What amazes me is that most folks are not aware of how long vertical array sound systems have been around. I first encountered them when working for Executone, a company that specialized in industrial sound systems, mainly systems for hospitals, movie theaters, auditoriums, churches and stadiums. This was in 1963.
The theater and auditorium systems were huge, consisted of 6 to 9 6-inch Jensen speakers enclosed in an arched, vertical case that was placed in each corner of the venue at the ceiling. In the center of the ceiling, we usually placed a box containing 4 25-inch speakers. This stuff was incredibly heavy, a few of the installation guys were seriously injured while installing these because they worked on tall, extension ladders and had no safety gear other than a length of rope they either tossed over an open beam, or installed a screw in loop into one of the ceiling joists. Now, anyone that has been to a movie theater knows these systems provide awesome sound throughout the frequency range.
The next time I encountered a vertical array system was when Bose introduced the Bose L1 PAS, which I was introduced to by by Uncle Dave. Dave was performing in an Italian Restaurant in Philadelphia, his stage was nothing more than a stone hearth that was barely large enough for him and his gear. He was in the bar section, literally 6 feet away from the closest patrons. Had he been using a conventional sound system at the time, he would have blown the heads of those sitting closest to him, while those patrons situated in the restaurant section would not have been able to hear him at all. There were three separate rooms, divided by 4 foot high walls with spindles that went to the ceiling, which was about 9 feet high. Nice looking place, but lousy for entertainers.
Fran and I started out by having dinner in the restaurant section, where we met with his wife and daughter. When Uncle Dave fired up the system, I was about 80 feet away and the sound was awesome, not so loud that you could not have a conversation, but loud enough to clearly hear Dave and the keyboard with incredible clarity and crispness. Dave was playing and singing Almost Like Being In Love, I got up, walked throughout the venue, including into the men's room, and the sound was at the same level and clarity, no matter where I walked. Now, this was a big restaurant, probably about 150-feet wide and 80-feet deep. I was awestruck at what I heard, and the very next day, walked into GC and purchased one exactly like Dave's. I used this system until the L1 Compact became available, and knowing I would likely never do a job larger that 500 people again, traded in the larger system for a second Compact.
Since that first Bose L1 PAS came out, it seems like every sound system manufacturer on the planet did their best to catch up with Bose. And, for the most part, many of them have made great strides, especially in systems that are tailor made for working musicians and small group acts.
Granted, Bose is very expensive, but their quality and workmanship is unsurpassed. And, their latest system, remarkably, has a lot of the features that first Executone system I worked with had. The F1 system, which I had the pleasure of hearing a few months ago, is beyond belief. And, if I were young and still doing large venues, I would own a pair of them, which with sales tax, cost about $5,000 ($2,500 each). Now, this would be an awesome setup!
Gary (The old retired guy.)
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