The Clair S-4

The iconic loudspeaker debuted in January 1974 during a string of shows in Japan and Hong Kong with The Moody Blues, Elton John, and Rod Stewart & The Faces. Despite being remembered as big, black boxes, the first S-4s featured white grill cloths.

In the early 1970s, all-in-one loudspeakers were gaining popularity. Prior to the S-4s, California-based McCune Sound Services and Tycobrahe introduced proprietary three-way systems. Roy and Gene Clair noted these systems for their sound quality and modular design, which expedited load-ins and load-outs. "It was fast," Roy Clair said of the Tycobrahe's cabinet, adding that before the S-4, "our systems were a little cumbersome."

Clair needed its own version. Gene Clair worked with his cousin and woodshop manager, Stan Shaak, on the initial design. Staak provided the namesake "S" in "S-4." Measuring 46"W x 45"H x 22"D, the cabinet weighed approximately 420 lbs and was designed to fit two-wide in a standard US truck (92" interior width in the 1970s). The "4" in "S-4" designated a four-way system containing two 18-inch bass drivers, four 10-inch mid-frequency horn drivers, and two super-high drivers. The high and super-high bands were passively crossed over inside the cabinet, allowing simpler 3-channel amplification and cabling. Notably, the 18-inch and 10-inch vertical driver arrays foreshadowed today's line array technology and were inspired by The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound.

Over the years, Clair engineers continued experimenting to improve the loudspeaker. In 1975, a hanging system was devised for the Rolling Stones' Tour of the Americas. In 1982, the S-4 Series II (S-4F) was introduced with a composite back and extruded corners for dollies and rigging. The following year, a long-throw model was released (S-4P). By 1990, over 100 S-4 units were being used for some of the world's biggest shows. The speaker continued to be used as recently as 2006, when red-and-black striped S-4s flanked the stage on U2's Vertigo Tour.

The S-4 has endured the test of time and remains a technology of which we are immensely proud. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who contributed their talents to its design and implementation. For fifty years, the S-4 has served as a testament to our commitment to providing quality products and boldly advancing our industry.