From www.radianaudio.com
Radian MicroWedges Offer Ben Harper
Quality And Cost Savings
"OXNARD, CA (November 10, 2003). Embarking on
a yearlong world tour is an expensive proposition, especially
when it comes to transporting bulky audio equipment. Mindful
of those costs yet eager to maintain a consistently good
sound, singer-songwriter Ben Harper made the decision earlier
this year to purchase a lightweight, transportable setup
that includes Radian Audio's ultra-compact MicroWedge floor
monitors, as well as digital consoles and other equipment.
Nine months later, Harper's road crew reports that not only
has that saved them money, but it also ensures that Harper
and his band, the Innocent Criminals, get the high-quality
sound that they expect on stage, night after night.
For as Derek Van Ord, Harper's monitor engineer, explains,
while the freight cost saving offered by the floor monitors
is indeed significant, it was the sound quality, visual
appeal, compact size and robust construction that sold him
on the Radian MicroWedges. "They are rock solid in
all categories," he reports. "They're smooth,
clear, have a loud vocal punch, a sleek, small footprint,
and they're nearly indestructible."
He recalls that Jon Monson, who is responsible for systems
and tours at Rat Sound, first introduced him to the MicroWedge
when it was still in prototype form. Dave Rat, co-owner
of the 20-year-old sound reinforcement rental and sales
company based in Oxnard, California, had a major role in
designing the MicroWedge in conjunction with Radian Audio.
Van Ord liked what he heard and recommended that Harper
take some MicroWedges on the road with him. "Since
first using the prototype MicroWedge 12 I have not wanted,
nor have I seen, any other wedge on my stage except the
MicroWedge," reveals Van Ord.
The Radian MicroWedge offers a uniquely shaped, arrayable,
low profile design and features a powerful co-axial 12-
or 15-inch speaker with a 2-inch compression driver that
offers low distortion and a very flat frequency response.
"I'm using two 12-inch MicroWedges and two 15-inch
MicroWedges for Ben, plus three 12s for Jack Johnson, our
opening act," says Van Ord. "Ben uses the 12s
and his guitar player, Marc Ford, uses the 15s."
Monitor technician Chris "Grandpa" Rymarz agrees
that the MicroWedges have become indispensable, offering
Harper and the Innocent Criminals consistent, high-quality
monitoring for every performance. "Ben Harper doesn't
play anywhere without MicroWedge 12s," he says.
Based in Southern California, Radian Audio Engineering manufacturers
quality loudspeakers and speaker components for permanent
installed sound systems and other live sound applications."
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