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1. Bose RoomMatch Loudspeakers 2.Biema LAVA Line Array System
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Electro-Voice ETX Loudspeaker System
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1. Presonus StudioLive AI Loudspeakers 2. Nexo Geo M6 Loudspeakers
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1. EAW Anya Sound Reinforcement System 2. RCF Audio Media Series
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1. QSC KLA Series Active Line Array Loudspeakers 2. Renkus-Heinz Varia Modular Point-Source Line Array
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1. d&b audiotechnik xC Series Column Loudspeaker Array System 2.Danley Sound Labs SBH-10 Loudspeaker 3.JBL Intellivox Column Loudspeaker
Loudspeakers have probably seen more technical innovation in the last decade or so than the category has since it was invented. The last year has seen that pace kept up. Below are some recent new technical wrinkles to one of the most fundamental components of the sound chain.
Progressive directivity
The success that Bose has had on the consumer side with its home theater audio systems and its signature Wave radios has ironically sometimes made it a bit harder for the company’s professional products to get taken as seriously as they should. And Bose’s most recent innovation is serious, indeed. The RoomMatch loudspeaker system gets taken for a typical line array on first sight but this “progressive directivity” array, as Bose calls it, differs in critical ways. Rather than physically configuring an array of the same loudspeaker enclosure, RoomMatch offers a series of more than 40 speaker modules, including two subwoofers, each constructed for very specific horizontal and vertical dispersion patterns that allow the system to be optimized for almost any room size, shape or acoustics. (Hence, the name “Roommatch.”) See related article at the following link:
A tighter eight-degree vertical coverage pattern helps the newly updated Biema LAVA (Little Active Vertical Array) loudspeaker system perform better in smaller environments. Biema says this feature allows more modestly sized venues to experience the benefits of line arrays. The company also recently added digital amplifiers to the LAVA line, which reduce both the weight and electrical power requirements.
d&b audiotechnik’s expanded White range of integration solutions has grown to include the xC-Series column loudspeakers. The xC-Series utilizes high vertical-directivity control to focus output on seating areas and reduce energy radiating toward reflective surfaces, such as walls and floors. The two-way passive 24C has a HF array that can be mechanically adjusted continuously between zero degrees and -14 degrees in the vertical plane. The four-inch, low-frequency drivers are deployed in a cardioid setup, which provides a constant directivity pattern in the horizontal plane with broadband attenuation to the rear of approximately 18 dB.
The new Danley Sound Labs SBH-10 “Skinny Big Horn” uses Danley’s patented Paraline technologies that the company says deliver the esthetic benefits of a column speaker but with much improved fidelity and pattern control over previous generations of columnar speakers. Mike Hedden, president of Danley Sound Labs, explains, “Using our patented Paraline technology, the SBH-10 has the directivity of a 25-foot-long horn, yet it is only nine inches deep,” he says. The SBH-10 requires only one amplifier channel and no dedicated signal processing. The externally powered Skinny Big Horn retails for $5,678. An active version with integrated power amplifier costs $7,515.
EAW is addressing the same requirement, but with a different technique using its newly introduced Anya loudspeaker system. To achieve consistent coverage across a room, EAW first asks you to plot the room using its Resolution software, and the resulting calculations are combined with information communicated between IR transceivers in each Anya loudspeaker box. The vertically hung loudspeaker system, which is designed for touring and fixed installations, will then adapt to the coverage EAW says is ideal for the loudspeaker performance in that space. See related article at:
EV’s new ETX powered loudspeakers were introduced at Winter NAMM 2014 and add a new upper tier to the company’s PA line. The product comes with a nice combination of power—up to 2,000 full-range watts from Class-D power amplifiers—and technical innovation, such as a single-knob DSP interface with LCD, FIR-Drive performance optimization and SST waveguide design. The onboard DSP is also interesting because it’s operationally scalable: neophyte users will get good results using the system’s presets, accessed via a single soft knob control and displayed on an LCD, for each application while more experienced operators can dig deeper and set individual parameters on, for instance, the system’s parametric equalizer. That kind of flexible operation is tailor-made for churches that rely heavily on volunteers, as are features such as onboard limiting, which can help prevent damage to the system. Pricing ranges from $1,099 to $1,499 per unit.
Steer the beam
The Harman Pro Group’s acquisition late last year of Duran Audio brought the company’s JBL division a brace of new technologies. These include electro-acoustic and software-based directivity control in Duran Audio’s Axys Intellivox line of digitally steerable columnar arrays. Harman reports that it plans to integrate the Axys product line and core technologies into its future audio products. With the Intellivox Digital Directivity Control (DDC), Digital Directivity Synthesis (DDS) technologies and JBL’s WinControl software (which offers user-friendly control of the beam steering parameters, audio processing and pre-sets), it's possible to control the vertical directivity pattern of Intellivox products and aim the sound precisely where it’s needed.
RCF’s Media Series recently expanded with the addition of the M1001 multipurpose two-way full-range speaker, the M1201 two-way passive speaker, and three bass-reflex subwoofers: the S5012, S5020 and S5022. The Media Series completes the company’s Acustica installed sound series of products with a more compact and affordable medium-powered design. The series features seven two-way models ranging from five to 12 inches with power handling ranging from 80-300 watts, ideal for small- to medium-sized projects. The Media Series models offer a consistent sound quality of the Acustica products with controlled bass response, vocal clarity and high frequency definition. “There’s a real need for this type of speaker in the small- to mid-sized church, say, up to 400 or so seats,” explains Ken Voss, RCF’s manager of installed sound. “They’ve found an important niche in secondary rooms in churches, such as cry rooms and overflow areas. But they’ve been making their way into the sanctuary as the main speaker for smaller, highly cost-effective PA systems.” Prices range from $409 for the M501 5.5-inch two-way speaker to $644 for the M801 eight-inch two-way speaker.
At the recent ProLight and Sound Show in Frankfurt, Germany, Nexo unveiled the new Geo M6 Series of loudspeakers. Designed for maximum flexibility, the speakers are equally at home in stand-alone, curved-array or line-array applications. Using Nexo’s TD Controller set up, Nexo says these compact two-way loudspeakers offer remarkable performance of 80 Hz-19,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB) and 127 dB Nominal Peak SPL at 1m.
The AI in the name of Presonus’s StudioLive AI line of loudspeakers stands for Active Integration. The company says it has essentially put a computer into each of these loudspeakers. AI helps with tuning the system’s coaxial loudspeaker configuration for room optimization, and also with remote control over EQ and other features that affect the speaker’s overall performance. The company also reports that the StudioLive AI loudspeakers have more DPS than a rack-mounted speaker management system, and offer built-in graphic and parametric EQs, delay, and limiting with wireless control.
Configuring a line array can be a challenging task, particularly for users who are new to the use of line array technology. For users interested in stepping into a line array, QSC offers users the KLA Series, which is a fixed arcuate, active line array solution the company says is easy to deploy and configure, making it ideal for many small- to mid-sized congregations. On-board DSP optimizes transducer/amplifier performance, while the system’s Arcuate Equalization (Ar-Q) processing enables users to quickly tune and configure an array with the click of a dial. To further aid in deployment, QSC says the KLA’s unique Solo rigging system enables users to quickly rig enclosures together without the need for special tools, pins or external hardware.
The name Varia signifies the intent behind Renkus-Heinz’s goal with its recent introduction. The Varia systems can be configured into a variety of modular designs, such as flown vertical arrays, horizontal arrays or ground-stacked. Available in powered or unpowered versions, certain enclosures in the Varia line offer “progressive waveguides” that transition from 60 degrees to 90 degrees, or 90 degrees to 120 degrees, of horizontal coverage pattern within each cabinet.
