Adamson Systems’ Brian Fraser discusses the company’s new CS-Series

ADAMSON SYSTEMS

CS-SERIES

Ahead of the launch of the CS-Series, TPi’s Stew Hume catches up with Adamson Systems Head of Product and Technology, Brian Fraser, to discuss the company's latest generation of speakers.

Over a decade in the making, Adamson Systems’ latest CS-Series was set to be finally unveiled at this year’s InfoComm in Las Vegas. Alas, with the global pandemic having put paid to that idea, TPi found ourselves on a Zoom call with Adamson’s Brian Fraser to talk about the development of the new system and what it means for both returning and new customers before being launched at the trade show’s virtual edition this year.

“The history of this platform really goes back at least a decade,” began Fraser. Put simply, the CS-Series is the natural successor to the company’s existing S-Series of loudspeakers. The CS-Series brings the heralded performance of Adamson’s sub-compact S-Series loudspeakers into the ‘networked future’, with onboard amplification and DSP, plus Milan-ready AVB connectivity. Rounding out the series are a suite of CS rack-mounted systems and a dedicated CS software solution. The new line will be available as a standalone product or as an upgrade to existing S-Series. “We’re expecting that this option will be very popular with existing customers,” enthused Fraser.

“There are thousands of S-Series boxes out across the market, which can now be converted. The process of converting an S to a CS-Series is very simple. It’s literally removing four screws, removing the existing jack plate, snipping the lead wire and inserting the new plate.”

In terms of specific elements, the CS-Series is made up of: the ultracompact CS7 two-way, full-range array enclosure; CS7p point-source enclosure; and companion CS118 subwoofer, along with the sub-compact CS10 two-way, full-range array enclosure; CS10n narrow-dispersion array enclosure; CS10p point-source cabinet; and companion CS119 subwoofer.

Also included are four rack-mounted products designed to provide the necessary tools to get the highest level of performance from the boxes. The CS Gateway is a 16 by 16 matrix with 16 channels of DSP, containing dual

LAN, Milan-ready AVB, AES/EBU, and analogue connections. The NDS is a network and analogue patch bay that allows users to send redundant audio and control to CS loudspeakers on a single network cable.

Th e PDS ensures that all CS-Series systems receive ample power, regardless of region, and also allows the user to monitor consumption data, both per power output as well as overall draw. The CS Bridge is designed to replace existing network infrastructure in Adamson's E-Rack, allowing users to integrate the CS-Series seamlessly into their existing inventories by converting dual-LAN, Milan-ready AVB signal to AES/EBU, while also offering six channels of DSP per unit. Fr aser continued to outline Adamson’s decision to concentrate so heavily on the AVB networking. “It really began about a decade ago alongside the initial development of the CS-Series,” he explained. “Credit has to go to Brock Adamson, who pushed for our move over to AVB. As a team and looking over all of the audio-over-ethernet protocols, AVB was the clear winner. It’s been great for us and we’re seeing customers are more and more receptive to the idea as well.”

It might seem like a practically challenging time in which to launch a whole new range of speakers. However, according to Fraser, due to the timing of the global lockdown, Adamson had already managed to do a lot of the beta testing in the field test as well as get the new systems in front of customers before the global lockdown. “The first piece of the range – the CS7P

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– actually came to market almost two years ago at this point. As for the doors for Adamson. “Certain markets we feel the CS-Series would find a rest of the range, a number of people have already got to hear it and the home would be the musical theatre touring market as well has helping us feedback has been very positive,” he said to widen our corporate impact,” he said.

One such industry expert who got to hear the system prior to lockdown “The Adamson S-Series is a proven staple of the international was veteran system designer and FOH Engineer, installation and mobile markets,” contributed Patrick Demoustier – Simple Minds, Night of the Adamson CEO Marc Bertrand in closing. Proms, Rock Werchter – who commented: “The CS“CS-Series loudspeakers, software, and Series is already the future of networked audio. The CS7p offers an incredible power- and headroom“CS-Series loudspeakers, rack-mount products build on a legacy and bring Adamson’s consistency, innovation, and to-size ratio and the proven sound quality of software, and rack-mount performance to a powered, intelligent loudspeaker Adamson’s line array systems. We’ve used it with great success on many corporate events, products build on a legacy platform that is built for – and will help to usher in – the future of professional audio.” fashion shows and car shows and as front fills and and bring Adamson’s Having been officially presented to the market delays with larger systems; meanwhile, the CS7 is probably the most powerful ultra-compact array consistency, innovation, and – virtually, at InfoComm 202 Connected – the Adamson team is preparing for the next phase of enclosure out there. When I first used it, I was sure performance to a powered, the launch. “Although it is a trying time, launching that the limiter settings weren’t correct – so much power and body from such a compact speaker intelligent loudspeaker a product now means that you have a captive audience, which we are hoping will work in our without even being close to the limiter threshold. platform that is built for – favour,” concluded Frasier with a smile, explaining But I was wrong…” Although, as Fraser commented, the CSand will help to usher in – the how the entire Adamson team will be continuing to send out more relevant information to those who Series is very much the evolution of the S-Series future of professional audio.” are interested. and therefore could find a place in the market anywhere in which you find S-Series speaker, he Marc Bertrand TPi Photos: Adamson Systems believes the new range could open some new Adamson Chief Executive Officer www.adamsonsystems.com