50 Spring Street

Ramsey, NJ 07446, U.S.A.

201-995-2001 Fax: 201-934-1006

July 8, 2004Contact: Barry Grzebik

Director of Engineering

Cell Phone: 707-696-8786

E-mail:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Sound Installs 16 Apogee AFI-8SX Loudspeakers

at the Petrillo Music Shell in Downtown Chicago’s Grant Park

Ramsey, NJ – Apogee Sound International, manufacturer of state-of-the-art sound reinforcement products for the professional audio industry, announced that Chicago Sound has completed the installation of a large Apogee outdoor system for the lawn at the Petrillo Music Shell in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park.

The Petrillo Music Shell is the home of the Grant Park Symphony and Chicago's free Summer Music Festivals, which include the Blues Festival, Gospel Festival, Country Music Festival, Taste of Chicago, Viva Chicago & the Chicago Jazz Festival — attended by millions of Chicagoans and visiting music fans.

The Apogee system was selected by Ian Hunt, president of Chicago Sound, the sole vendor for all City of Chicago public events and one of the largest Apogee dealers in the Midwest. Chicago Sound installed 16 Apogee AFI-8SX loudspeakers, configured in two inner rings of six speakers, and an outer ring of four speakers placed 300 feet from the stage.

Hunt chose the Apogee AFI-8SX system to replace the music shell lawn’s loudspeaker system. Said Hunt, “We were looking to replace the speaker system with a modern, high-output, loudspeaker system that would provide better coverage and sound levels. We chose the Apogee AFI-8SXs because we thought they would be the best speakers for this job, and their performance is indeed superior to that of the previous loudspeaker system.”

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Page 2 — Apogee Loudspeakers Installed at Chicago’s Grant Park

The AFI-8 is one of the Apogee Fixed Installation Speakers (AFI-Series) loudspeakers. Chicago Sound ordered all 16 with Apogee’s SX weather-resistant coating.

AFI Series loudspeakers feature high power output, a distinctive modern appearance, versatile rigging, and the characteristic low distortion response that makes Apogee products unique. The AFI-Series loudspeakers are “processor-optional” — they can be used with excellent results in clubs, theatres, churches, discos, and theme parks without an outboard signal processor. The optional processor provides active protective limiting to guard against abuse, fixed EQ points to flatten the response and extend the low and high frequencies, and electronic crossovers for the bi-amped models.

The Apogee AFI-8 features a 15" woofer and a 2" tweeter, is available in single-amped or bi-amped versions, and may be ordered with a rotatable 60º x 40º or a 90º x 40º HF horn. The AFI-8 provides a maximum SPL of 124 dB continuous / 130 dB peak, and maximum power handling of 400 watts continuous/ 1600 watts peak. The AFI-8 is especially effective when used with Apogee's CA-4000 and CA-8000 power amplifiers.

For more information on Chicago Sound, go to

About Apogee Sound International

Apogee Sound International, LLC, is known worldwide for state-of-the art sound reinforcement products designed for the professional audio industry. Apogee is owned by Bogen Communications, a leading manufacturer and designer of sound reinforcements products in the field of telephone paging, public address, intercommunications, and background music systems for over 70 years.

For more information, contact Apogee Sound International, LLC., 50 Spring Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446, U.S.A. Tel: 800-443-3979. Fax: 800-999-9016; e-mail: : Web site:

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