EA Review - VL Series stack

The idea of maximum bass output from minimum sized equipment has long been the goal of anyone who's humped an 8x10" cabinet up four flights of stairs. 'It's an impossible dream' I hear you cry.

But, as technology has improved, so has the miniturisation effect embraced the bass world. Heck it wasn't so long ago we were questioning the validity of 10" speakers, but now 8" are being used regularly. But its not the speaker diameter we're talking about here, rather the lack of quantity.

For this set up we are using the EA i-AMP (integrated amp head) linked to a VL-110 cabinet and a VL-208. The first is loaded with a 1x10" woofer, a maidrange plasti-flex treated miidrange unit and a tweeter, whera the second has 2x8" speakers, a pair of plasti-flew treated midrange and a tweeter. Yes, we're using hi-fi terms here and with good cause, for this is an unusual speaker compliment indeed. Sturdy presentation too, with metal front grilled, corner protectors and 'door know' side handles on one and inset on the other. Great for carrying about, to be sure, but still a little scary for the sheer lack of bulk.

The idea of maximum bass output from minimum sized equipment has long been the goal of anyone who's humped an 8x10" cabinet up four flights of stairs. 'It's an impossible dream' I hear you cry.

But, as technology has improved, so has the miniturisation effect embraced the bass world. Heck it wasn't so long ago we were questioning the validity of 10" speakers, but now 8" are being used regularly. But its not the speaker diameter we're talking about here, rather the lack of quantity.

For this set up we are using the EA i-AMP (integrated amp head) linked to a VL-110 cabinet and a VL-208. The first is loaded with a 1x10" woofer, a maidrange plasti-flex treated miidrange unit and a tweeter, whera the second has 2x8" speakers, a pair of plasti-flew treated midrange and a tweeter. Yes, we're using hi-fi terms here and with good cause, for this is an unusual speaker compliment indeed. Sturdy presentation too, with metal front grilled, corner protectors and 'door know' side handles on one and inset on the other. Great for carrying about, to be sure, but still a little scary for the sheer lack of bulk.

	VL-110
	1x10", 1x5.25" midrange (plasti-flex treated) & tweeter

Amplifier

Euphonic Audio's 'i-AMP' is a new inclusion to the range. The company have actually only been producing speaker cabinets up until very recently.

"Not suprisingly, the Euphonics is a knob-twiddler's dream"

White faced and looking unlike anything else on the market, the i-AMP is a very comprehensive unit as even a cursory glance reveals. Rather neatly, switching it on illuminates the dot in the 'i'.

The Tone Shaping section fetures four stages of adjustment designated Lo, Lo-Mid, Hi-Mid and Hi which gives a good indication of what to expect. Each frequency range targeted is further adjustable using the associated sliders, while the Mids have another switch for sensitivity. If this wasn't enough, there are also four pre-set switches fo Deep, Presence, Thumb and Bright, so with all this at your command it's possible to set the amplifier to your indiviual needs. The Tone/Flat switch takers you from full tonal abilities to pre-set sounds only - great for instant sounds or security in a tonal crisis.

Output facilities are included on this front panel and, as you would expect, that's all fully adjustable too, with pre and post EQ options. But its curious to see the associated XLR socket located with the master level control. Effects can be looped in at the rear but both Series and Parallel systems can be adjusted for level at the front. Something that many of you will find appealing is the on-board tuner. It's the excellent Sabine system and a mute switch allows you to check your pitch silently. It has an LED scale so is ideal for a blackened stage - and it caters for up to a 7-string bass!

Dominating the back panel are the twin cooling fans - very necssary for a unit as powerful as this. The rest is littered with sockets and the main isolator - along with the effects options are line in and out and a tuner link. For the speakers there's a pair of Jack sockets aswell as a single Speakon connector.

The cabinets

Compact and built like a brick outhouse, both enclosures are a credit to their name. The larger cab is the VL-208 with its inset handles, although it's slightly less deep than the smaller VL-110. The meagre weight of both cabs will be a joy to any bass player. The metal grille and corner protectors are all firmly fixed and there's an overall feel of solidity. Both cabs feature a rear panel housing adjustments for the mid-range drivers and tweeters, plus all the appropriate sockets.

In use

As luck would have it, I was given the perfect opportunity to try this rig in anger during a bash with fellow members of the Guitarist team. For once I had the smallest backline, but their smirks of amusement soon turned to amazement when it fired up. From these relatively slender proportions comes a frightenly significant amount of raw power. With the EA system taking full advantage of the latest speaker developments, the overall sound has a distinctive slant with tremendous clarity and bite. That makes it sound a little clinical but this is certaintly not the case. It's a warm, full blooded delivery with plenty of sub bass too, but it does it all without clouding the sound. Push the front end a little and it'll bark back, and there's enough tonal variation to compensate for any failings of your bass. In fact there are so many ways to tailor the sound, what with tones, pre-sets and speaker attenuation, it's all rather overwhelming.

I had no problem in getting a great sound right off (love those pre-sets) but found myself twiddling incessantly between songs. So familiarity is essential to realise the true potential here.

Value and Verdict

The word 'stunning' seems to cover it. Sure, the price is scary, but if you want this degree of portability with this much power then you'd expect to put your hand deeply in your pocket.

The quantity of sound shapers is certainly awesome, but the response of these enclosures is so good that Euphonic are right to provide so much. Just fully explore it and you'll get some fantastic results. So if you want to trade in the station wagon for a hatchback with a decent boot, then the Euphonic Audio system will allow you to do just that - assuming, that is, that you've got any dosh left to do it. But just rest assured that this is money well spent. A worthy system indeed, good on the ears and on the back. G