Estonia’s Heliart expands Powersoft offering

Estonian sound and lighting rental, sales and installation company Heliart has strengthened its inventory of Powersoft products significantly by investing in the manufacturer’s new X Series amplifiers.

Heliart started working with the Italian amp maker a little over a year ago, after placing an order for its K Series amplifiers. But now they have taken the relationship a step further.

Owner Priit Kivimägi explains how the partnership developed: “We had used another premier amplifier brand for a long time but had a chance to do a side-by-side comparison. Powersoft’s wide model range covered our needs better and it was easier to find a perfect match for our EAW systems. On top of that, we just loved the sound of the Powersoft amps.”

With three K10’s installed per amp rack – and an option to add another one should it be necessary – Heliart could easily drive a smaller line array system with subwoofers from a single amp rack, and a rack per side to power EAW’s KF730 line array system, with or without subs. Meanwhile, K3’s are mainly used for mobile systems and monitor applications.

Then, at Prolight + Sound last year, Kivimägi witnessed the launch of X Series. “We are always expanding and upgrading our inventory, and happy as we are with the current K Series, the new X Series had some really cool features. We placed our order for the X8 at the beginning of the season and have had a few months to play around with it.”

By that, he means they have tested it “at numerous events in every possible way and mostly under heavy conditions,” including one where 10x EAW KF730 and four EAW SB2001 dual 21” subs were driven by a single X8. “And it turned out we could have accommodated at least two-to-four extra line array modules easily.” The hardest task for the Heliart X8 so far has been to drive 12 EAW SB1000 dual 18in subwoofers, “but once again the result was amazing.”

Kivimägi maintains that the ‘coolest’ feature of the X Series is the power supply, which automatically adjusts according to the powering options available from the main grid. “Allowing single, bi- or three-phase operation even with a neutral loss helps to reduce the risks due to unexpected issues with the electrical system,” he said. “Plus it is unnecessary to equip the amp racks with complex power distribution units.

“Eight channels in 2U means we can save rack space and therefore truck space as well. Small systems can now be driven by a single amplifier which reduces set up time and complexity of the sound system meaning cost effective solutions for the customer. Saving from logistics and labour means higher ROI at the end of the day.

“Even though we will continue adding K10’s to our inventory we see the X8’s taking the lead role in the future.”

Picture (from left): Priit Kivimägi with Heliart business partner Indrek Klaus.

www.powersoft-audio.com