NEXO Launches STM Line Array, New Amps, Processing and Dante Networking Capabilities

Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. announces the launch of several new products by NEXO France, making their debut today at this year's Prolight + Sound, running through March 24, in Frankfurt. The new products cover all aspects of sound reinforcement, making innovative inroads into line arrays, networking, amplification, and system processing, the company says.

The STM series (Scale Through Modularity) loudspeaker cabinets are the first of its kind on the market, according to the company. The new system combines the best of Nexo Alpha functionality with the technical innovation of Nexo GEO waveguide designs. STM enables line array systems to scale up or down depending on event audience size, from 1,000 to 100,000 people.

"We congratulate our Nexo partners for the innovative STM Series," states Marc Lopez, marketing manager, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. "With valuable input from end-users, we are confident our customers will find the sound amazing, and the cost-per-box along with ease of rigging an enormous asset when deploying the new line array."

The Nexo STM system can be configured from four discrete loudspeaker elements: M46 main, B112 bass, S118 subbass, and M28 'Omni' modules. System configurations can comprise arrays of main cabinets only, or main plus bass, or bass plus main plus bass. The ability to add extra bass cabinets to the system in order to increase power and headroom without introducing unwanted phase anomalies makes STM unique, as it is the first vertical array system to offer scalable LF. Deploying the dedicated subbass cabinets, either in the arrays or as ground-stacks, further increases the system's options. The 'Omni' fill speakers complete the coverage pattern, whatever the scale of the system, the company says.

The Nexo STM series main, bass, and Omni cabinets are injection-molded for maximum durability and weather-resistance. The extremely powerful bass cabinet has a frequency response of 63Hz to 200Hz, overlapping that of the sub and main modules, providing a valuable increase in LF headroom. The sub can achieve a similar SPL output to the Nexo CD18 unit using just one 18" driver. Two subs can be used back-to-back in cardioid mode, or side-by-side in omnidirectional mode.

The M46 main cabinet's flat-membrane drivers ensure complete, even, and full-range coverage over the entire 90 degree horizontal dispersion. According to the company HF frequency range remains completely linear using Kepton Polymer diaphragms that enhance tonal response and long throw. The M46 features 4 x 6.5" LF/MF drivers, 4 x HF compression drivers, has a 145dB peak SPL, and a frequency response of 85Hz-20kHz. Compact in size, the main cabinet is only 13.8" H x 22.6" W x 28.2" D, weighing in at 121lbs.

The B112 bass cabinet features a Neodymium high excursion 3,000W 12" bass driver with four-inch voice coil and shares the same dimensions, weight, and gravity center as the M46. The hybrid horn-loaded design maximizes the efficiency of the driver, delivering 6dB more than a standard front-loaded driver in this frequency range. With a 1 x 3000W +/- 3cm excursion 12" LF Driver, the bass has a 141dB peak SPL and a frequency response of 63Hz-200Hz. The B112 is 13.8" H x 22.6" W and 28.2" D and weighs 121lbs.

The S118 subbass cabinet features a Neodymium high excursion 3,000W 18" driver. A bandpass load ensures SPL output equivalent to conventional dual 18" subbasses. The unit uses a one by 18" LF Driver, has a 143dB peak SPL and a frequency response of 25Hz-85Hz. The subbass cabinet is 27.6" H x 22.6" W and 28.2" D and weighs 187lbs. The S118 can be flown in the array or ground-stacked in line and can run in omnidirectional or cardioid sub mode.

The M28 Omni cabinet is used for downfill and provides 120 degrees of horizontal dispersion and zero to 15 degrees splaying angle between modules. The cabinet features two by eight inch LF Drivers, four by four inch MF Drivers, one by HF compression driver, with a 140dB peak SPL and frequency response of 60Hz-20kHz. The Omni cabinet is 9.2" H x 22.6" W and 28.2" D and weighs 84lbs. It can also be used independently from the M46 or B112.

The STM system has been designed ready for the road. Using a range of dolly and bumper accessories, the system can be prepped in the warehouse, loaded onto dollies for transport, and wheeled right into a venue. All aspects of the STM sound system's use have been re-engineered, and its PistonRig and REDLock rigging technology allows for one rigger to fly a 72-cabinet arena system very easily, the company says.

The STM cabinets are paired with the Nexo universal amp rack, or NUAR, which contains plug-and-play digital patches, real-time system monitoring and control network functionality in addition to two NXAMP4x4s, which together can power up to 12 STM speakers, in groups of three. The innovative NUAR includes a new dual-voltage version of the NXAMP and works in conjunction with the new Digital Meter Unit (DMU), an intelligent input patch panel providing digital communication with the NXAMP, and the new Digital Patch Unit (DPU), an intelligent output patch panel.

For inclusion in the rack, Nexo is offering a choice of network card solutions. Along with Nexo's long-established NXES104 EtherSound network control, the company announces the new NXDT104 Dante audio plug-in card for the NXAMP enabling Nexo loudspeaker systems to explore the many benefits of a high-performance AVB-ready digital networking solution. The NXDT104 will distribute digital audio plus integrated control data, automatically configuring its network interface and finding other Dante devices on the network. The NXDT104 can receive four audio streams (24 bits/48kHz) in Dante format, offers a dual port for redundancy and third port for additional remote control, and a direct connection to PC using the ASIO format.

In the near future, end-users will be able to download from iTunes the first release of NeMo, an App for the iPad and iPhone providing remote control over a NXAMP network from anywhere in the venue.