Pushing the Redline
Published: PRODUCTS
Meeting the needs of rental and staging companies is the core concept behind the design of EAW’s Redline family. According to EAW president Jeff Rocha, the engineering team has been focused on ‘designing a product with a streamlined, robust feature set with no extraneous widgets that can break or get in the way of working professionals’.
Features such as symmetrical monitor angles to form left-right wedge pairs, integral road glove-ready wood handles, durable RoadCoat paint and 18-gauge steel grilles are some of the more obvious rental-friendly aspects of the cabinets. However, there are some more subtle elements that highlight how the three-member family targets this sector. The LED mute function which darkens the lights on the recessed rear panel and the removable magnetic Redline stripe are both aimed at making the sound system more discreet for visually demanding applications.
Looking at the 12-inch RL12 and 15-inch RL15 powered two-way speakers, the enclosures have three user-defined voicing options designed to speed up system tuning. These options have been designed to allow a variety of uses without the need for a computer or external processor.
Further evidence can be seen with the RL18S subwoofer, which has been designed to make cardioid setup as fast as possible. It features push-button cardioid functionality for applications using two or more of the subwoofers as well as incorporating EAW’s SB enclosure rear angle to minimise input panel visibility when in cardioid mode.
In terms of core functionality, the RL12 and RL15 tackle high frequencies with a 1.75-inch voice coil and 1-inch exit, while low frequencies are thanks to 12-inch and 15-inch cones respectively. Surrounding the cones on both models are four apertures which are designed to reduce turbulence and maximise air flow for increased bass support. Both models have 90- x 60-degree user-rotatable horns and 1,250W Class-D amplifiers. The operating frequency for the RL12 is 55Hz to 19kHz while the larger cone on the RL15 takes this down to 50Hz. For further low end support, the RL18S features a 4-inch voice coil with an 18-inch cone and offers a frequency range of 30Hz to 160Hz.