Sirius Showequipment AG Upgrades Tour Capabilities With Crown I-Tech HD

14 September, 2009, PLASA 2009

Having used several generations of Crown products over a number of years, German sound company Sirius Showequipment AG has upgraded its fleet of Crown amplifiers with 16 of the new I-Tech 12000 HD’s to drive the company’s monitor system.

Wolfgang Neumann, CEO of the Niederdorfelden-based company, explained that the I-Tech HDs were deployed for the five-month “Machmalauter” tour by Die Toten Hosen, where monitor engineer Dirk Happel has four drive racks supporting the system.

The new HD series raises the bar for tour sound amplification. At its core, I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS and Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivalled performance. Together with Crown’s Class-I amplifier technology; new software that makes I-Tech HD robust and very easy to configure; a choice of input options including CobraNet and the new LevelMax™ limiters (Peak, Thermal and RMS), I-Tech HD is a stunning product of engineering R&D — all pressed into a lightweight (28lbs) package.

Holger Shader, Sirius Showequipment’s Technical Director/Senior Engineer, confirmed that despite his company’s long association with Crown, his team first evaluated the new Crown series against a four-channel amplifier from another industry leader. “But in terms of power and sound quality, nothing came close to the I-Techs,” he said.

“We tested them on a couple of wedge monitors but then with Die Toten Hosen tour coming up, we decided to buy them,” added Shader.

The consistent 2U footprint has enabled a direct swap-out of Sirius Showequipment’s previous I-Tech 4000’s in the existing monitor racks.

The new I-Tech HD series features next generation BSS OmniDriveHD DSP engine technology, built on a new architecture specifically optimized for fast and efficient audio processing. The new FIR filter technology provides significantly improved midrange clarity and dramatically improved off-axis response. The OmniDrive HD reduces latency, safeguards sonic integrity and advances system reliability, with 24- bit, 192 kHz A/D and D/A converters. Harman HiQnet™ System Architect ™ mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

“We are well aware of the I-Tech’s processing attributes,” continued Holger. “With this improved spec it was an easy decision to upgrade to the I-Tech HD’s.”

Sirius has a long association with Crown technology extending back more than a decade. In addition to the I-Tech 4000s, it has formerly used Macro-Tech MA-5002VZ and MA5000VZ amplification.

But with the new generation I-Tech HD Sirius Showequipment is future-proofing its inventory. After the current tour the amp racks will embark on another exhausting tour of duty with the band Pur — a band serviced by Sirius for 15 years, back in the days when Holger Schader was the bands FOH sound engineer!