Electro-Voice EVID 4.2 (2001–)

The EVID 4.2 is the middle child of Electro-Voice's EVID line - "EV Innovative Design" - a family of surface-mount commercial loudspeakers molded from the same ABS plastic as EV's weather-resistant SX series. The 4.2 has dual 4-inch woofers around a center-mounted 1-inch titanium-diaphragm tweeter with a Coherent Coverage Waveguide. All of it sits in an ellipsoidal, football-like enclosure that Pro Audio Review (September 2002, p.4) found to be a radical departure from the typical box. It looks better in modern architecture, but it's functional too, since the shape and mount together give installers far more aiming flexibility. The line launched in late 2001 (the earliest EV documentation carries an October 2001 Telex copyright). A "T" version adds an internal 70/100 V line transformer for distributed systems.

The mounting hardware is the real story here. EV's Strong-Arm Mount (SAM) ships with each speaker and includes a hex key and angle markers. The cast alloy arm allows 45 degrees of rotation at the cabinet pivot and a 100-degree sweep at the mounting plate. A hex-nut tightening system holds it, and reviewers found that far more positive than a typical ball-and-socket joint. The enclosure is weather-resistant, paintable in black or white, magnetically shielded for video applications, and light at 8.5 lb. Push terminals are spaced to accept banana plugs. A matching 12.1 subwoofer could be added for extended bass, and EV offered an HS-series stand kit for the 3.2 and 4.2.

Specs for the 8-ohm version, per EV's published figures: 65 Hz–20 kHz frequency range, 89 dB sensitivity (1 W/1 m), 100 W continuous / 400 W peak power handling, 115 dB max SPL, and 120° x 80° coverage. The transformer version offers 70 V taps at 3.75 W and 70/100 V taps at 7.5, 15, and 30 W. Pro Audio Review (September 2002, p.4) put the 8-ohm 4.2 at $340 per pair and, in a real installation swap against a pair of JBL Control 1s, praised the solid midrange and neutral (rather than sparkly) highs; close-mic measurements in a flat room reached down to about 100 Hz, with the claimed 65 Hz likely achievable given corner placement and room gain. The reviewer's verdict: good sound, but the positioning flexibility of the SAM mount is what sets it apart.

Type: Dual 4" two-way surface-mount loudspeaker
HF driver: 1" titanium diaphragm, neodymium magnet, Coherent Coverage Waveguide
Enclosure: Elliptical weather-resistant ABS, paintable black or white
Frequency range: 65 Hz–20,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 89 dB (1 W/1 m)
Power handling: 100 W continuous, 400 W peak
Max SPL: 115 dB
Coverage: 120° horizontal x 80° vertical
Impedance: 8 ohms (T version: 70/100 V transformer)
Weight: 8.5 lb
Original price: $340 per pair (2002)