Built in 1942 as an art deco movie house, the Admiral Theatre is in Bremerton, Washington, fell into disrepair and closed in the late 1980s. It returned in the early 1990s following a US$4.2m renovation, bringing it into the 21st century while retaining its 20th Century charms. Now, anticipating its 75th anniversary, it has undertaken US$1.2m upgrades to its infrastructure and its sound reinforcement system, including adding 11 new Clair Brothers 1AM+ and 1.5AM+ powered monitors.
‘Performers these days are looking for hi-fi sound in their monitors – the days of a simple horn-in-your-face are gone,’ says Admiral Theatre Production Manager Andrew Saylor, who also plays the role of Audio 1, House System Tech and frequent FOH mixer. ‘We wanted something that could handle volume while still remaining punchy, transparent, and bright. We demoed a lot of different top-name manufacturers, and the Clair Brothers 1AM+ and 1.5AM+ powered monitors stood out as having the greatest sonic characteristics and, considering their integrated amplifiers, a reasonable price point.’
Because the Admiral Theatre’s stage suffers from low-frequency build up, Saylor opted for nine Clair Brothers 1AM+ monitors. Two beefier 15-inch/4-inch 1.5AM+ monitors serve as bass and/or drum wedges. By opting for the powered ‘+’ versions, the Admiral Theatre did away with the complication and extra expense of an amplifier rack.
Saylor reports that all of the acts have been more than pleased with their on-stage sound. These include Take Me to the River (an all-stars blues ensemble featuring Bobby Rush, Charlie Musselwhite, and William Bell), Paula Cole, Al Stewart, Kellie Pickler, and many more.
‘Everyone’s getting a great vibe on stage,’ Saylor says. ‘The Clair Brothers monitors have been contributing to some really excellent performances.’
More: www.clairbrothers.com
