EAW® KF740 Line Array Shines at ACM Experience

Las Vegas-based H.A.S. Productions outfits the stage at Mandalay Bay with their newly-acquired EAW® KF740 inventory

Whitinsville, MA, USA, April 17, 2012 – In the several days leading up to the 47th annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, which took place on Sunday, April 1, 2012, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the city was host to dozens of other events held in conjunction with the Awards. Outside the Mandalay Bay resort, thousands of eager country fans (up to 10,000 at any given time) gathered on Friday, March 30, up through the start of the awards on Sunday, to witness “The ACM Experience,” a stage of performances and other special events. Outfitting this stage was Vegas-based H.A.S. Productions, Inc., an independently-owned and -operated full-service production company. For the gig, H.A.S. selected a system including KF740 Line Array Modules and SB2001 Large Format Subwoofers from loudspeaker manufacturer Eastern Acoustic Works® (EAW®). H.A.S. chose the KF740 rig for its power and versatility, things that cannot be taken for granted at a live event of this magnitude.

Over the event's three days, such talent graced the stage as J.T. Hodges, Craig Morgan, Eli Young Band, ACM Duo of the Year winners Thompson Square, John Rich and Steel Magnolia. The system for the event consisted of 24 KF740s and 12 SB2001s, powered by Powersoft K20, K10 and K6 power amplifiers. Front fill was augmented by two EAW KF200NT Small Format Array Loudspeakers. Processing was handled by EAW's UX8800 Digital Signal Processor connected to the proprietary U-Net network, allowing for very simple system configuration with other U-Net enabled products.

The KF740/SB2001 rig is a relatively new acquisition for H.A.S. Productions, and it has already been put to great use elsewhere besides the ACM Experiences; recent jobs include concerts for Dwight Yoakam and Big & Rich, as well as the National Finals Rodeo at Las Vegas' Cox Pavilion. Company principal Larry Hall stated, “Once we heard the KF740 system, we realized that it was the perfect rig to go along with our business model. We took initial delivery in November 2011 of 24 KF740 and 12 SB2001s, and we're planning to augment that with an additional 16 KF740's and eight SB2001 subs in the near future. As soon as we made the move to EAW, we began liquidating our other inventory to become primarily an EAW house.”

Hall sums up why he and the team at H.A.S. are impressed by the KF740: “It provides the sound of a full-size P.A. with the physical dimensions of a mid-sized system. The fact that we can put an arena system on a 24-foot truck and still meet weight at a weigh station was a pretty big deal for us. At 105 pounds per module, the KF740 offers audio quality that surpasses anything else in its class. It's convenient to rig, convenient to transport, and the bottom line is, it sounds incredibly stellar, with an amazing full-range punch. This is the system for us, and as we expand our inventory, we are excited about the prospect of using these modules for years to come.”

For more information, please visit www.eaw.com.