The Secrets Of Pink Floyds Quad PA (CH Audio)

Fascinating look at some old tat, some interesting stories in the comments too

LOUDER THAN LOUD

Below is a post i made on PSW/LAB regarding the Pink Floyd Kelsey/Martin PA that the Pink Floyd used.

I was lucky enough to experience the original Pink Floyd Kelsey/Martin system several times - the first time at the Dark Side of the Moon premiere concert at the Rainbow Theatre in North London. This was, at the time, the loudest concert I had ever experienced (I thought the roof was going to come down with Nick Mason's drums during one of their oldies - the concert was in 2 halves (DSOTM and oldies) and despite the lack of mid cabinets the sound was pretty good for the time, probably because the vocals didn't need to be very prominent in the mix and certainly way better than the WEM system they had used previously. The second time was at an open air concert at Knebworth, just north of London, in 1975 - this time with the addition of the 2x15 Gauss mid cabs. There were issues with the sound the result of, amongst other things, the fact that the system only arrived back in the UK a day or so before the event and the fact that the additional long throw JBL festival horns were still being loaded with drivers on the morning of the concert. Overall the sound was pretty good - certainly for the time - and certainly man enough to cover the crowd, albeit at less than ear shattering levels. The third time was for a free Queen concert, this time in Hyde Park in London.in 1976 - this time, the system shone. Freddy Mercury's vocals were crisp and clear as they should be.
The use of the various mid cabinets is discussed on the Martin Audio History section of their website and discusses the demand for such devices to give more clarity to vocals - the various models ranged from a 2x12 angled cab which was superceded by a 3x12 angled version then these were themselves superceded by the ubiquitous Phillishaves 1x12 an 2x12 cabinets the latter cabs finally allowing vocals to cut through the mix.
I, myself, used a small Martin system in 1973 with 2x 1x15 JBL loaded bass bins and 2xVitavox Flares loaded with Vitavox drivers with custom passive x-overs built by Dave Martin all driven by HH TPA 100 amps. To say the system honked was an understatement!

For sidefills, can we have two enormous things of a type that might be venerated as Gods by the inhabitants of Easter Island, capable of reaching volumes that would make Beelzebub soil his pants.

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godathunder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 19 July 2004 Location: wicklow Status: Offline Points: 1888	Post Options Post Reply Quote godathunder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Secrets Of Pink Floyds Quad PA (CH Audio) Posted: 10 August 2024 at 12:17pm
	Fascinating look at some old tat, some interesting stories in the comments too
	LOUDER THAN LOUD

njw Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 26 March 2010 Location: S. Wales Status: Offline Points: 2700	Post Options Post Reply Quote njw Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 August 2024 at 10:00pm
	Saw that a while back, those Phase Linear amps look superb, and mid range hadn't been invented yet!

jazomir Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 20 November 2006 Location: Sunderland UK Status: Offline Points: 1759	Post Options Post Reply Quote jazomir Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 August 2024 at 11:51am
	Below is a post i made on PSW/LAB regarding the Pink Floyd Kelsey/Martin PA that the Pink Floyd used. I was lucky enough to experience the original Pink Floyd Kelsey/Martin system several times - the first time at the Dark Side of the Moon premiere concert at the Rainbow Theatre in North London. This was, at the time, the loudest concert I had ever experienced (I thought the roof was going to come down with Nick Mason's drums during one of their oldies - the concert was in 2 halves (DSOTM and oldies) and despite the lack of mid cabinets the sound was pretty good for the time, probably because the vocals didn't need to be very prominent in the mix and certainly way better than the WEM system they had used previously. The second time was at an open air concert at Knebworth, just north of London, in 1975 - this time with the addition of the 2x15 Gauss mid cabs. There were issues with the sound the result of, amongst other things, the fact that the system only arrived back in the UK a day or so before the event and the fact that the additional long throw JBL festival horns were still being loaded with drivers on the morning of the concert. Overall the sound was pretty good - certainly for the time - and certainly man enough to cover the crowd, albeit at less than ear shattering levels. The third time was for a free Queen concert, this time in Hyde Park in London.in 1976 - this time, the system shone. Freddy Mercury's vocals were crisp and clear as they should be. The use of the various mid cabinets is discussed on the Martin Audio History section of their website and discusses the demand for such devices to give more clarity to vocals - the various models ranged from a 2x12 angled cab which was superceded by a 3x12 angled version then these were themselves superceded by the ubiquitous Phillishaves 1x12 an 2x12 cabinets the latter cabs finally allowing vocals to cut through the mix. I, myself, used a small Martin system in 1973 with 2x 1x15 JBL loaded bass bins and 2xVitavox Flares loaded with Vitavox drivers with custom passive x-overs built by Dave Martin all driven by HH TPA 100 amps. To say the system honked was an understatement!
	For sidefills, can we have two enormous things of a type that might be venerated as Gods by the inhabitants of Easter Island, capable of reaching volumes that would make Beelzebub soil his pants.