EAW KF Series Loudspeakers For Iron Maiden World Tour

ML Executives exceeds expectations with top-quality concert system
and expert technical support

Whitinsville, MA – January 11, 2007 - EAW KF760 Series line arrays as well as other EAW concert loudspeakers were supplied by the new U.S. operation of ML Executives for the just-completed Iron Maiden "Matter Of Life Or Death" world concert tour.

ML Executives, directed by Gary Marks, dispatched line array technician Michael Hackman to oversee the house system during the arena tour’s journey from the U.S. to Japan and then home to Europe with concluding dates at Earl’s Court in London. Brantley Sound of Nashville supplied the loudspeakers, amplification and system processing for the U.S. leg.

The system stayed fairly consistent from show to show, with front left and right arrays usually comprised of 14 EAW KF760 and two KF761 near-field modules. These were flanked by side-fill arrays of six KF760 above two KF761. Geometric differences presented by each arena account for slight array structure variations.

“The EAW line arrays have headroom to spare, and can be made to sound not so ‘hi-fi’ but rather more of an appropriate extension of heavy guitar-based metal rock, a particularly good match with a band of this nature,” Hackman states. “Another thing I really like about the KF760 box is that it goes up very quickly. You just roll it in, hook it up and lift it in the air. Particularly on bigger shows where we often have to wait for everything else to go in and then wait more for fly points, the faster it goes up, the better.”

EAW SB1000 dual-18-inch-loaded cabinets produced plenty of sub-bass energy, generally floor-stacked three over three per side. It was to have been four subs high, but the late addition of four over four sets of EAW KF750 three-way touring loudspeakers atop each sub stack changed that plan.

“As an old-school band, Iron Maiden likes having PA ground stacks as well as the flown arrays to enhance the particular PA ‘feel’ they’ve grown used to. It gives them an added vibe on stage that’s coming from the house, particularly when they walk out on the stage thrusts,” Hackman explains.

As usual, Hackman utilized the EAW Smaart platform for measurement and analysis, and specifically, its impulse function to help clear up all system time alignment issues. After alignment, he then deployed Smaart as a spectrum analyzer.

“Our overall mission was keeping all of these output sources acting as a single cohesive unit,” Hackman concludes. “We’ve been doing some pretty large shows over the past three years with this system configuration and it’s served our clients quite well.”

###

About EAW
Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) is a global leader in producing high-performance professional audio equipment trusted by the most discerning professionals for every possible sound reinforcement application. EAW is a registered trademark of LOUD Technologies Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

###

Photo Captions: (click on photos for hi-res version)

Iron Maiden System Vertical & Horizontal: Two views of the flown EAW KF760 line arrays as well as ground-stacked EAW SB1000 subwoofers and KF750 full-range loudspeakers utilized for the world concert tour by Iron Maiden.		Iron Maiden Line Arrays: One of the tandems of EAW KF760 line arrays providing primary sound reinforcement on the Iron Maiden world concert tour.