Church doesn’t have much impact if worshippers can’t hear what’s going on, and loudspeakers play a central role in making sure the message gets out there. What’s more, houses of worship are a demanding environment for loudspeaker technology, since churches require both speech intelligibility and solid music reproduction. The loudspeaker technology in churches also needs to be easy for volunteer technicians to operate. And, in many cases, loudspeakers need to be as invisible as possible so that aesthetics aren’t compromised.Manufacturers get this, and strive to develop loudspeaker technology that is heard and not seen, that addresses the challenges of hard-to-cover areas, and that’s relatively easy to install and monitor. Following is a sampling of some of the latest products on the market, listed under house of worship-specific applications where they may fill a need.
Application : Networking Options
Four SoundTube IPD in-ceiling speakers, as well as one surface-mount model, now support Dante networking. The speakers provide 40 watts PoE (Power over Ethernet) with SoundTube’s STNet Switch per channel to any STNet speaker in the system. However, installers may also connect the speakers via standard PoE and PoE-plus switches. With STNet, the speakers are self-monitoring, reporting issues related to voice coil, amplifier, and overheating. The speakers can be grouped into zones, or will act as their own zone, individually. Also in SoundTube’s Dante lineup are its IPD4 Master speakers, which will power up to three additional non-IP speakers.Also suited for houses of worship are SoundTube’s Line Array Column LA880 Series column speakers, which feature a long throw for covering large spaces. The speakers can be flown, wall-mounted, or pole-mounted, and are available in custom finishes.
At Renkus-Heinz, new Dante-enabled versions of the company’s Iconyx Gen 5 and IC Live for Fixed Installation loudspeakers (listed as ––RD) are now available. The speakers provide Dual Redundant Dante connectivity, with audio transport and configurable sample rates of up to 90kHz. In conjunction with this release, the manufacturer has issued updates to its Renkus-Heinze Audio Operations Network (RHAON) II software. RHAON II v2.1 features Dante support, as well as support for multiple zones, a Device Icon View mode for larger systems, System Status reports, and the ability to copy and paste DSP settings between different device types.
Application : Coverage
Martin Audio’s CDD-LIVE! Series is designed for both sound reinforcement and monitoring. Comprised of three full-range models and two subwoofers, the series is built on the manufacturer’s patented Coaxial Differential Dispersion (CDD) technology, enabling even sound coverage from the front to the back of a space, while at the same time providing even horizontal coverage. The loudspeakers support both DSP and Dante networking, as well as onboard Class D amplification.
Application : Compact Size
Touted as a “problem-solver” for designers and integrators, Yamaha’s NEXO ID Series features a compact, high SPL, low-profile cabinet for front fill and side fill applicationsand, Yamaha adds, is an ideal complement to its NEXO line arrays in spaces with acoustical issues. The ID24 is a full-range, compact speaker with twin four-inch drivers, a V formation, and a high-frequency compression driver with two directivity options. The ID Series features several versions of the cabinet: the ID24i (installation); the ID24t (touring); and the ID24c (custom configurable by designers/integrators). The series also includes two low-profile subwoofers, the ID S110 and the ID S210. The loudspeakers may be mounted either horizontally or vertically.###IMAGE4###
Application : Speech & Vocal
WorxAudio’s latest addition to its TrueLine series of line array loudspeakers is the XL1, designed for both speech and music reinforcement. The two-way cabinet, available in both powered and passive versions, has a horizontal dispersion pattern of 160 degrees. It is built with a large format, 1.4-inch exit compression driver pair with a stabilized, proprietary FlatWave Former, which produces clear high frequencies over a coverage area that the manufacturer says is predictable and controlled. The powered version of the XL1 is equipped with the PDA-1000 power amp, featuring Dante audio networking and the WorxControl loudspeaker management system. The WorxControl is reported to feature an 800 millisecond alignment delay adjustable in 0.1 millisecond increments, facilitating the alignment of delay systems.
Application : Sight-Sensitive Enironments
d&b audiotechnik says its 24S and 24S-D point source loudspeakers (the latest additions to its xS-Series) are ideal for situations where sight lines, ceiling heights, and amplifier channel count present issues. The speakers feature a horizontal dispersion of 75 degrees by 45 degrees, and a vertical dispersion of 110 degrees by 45 degrees; the high frequency horn is rotatable, which means that the speakers may be mounted either vertically or horizontally. If more bass is required, d&b proposes the 21S-SUB. The rigging accessories for these cabinets enable installers to fly the loudspeakers individually or in a cluster, and the subwoofer may be ground-stacked, flown individually, or in a cluster of two.
Application : Light as Air
Focused on providing a compact, lightweight solution, PreSonus presents its AIR-series active loudspeakers, comprising three full-range models and two subwoofers. The three full-range models are driven by both Class D and Class A/B amp designs: the Class D amplifier powers the low frequency driver; while the Class A/B amplifier powers the high frequency driver, resulting in what PreSonus dubs an “airy” high-end. The AIR subwoofers can be used to complement a full AIR-series deployment, or can be paired with any other full-range loudspeaker. The subwoofers feature DSP presets for front-of-house (FOH) use and extended low end, and presets are available to configure either an end-fire or a ground-stacked cardioid array.
Application : Linearity
VUE Audiotechnik’s al-8 Compact Line Array System features “acoustic linearity,” and incorporates the company’s use of technologies such as beryllium compression drivers, Kevlar/Neo transducers, and precision amplification and DSP. The system includes onboard SystemVUE networking, as well as compatibility with VUEPoint beam steering technology. VUE underlines the al-8’s scalability, selling the system in standard blocks, each made up of four al-8 Acoustic Elements and a V6 Systems Engine. For worship facilities that need to boost the bass, VUE proposes the al-8SB integrated flyable subwoofer (or a variety of other VUE subs). The system may be flown or ground-stacked, and al-Class elements support Dante networking.
Application : Dispersion
PreSonus also offers the ULT-series of active loudspeakers, designed for wide horizontal dispersion (110 degrees) and focused vertical dispersion (50 degrees). The loudspeakers are equipped with the manufacturer’s proprietary Pivot X110 constant directivity, rotatable, 11-inch by 11-inch horn that allows for control of the dispersion pattern low in the low frequency range. PreSonus explains that this helps to maintain more consistent gain both on and off axis, which means listeners at the sides of a room have the same listening experience as those in the front rows.
Application : Professional Portability
The new SRM450 and SRM350 High Definition Portable Powered Loudspeakers are refreshed versions of Mackie’s “mainstay” portable loudspeakers, now featuring a 1,000-watt amp platform with custom drivers. The speakers are designed for easy set-up and include four application-specific modes that allow techs to configure the cabinets for the room they’re working in. A “feedback destroyer” does just that: Mackie claims that with these speakers, feedback can be eliminated with the push of a button. The speakers also incorporate Mackie’s HD Audio Processing, which pairs patented acoustic correction DSP with precision crossover, driver time alignment, and phase correction; as well as an integrated two-channel mixer. Mackie’s SRM1550 subwoofer serves as a companion to the SRM450 and SRM350.
