ProAudio Review - July 2008 - (Page 50)

LIVE | REVIEW by Strother Bullins Cerwin-Vega! Professional Active Series CVA-28 and CVA-118 Speakers The new Active Series is worthy of an exclamation point! It takes a pretty confident company to regularly use an exclamation point in its own name. For over 50 years, Cerwin-Vega! — a manufacturer of professional, hi-fi, and mobile audio gear — has generated plenty of exclamation-worthy enthusiasm through their varied product lines. Led by company founder Gene Czerwinski, Cerwin-Vega! introduced such pro products as the world’s first solid-state amplifier and an 18-inch driver-equipped sound system producing 130 dB at 30 Hz in 1954 and 1956, respectively. The thrills continued with the manufacturing of loudspeakers and other components for companies such as Fender, Sunn, and Vox during the ‘60s; a 1974 Academy Award for Special Technical Achievement; and relationships with acts such as the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Peter Frampton throughout the ‘70s. Today, Cerwin-Vega! — now part of the Stanton Group alongside KRK Systems and Stanton DJ — has squeezed it’s big, legendary sound into a very impressive mobile PA system. The newly unveiled Active Series features a small, powered, full-range top box — the CVA-28 — and three choices in powered subs measuring 15, 18 and 21 inches — the CVA-115, CVA-118 and CVA-121. In this review, I tested two CVA-28 and two CVA-118 boxes in a variety of applications. And yes, what I discovered did validate typing all these exclamation points! | FEATURES The CVA-28 is a dual, eight-inch, active, full-range speaker with a continuous power capacity/performance level of 400 watts, 800 watts peak. Frequency response is 70 Hz – 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB), maximum SPL is 128 dB (800 watts), and sensitivity is 99 dB (1w/1m). The CVA-28’s top eight-inch M/LF driver offers a two-inch voice coil and a concentrically mounted 34mm HF voice coil; the bottom eightinch driver also has twoinch voice coil. Cabinet dimensions are conveniently small; across the front panel, the speaker is 11 inches wide, 20.5 inches tall, and 12 inches deep. The cabinet tapers to an 8.5-inch width at its rear panel, and it weighs 48 lbs. The CVA-28’s rear panel includes balanced XLR female and quarter-inch TRS inputs; balanced XLR male and quarter-inch TRS outputs; rotary level knob; robust toggle switches for Mic/DI or Line, No Sub or Sub, and Off or Contour selection; voltage selector; power switch; and AC input and thru-put. Variously colored LEDs for Signal, Protect, Limit, and Power also reside on the back panel. Above these rear components is the large heat sink for CVA-28’s robust amplifier. The CVA-118 is an 18-inch active subwoofer with a continuous power capacity/performance level of 700 watts, 1400 watts peak; its internal amp is the CVA600. Frequency response is 41 Hz – 135 Hz (+/- 3 dB), maximum SPL is 131 dB at 1200 watts, and sensitivity is 100 dB (1w/1m). Dimensions are 21 inches wide, 25 inches tall, and 23.5 inches deep; total cabinet weight is 115 lbs. The CVA-118’s rear panel includes two balanced XLR female and two quarter-inch TRS inputs; two balanced XLR male and quarterinch TRS outputs; one male XLR and quarterinch Link Out outputs with Master or Slave toggle; polarity reversal toggle; power switch; and AC input. Like the CVA-28, variously colored LEDs for Signal, Protect, Limit, and Power also reside on the back panel. Also on the CVA-118 rear panel is a high- APPLICATIONS: Live — small to mid-sized venues and outdoor settings; Install — DJs and houses-of-worship FEATURES: (CVA-28) three-way; dual eight-inch active full range speaker; 400 watts continuous, 800 watts peak; 70 Hz – 20 kHz (+/- 3dB) frequency response; 128dB max. SPL (800 watts); sensitivity is 99dB (1 W/1m). (CVA118) 18-inch active subwoofer; 700 watts continuous, 1400 watts peak; 41 Hz – 135 Hz frequency response (+/3dB); 131 dB max SPL at 1200 watts; sensitivity is 100 dB (1W/1m). PRICES: $849 and $1,320 (CVA-28 and CVA118, respectively) CONTACT: Cerwin-Vega! | ¤ 954-316-1501 | · www.cerwin-vega.com 50 | ProAudio Review | July 2008 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.cerwin-vega.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - July 2008

ProAudio Review - July 2008 Contents Publisher's Page: Inside Broadcast Production Studio News and New Products Steinberg Nuendo 4 Digital Audio Workstation Developments & Trends: Digital Audio Workstation I/O JZ Microphones Black Hole BH-1 Apple Logic Studio Behind The Scenes: JBL Professional – A 60-Year Legacy Broadcast News and New Products WLOY: Real World Facilities For An On-Campus Radio Station Post News and New Products Hot Gear InfoComm 08 Chandler Limited TG1 Abbey Road/EMI Series Limiter/Compressor Live News and New Products Cerwin-Vega! Professional Active Series CVA-28 and CVA-118 Speakers QSC Audio Model GX5 Power Amplifier From The Road: A Week In The Life — Gear Essentials Contracting News and New Products Taming The Driving Factor — Drums UpSampler: sE Instrument Reflection Filter Buyer’s Guide: Live Sound Amplifiers Single Slice: Roger Powell “Fallout Shelter”

ProAudio Review - July 2008

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