital and analog redundancy scheme . As with the point source models , the CS7s demonstrated clear sound , even at high SPL . The CS119s further proved Adamson ’ s status as a leader in subwoofer technology — the bass was tight , powerful , and physically impactful . The evening ended with a demo of the CS10 . The CS10 contains two 10-in . Kevlar Neodymium transducers and a 3-in . compression driver . This larger model provided a similar pleasurable listening experience as the CS7 , but with increased SPL and a wider coverage area .
Perhaps the most instantly sonically noticeable feature in the CS- Series is the onboard optimization , which allows users to engage an algorithm via the new Control Suite software to control typical line array shortcomings , such as the loss of midrange over distance . Fraser had attendees walk 250 ft . back in the Adamson lot to listen to the system with and without optimization engaged and the difference was striking , to say the least . The demo attendees I chatted with instantly noted the increased midrange presence and smoothing out of both the low mid-range and high frequencies , even across the long distance from speaker to audience . Reynolds also had high praise
for the system : “ Adamson has always been known for its vocal clarity and the CS10s continue that rich heritage . The array optimization is absolutely fantastic . I ’ ve never walked up to a PA and unmuted my mix and been happy with it off the bat . The CS10s paired with the CS119s did that for me .”
On the tech side , The CS-Series contains numerous notable improvements . Through the onboard amplifier and DSP-enabled network endpoint , the speakers become the first on the market to offer users individualized component monitoring without requiring the purchase of additional external devices or multiple data runs . These features will save users both time and improve overall workflow . The on-board DSP also means there is little-to-no latency added when using the new Optimization feature , unlike some current array processing software solutions . As a member of the Milan alliance , Adamson has committed to “ making Milan together ” and future-proof networked audio / video solutions . The CS-Series will interconnect with other Milan-ready devices , therefore simplifying the process of connecting high-sample-rate audio .
Adamson developed a new control software for this series , Control Suite , which allows users to design , deploy , control , and monitor their systems from installation to use through a simplified user interface . Operators will also be able to engage the proprietary Adamson optimization algorithm through this software .
The CS series represents Adamson ’ s continued commitment to Canadian engineering , with all aspects of the speaker , from onboard amplifier to the software , being manufactured at their Ontario warehouse . Existing Adamson users will be happy to know that the CS-Series features the same form factors as their previous release , the S-Series , therefore allowing for an easy upgrade to onboard amplification as well as Milan-ready DSP and AVB connectivity in a matter of minutes .
The products in the CS line , particularly the pairing of the CS10 and CS119 models , were remarkable in the lush , even sound they produced as well as the consistent coverage they provided . As the live sound industry faces the need to accommodate health protocols and social distancing at events for the foreseeable future , large coverage areas will be key to providing a great-sounding experience for audiences . Adamson ’ s CS-Series would be a great addition to rental houses looking to purchase a great sounding and future-proof line array , as well as to venues looking to upgrade their current PA to a small-but-impactful system .
Maxime Brunet was introduced to audio at the age of 17 through community radio . She now works as a touring FOH engineer , splitting her time between Los Angeles and Toronto . She developed an introduction to sound class , The DIY Audio Tech Workshop for Women +, which she has taught throughout Ontario .
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