KPA100 100W RMS @ 4 OHMS MIXER AMP SPEAKER SYSTEM

PROFILE SYSTEM ONE PA SYSTEM

This newly-designed Kustom system takes many of the principles of high-convenience, user-friendly integrated PA construction and offers them in a totally portable package.

With a nominal 100 watt power level, the Kustom Profile 1 is unbelievably easy to manoeuvre, thanks to light unit weight and chunky built-in handles. It's equally easy to install and set-up, with a basic ‘two-lead' amp-to-cab lead connection system.

The upright mixer amp is designed to give you the minimum of hassle with regard to setting up your sound. Each of the mixer amp's five input channels has individual controls for channel volume, tone and reverb. Four of these channels offer either balanced XLR mic/jack line inputs, with the fifth channel catering for a line or instrument input.

Onboard effects are also available in the Profile 1, with a choice of reverbs, echoes and chorus settings to choose from. A small master control section selects overall reverb and playback level, with a three band EQ setup accompanied by a large Master Volume rotary.

Overview

There's no doubt that it's 'all change' from the days when the PA was what the vocalist sorted out and set up at a gig (well, they've got to do something to help out before they start all that poncing about), while the rest of the band organised everything else. PAs were in those days invariably a mixed assemblage of scruffy black boxes in an indeterminate state of non-gig readiness, filled with scratchy potentiometers and inoperable switches. Decorated by a nightmare of cable spaghetti, sorting out your 'EQ' and 'balance' took as long as it takes to say “1, 2... can y'hear me at the back?”

Nowadays, everybody needs PA. Even the smallest gatherings, from church socials to kids' parties, will benefit from one voice being louder than anyone else's - without shouting. There's even evidence of system styling in most PA units nowadays too, y'know, and looking very stylish indeed is the new 'Profile System One' from legendary US amplification name, Kustom. Here is further evidence too of a new attitude prevalent amongst PA manufacturers in terms of making these systems much more user-friendly overall; not least in terms of lugging the boxes about, always something of a chore. The Profile System One attempts to change such attitudes right from the off via an optional means of transportation* - a dedicated semi-rigid matching holdall (complete with huge gig bag pocket for storing various PA leads and so on), freewheeling casters and a fully retractable, extending handle with which to guide it about... how civilised.

Layout

Essentially a three-piece 'trapezoidal boxes' system in a textured effect battleship grey, the heart of Kustom's Profile System One is in a self-standing tower format - as opposed to desk-style - five channel mixer amp, rated at 100 watts RMS, with two ported satellite cabinets.

The control panel layout certainly won't cause you any problems, even if you've only ever used your home hi-fi before this. In fact, in similar fashion, the largest rotary control is the Master Volume. Alongside this sits the top grouping of six smaller rotaries; the top three are the master output EQ of bass, mid and treble controls. In below sits a rotary for Playback, with the controls for the selectable onboard digital effects next in line; effect type, and level.

The control grouping below this section is more reminiscent of an actual mixing board, with the controls for the units five channels grouped in a vertical fashion; top to bottom, effects level (in that channel), tone and individual channel volume level.

Directly below these rotaries are the actual signal inputs, with four channels offering mic or line inputs via jack or balanced XLRs, with the fifth channel adapted for mic or instrument input.

A small 'patch' section located horizontally along the bottom of the Profile System One's front panel has a jack insert, jack effects send/return and jack footswitch, with left and right phonos doubled for record and playback purposes.

In Use

Setting up the Kustom Profile One takes about as long as saying 'Testing, testing, 1 -2, 1 - 2', which is nice. Long-gone horrors of masses of untraceable cable spaghetti spread all over the floor are nothing but a fading memory with setups like this, as two straight forward 'jack to jack' leads go from the mixer amp's exceedingly minimal back panel into the speaker's sockets. There are simply no other sockets here to confuse technophobes, or indeed anyone who might doubt their ability as a full-time audio engineer.

Not only is this system easy to transport, it takes up so much less 'punter space' especially if you're playing a little gig in the snug bar of your local pub. What's the point of rolling a mega watt system that AC/DC might ask to be turned down, into your local gig? This way, the landlord will love you because his customers will have room to spend money in his establishment whilst enjoying your act, and you will be asked back. This is a good result.

As you'd expect, with an RMS power level of 100 watts feeding two cabs which holds mesh-protected 2 x 6” speakers + tweeter each, there's plenty of low/mid clarity and detail. These smaller diameter speakers certainly keep the sound nice and tight, almost a compression-type effect. It'll handle most PA chores, from karaoke to Kelly's Eye, but could prove especially useful for solo, duo, trio vocal and guitar acts, for instance - the 6 inch speakers naturally offer a pleasant amount of detail in that particular mid/low mid area of the sound spectrum, and the available choice of digital delays and reverbs round the sound off nicely in a live context. From a little light small room reverb, through chorus reverb, to some dedicated short delay slap back, there should be enough options for most of the Kustom's target market tasks.

The Kustom can push out a fair bit of good old fashioned bottom end bass too, though you have to remember that the energy used to produce bass frequency levels will absorb that power from higher frequencies.

Conclusion

Surprisingly loud for such a hi-convenience PA package, the Kustom System Profile One should win more than a few converts on that stance alone. It's more flexible than you might think too, and the price should surely clinch the deal for anyone who can't quite make up their mind. It'll be a winner in the wine bar gigs!

PROFILE POWERED MIXER
• 100 Watts RMS
• Eight 24-Bit Digital Effects
• 5 Channels
• 1 Instrument-Ready Preamp Input
• 4 Balanced XLR Mic Inputs
• 5 Line Level Inputs
• 3-Band Master EQ
• Volume, Tone, Effects Controls per Channel
• CD/Tape Playback Input & Volume Control
• Phantom Power
• Internal Effect Source Routing
• Effects Loop

PROFILE SPEAKER ENCLOSURES
• Line Array Technology Focuses Dispersion
• Tuned Trapezoidal Cabinet
• Dual 6.5-Inch Speakers
• Ceramic HF Unit with Constant Directivity Horn
• Tuned Bass Port
• Heavy-Duty Textured Finish
• Mounting-Ready Stand Hardware
• Ergonomic Carrying Handle
• Two 25-foot Speaker Cables

*included in the full system here