KV2 Audio - Innovative technologies and sound reinforcement

George Jr and George Krampera, the CEO and founder of KV2. KV2 Audio.

KV2 AUDIO

Founded in 2002, KV2 Audio (KV2) is a company that is considered to be a dark horse in the audiovisual industry. Having sound at the heart of everything it does, KV2 continues to push boundaries with its innovative technologies that focus on the development of large-scale sound reinforcement across many fixed installations and live events worldwide. A company located in the also inconspicuous, small town of Milevsko, Czech Republic, it is starting to be recognised for its unique approach to loudspeaker design. www.kv2audio.com

Founder of the company, George Krampera, originally started the KV2 business in a cottage no bigger than a school classroom. After a childhood immersed in the audio business, with his father starting the original Czech Republic radio, it was inevitable that George would find himself on the same path. “I was 10 years old when I first started experimenting with the valves and components my Dad had,” said George. “Yes, I got a few shocks, but I had built my very first radio amplifier when I was very young and that set the path for me.” In his early days, George hung out with some of the most exciting new bands in Czech and soon began building power amplifiers and other equipment for their touring days. It was this strong connection with the local music scene that allowed him to develop his in-depth, practical knowledge and what got him to where he is today. George’s son, George Jr is also affiliated with the company, in the current position of CEO, and with a strong work ethic like his father, the KV2 business is developing vastly. “My father works seven days a week in his lab here at our headquarters,” said George Jr. “He is constantly redeveloping and pushing the company and I am always inspired by his drive, I think everyone

who works here is.” Being hailed as an ‘audio pioneer of modern times’, even after 50 years in the industry, George’s vision has remained unchanged - to eliminate distortion and loss of information in the loudspeaker signal path, therefore providing sound reproduction that has true dynamic range and representation of the source. George’s drive and passion for his work has now been mirrored by the team at KV2 who are continuing his legacy and ensuring his vision will continue on into the future. “We do this because we have a passion and belief in what George does. I think it would be hard for any of us to work for another manufacturer in the industry because we follow such a truth here, and we love what we do,” said David Croxton, Director of Sales at KV2. KV2’s facilities in Milevsko have come a long way from the small shed where it all began. The four-floor building is the heart of the company and every part of the manufacturing process is carried out from this quirky corner of Czech Republic. From the sturdy wooden frameworks that become the base of its products, to the final tests carried out in the incredible demonstration rooms and anechoic chamber, KV2 is at a huge advantage with its innovative space that allows

the company to grow, experiment and test its new ideas. Across the years, KV2 has manufactured and created an array of state-of-the-art products. Used across theatres, houses of worship, restaurants, hotels and bars, KV2 are well-known across the world in establishments that crave a quality sound system. One of the company’s more recent and exciting products is the VHD 5.0 point source loudspeaker array, which according to KV2 is something completely unique to the industry. The VHD 5.0 took over five years to develop and brings the benefits of point source technology to large-scale sound reinforcements. The three-way enclosure handles low frequency, mid frequency and high frequency over a range from 45Hz through to 20kHz. It incorporates eight front loaded 10-inch low mid drivers, six horn loaded eight-inch mid-range drivers and three threeinch NVPD (nitrate vapour particle deposition) titanium compression drivers on a custom designed, manifold horn assembly with summing waveguide. One of KV2’s more mammoth projects, The Brooklyn Mirage Club in New York, is equipped with the VHD 5.0s. The architecturally ambitious

KV2 Transformer

KV2 amplifier transformers that are manufactured in the headquarters in Milevsko. According to George Krampera, KV2 are one of the only manufacturers in the industry that do this in-house.

Staff at KV2 assembling PCB boards for the company’s products. A lot of the work at KV2 is carried out impressively, by hand. KV2 Workshop

KV2 EPAK2500R

A rack mount version of KV2’s popular EPAK2500 four-way, active control and amplification unit, specifically designed for the ES Series modular loudspeaker system.

KV2 Headquarters

A member of the KV2 team painting a loudspeaker. At its headquarters in Milevsko, KV2 design, manufacture and test all of its products to make sure they are of the highest quality for its customers, and the impressive installations in which they are used.

Andy Austin-Brown and George Krampera

Andy Austin-Brown is Technical Projects Director at KV2. He has been working closely with George Krampera since the very beginning and is responsible for technical implementations of KV2 products.

club needed a sound system that could handle the seven day a week tight schedule of big bass house and techno, and because of the massive 8,000 capacity KV2 managed to easily fulfil its needs. “We’re starting to sell the VHD 5.0s now for large scale venues and shows across Australia and the US. It is still early days, the product has only been around for two years, but as far as an alternative to what currently exists in large format sound reinforcement, it is the best thing that I have heard,” explained David. Speaking of KV2 and the VHD 5.0, sound engineer Johannes Krämer said: “This product is completely game changing. It delivers by volume the same as a 6 - 9 top 12-inch based line array, but with the quality of point source sound. I didn’t expect something like that could be done

Anechoic Chamber

KV2 has its very own anechoic chamber located on the top floor of its Milevsko facilities. This impressive room is the biggest in Europe and is used to demo new products, and allows the team to complete and perfect the loudspeaker systems in-house.

until I heard it with my own high resolution sound files and a live band on faders. That was simply amazing, I haven’t heard something better in that size!” At KV2, sound quality is its number one mantra. Even the company’s earlier products are still in production now, with older models still living up to their high expectations. “The first ES system is still in production today and that has been in the market since 2002. This shows the reliability and longevity of our products here at KV2. We are always looking to create new products with the same high quality, and we have a great starting point with George’s knowledge and expertise,” explained David. The family at KV2 are constantly looking to push and redefine sound quality. Bringing in

knowledge and expertise from all areas of the business, KV2 are moving with the times and keeping one eye on the scope and future of the industry. Having a guide and mentor like George Krampera is certainly proving to be the glue that holds everything together. “We are still a privately-owned company and a family owned business, which is employing local people. There are a lot of really good ethical aspects to what we do here at KV2, we’re not just a faceless corporation that is funded by banks, we are truly a private family enterprise that works in that way too. We are proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to developing even further into the future,” concluded David.