The Chicago, IL sound company Sound of Authority once again relied on Powersoft K6 and Q4004 amplifiers to drive the Main and Jazz sound stages for the Tom Joyner Foundation’s Fantastic Voyage 2010 benefit cruise.
Held annually to raise money to help keep African American students in college, headliners from all walks of the music industry gathered on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas to support the week-long fundraising effort.
Due to the challenging electrical systems on board a ship, Powersoft’s capability to deliver full power and frequency response in a wide range of voltage conditions made the amplifiers the perfect choice for this application.
“We use Powersoft amplifiers for the Fantastic Voyage because one of the biggest problems we face on a cruise ship is inconsistent voltage,” said Ernie Greene, CEO of Sound of Authority and the production manager for the Fantastic Voyage cruise.
“We have measured voltage from an alleged 110-volt outlet at 135 volts and, in the past, when we used traditionally designed amplifiers, the power supply capacitors would literally burn out.”
“Because of their advanced design, Powersoft amplifiers are capable of full operational output through a very wide range of voltages.”
“When you are providing sound for the top level acts from Kevon Edmonds, KEM, Ledisi and Joseph Lewis “Joe” Thomas to Charlie “Last Name” Wilson, Avant, Chuck “Go Go” Brown, Doug E “Beat Box” Fresh and the “Master of Funk,” nothing but the best will do and that means Powersoft.”
Sound of Authority was hired as the production management company for the cruise and brings in sound, back line, house band and staffing (28 people) for the entertainment appearing in the five event venues.
The Main stage features the national acts performing in a 1,500-seat venue with mixing done through a Midas or Yamaha console, feeding XTA processors to the Powersoft K6 and Q4004 amplifiers which, in turn, drive L-Acoustics Kudo line array speakers.
“When you are on a ship out in the middle of the ocean, any problems that arise need to be solved on board,” said Greene.
“Powersoft amplifiers are extremely reliable and desirable on several levels. We bring on a lot of equipment and, because Powersoft provides unbelievable power in a one-rack space, 27-pound package, this reduces our amplifier weight load by two thirds.”
“Powersoft amps run extremely efficiently so we never stress the available amperage on board the ship. There are all kinds of features on Powersoft amps that simply didn’t exist in the past and that is really a blessing in terms of being able to complete our projects without any problems.”