Despite the existence of today's in-ear monitors frequently seen in use by some of today's top acts, not all people are comfortable with the way these in-ear monitors are hooked up to the top of their earlobes, finding them irritating and sometimes tiring to wear. It is for this reason that bulky angled stage monitors still are in existence. To prove that they still are useful commodities, the Wharfdale Pro EVVP-12M NEO will be exhibited at this month's 127th AES convention.

The EVP-12M NEO is a two-way passive stage monitor designed primarily for live sound reinforcement and mobile DJ applications. It is built with a 12" neodymium woofer that is reflex loaded and precisely matched to a conventional 1.6" titanium diaphragm, a 1" exit compression driver on a 70-degree round horn flare with an internal passive crossover network. A thermal protection system is in place on the HF section to provide audibly transparent protection for the compression driver.

Worthy of the stage and the road, the compact wedge-shaped enclosure is built from heavily braced MDF for good rigidity and reduced weight. This is further reinforced by a powder-coated grille with a formed center line peak. Inputs include combination jack/speakon connectors located on a recessed input plate and a third speakon input on the opposite side of the enclosure useful for reducing the need for cable length as well as stage clutter when linking a series of monitors together. One end of the enclosure also has a recessed aluminum handle for transport.

The Wharfdale EVP-12M NEO is exclusively distributed by American Music & Sound, and pricing is TBA. The thing about big stage monitors is they provide you that sound within the context of your stage environment as well as lowers your risk of getting an ear infection; it's something that in-ear monitors can't beat.