Fohhn Linea LX-100

The standalone frequency response is 65Hz to 20kHz, and power handling is rated at 400W nominal, 800W program material or an absolute short-term peak handling of 1600W. Sensitivity is quoted as 94dB for 1W at one metre. In terms of power handling, then, the LX-100 isn't that different to what you'd expect from a well-specified, single 12-inch top, and the same could be said of the maximum SPL, which is specified as 126dB at one metre. Remember, though, that your 126dB can be directed more effectively using a line array than from a standard box of the same acoustic output, as the level drops less as you move off axis in the horizontal plane. A further benefit is that the speaker is extremely weather-resistant due to the use of impregnated-cone drive units mounted in aluminium housing, making it suitable for outdoor events.

Acoustically, the LX-100 is a two-way, non-ported, passive array comprising eight identical four-inch drivers plus a single one-inch compression driver feeding into a short waveguide to cover the HF end of the spectrum. This has been designed to match the angular dispersion of the main drivers. With the type of cylindrical wave this driver geometry generates, the sound pressure level drops less with distance than a conventional 'box' speaker, which in turn maintains speech intelligibility more effectively at greater distances. Furthermore, as less sound is directed towards the ceiling, the reverberant field of the room will not be excited to the same extent it would be with a conventional speaker, making line arrays of this type especially useful in difficult rooms.

Two Speakon connectors are provided: one to feed in the signal from the active sub or amplifier and one to link through to another speaker where necessary. For more permanent installations, there's a recessed terminal strip on the rear panel for hardwiring, based around an eight-way Phoenix terminal strip, where adjacent pairs of pins are connected in parallel for looping through to another speaker system. Four M6 threaded mounting points on the rear can be used for fitting stand adaptors that slot onto standard 35mm speaker stands, and these have swivel joints, allowing the LX-100s to be angled upwards or downwards where required. If you buy the optional covers, these are tailored to accommodate the speakers with their stand mounts fitted. As with all Fohhn hardware, the standard of finish is immaculate, with a black powder-coated aluminium shell and matte-black metal speaker grille. The overall size is just 130 x 120 x 990mm, with a weight of under 7kg each — you could almost fit a pair into a guitar case! For more demanding use, the longer LX-150 is outwardly similar, but has 12 drivers rather than eight, can handle 50 percent more power and can produce up to 130dB SPL.

Tonally, the speakers are much like other Fohhn top boxes I've tried, with excellent clarity and a near hi-fi sound quality. The big difference is the dispersion pattern, which means you can almost stand alongside them and still hear a clear sound. Once the sub balance is set correctly — and I always tend to set it a decibel or two below the manufacturer's recommendation — the transition from low to high is seamless, so you get bags of level, plenty of low-end kick, yet the visual impact of the speakers is almost nil. In fact, the stands are more obtrusive than the speakers hanging on them! Because there's less 'beaming' of the sound, the feedback situation is better than with conventional boxes, and I could easily be tempted to use a pair of these as sidefill stage monitors and dispense with floor wedges altogether. You wouldn't need a sub for that purpose, just a low-cut filter to limit the low end. You'd still hear all the bass you need from the main PA.