This stereo headphone driver is designed to provide hardwired onstage in-ear monitoring to earbuds and headphones from 16 to 600 ohms. The rugged beltpack unit features left/right line-level XLR inputs; a protective brickwall peak limiter with adjustable threshold; a stereo/mono switch that can sum the left/right XLR inputs and an additional 3.5mm stereo input. Drive power is 300mW into 30 ohms; response is 20 Hz to 20k Hz (±1.7 dB). The belt clip can be replaced with an optional clamp for attaching to mic stands, drum hardware, etc. Price is $150/street.
More details from Whirlwind (www.whirlwindusa.com):
ROCHESTER, NY — Whirlwind, a leading interface manufacturer for the live event, audio installations, and theater industries, manufacturer of everything from cables to concert splitters to electrical distribution systems and beyond, has released a PW-1 Personal Wedge for the perfect monitor mix. The PW-1 is a high-powered stereo headphone driver for use with on stage in-ear monitoring systems. It is a well-constructed, heavy-duty hardwired beltpack unit that has left and right balanced, line level XLR inputs. Features include a protective peak limiter with adjustable threshold preventing any high volume to suddenly get through, a stereo/mono switch, and an additional 3.5mm stereo input.
“In typical Whirlwind fashion, we’ve created a well-thought-out, hard-wired, easy to use system for in-ear monitors that is priced right for all musicians, pros and weekend warriors,” says Will Young, Marketing Director/Artist Relations. “We are getting amazing reviews from drummers and keyboardist especially. It is great for artists who don’t need to pay for the expense of a wireless in-ear system, but still want the advantage of a being able to have a personal mix and all the other advantages a wireless in-ear system offers.” Drummers especially like the option of putting a click track in the second stereo input. “It’s also great for those singers/acoustic guitarist who play the smaller gigs without moving around a lot.”
Whirlwind was founded in 1975 by Michael Laiacona, who has built a company that, in the words of Young, is “the company that connects everything — speaker cables, concert line arrays, consoles, and beyond.” They are consistently spec’d on the largest custom installs including places like the Yankee and Cowboy stadiums and even the White House. “One thing that is consistent across all product lines is that we overbuild, whether it be for installations, theaters, live events, concert touring, or players looking for a good guitar cable,” Young adds. “Everything we do is developed and built right here at our plant, and we’re able to make sure the reliability factor is extraordinarily high.”
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