Audio-visual production services provider Forty Two, Inc. of Youngstown, OH, recently purchased ten Radian Audio Engineering APEX-1500 low profile, 15-inch two-way coaxial stage monitor speakers and eight RPS-218 dual 18-inch subwoofers. According to company founder and president Tony Ferrello, the rider-friendly products offer the best return on investment in today's tough economy.

"We wanted to save as many dollars as we could and get the best quality product," explains Ferrello, who established the company, which offers a broad range of audio, video and lighting production rental services and sales, in 2001. "We were looking for something that was extremely acceptable and also had good rental value. We've been really happy with them. The first time we used them, my monitor engineer said that these monitor speakers are just incredibly loud and clean."

The purchase decision behind the eight RPS-218 subwoofers was a similar story, he continues. "We liked the wedge and we figured we'd try the double-18s. We compared them with X Subs -- they were comparable, and they work really well."

As Ferrello explains, the speakers had to be top quality but also flexible enough to handle a wide variety of applications: "We're an audio-visual company and we primarily do corporate and special event production, plus a lot of government sector work including events for the President of the United States. But we also find ourselves with a handful of pretty decent sized rock shows and some touring packages every year. Being in the Midwest we have to be able to adapt to different types of events in order to stay busy."

Since taking delivery of the Radian Audio systems, Forty Two, Inc. has put them to work on regional performances by Dennis DeYoung, Kansas, .38 Special, Chevelle and Social Distortion. "It's been a cross section of bands; the speakers are really useful in that sense," he observes. "That's what we're really happy with. They have a very good sound that allows you to deal with some of the classic stuff, but they also get so loud that they can do hard rock shows without breaking a sweat. Social Distortion is incredibly loud, so the fact that those wedges cut through really says something!"

Ferrello has been very pleased with his decision to purchase Radian Audio speakers. "We like the products and we're going to continue using them. They're valuable; we've made money on them, and we're continually making money from them." Indeed, Forty Two, Inc. is investing in more Radian Audio products, he reports: "We just recently sent an order for two Radian Audio RPH-1564 15-inch array speakers."