ResonantLive Sound Archive

Equipment file · Manifold-loaded concert system

MT-4 manifold system

Electro-Voice · 1987

Evidence status · documented

Identity and core specifications are documented; some historical fields remain unavailable.

The Electro-Voice MT-4 was a two-box, four-way system using Manifold Technology, which combined several compression drivers or woofers onto one horn through a manifold rather than a lossy Y-adapter. EV advertised it as a quarter the size, or four times as loud, as comparable designs.

Introduced
1987
Category
Manifold-loaded concert system
Intended use
High-level touring sound in a small footprint
Production
Electro-Voice Manifold Technology line

Equipment photographs · 1

Electro-Voice MT-4 system in a 1987 advertisement

1 / 1 · Electro-Voice MT-4 system in a 1987 advertisement

Electro-Voice MT-4 system in a 1987 advertisement·Electro-Voice·© Electro-Voice; used for identification and historical commentary

Why it mattered

  1. 01

    Manifolding let touring systems reach very high levels from smaller, lighter boxes as transport costs rose.

  2. 02

    It was used by Prince's touring engineer Rob Colby.

Engineering record

Manifolding
MTA-42 adapter combining four compression drivers on 60°×40° constant-directivity horns[1]
Mid woofers
Four DL10X woofers with phase plugs for 160–1,600 Hz[1]

Original pricing

No reliable period price located

2026 equivalent

Not calculated without a reliable original price.

Public price evidence was not sufficient to publish a defensible original figure.

Use in the field

Used by Prince's touring engineer Rob Colby[2]

Manuals & original documents

Sources

  1. 11987 EV MT-4 Loudspeaker AdAboutProSound · brochure · 1987
  2. 2Sound & Communications, April 1989Sound & Communications · archive · 1989-04

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