d&b audiotechnik adds diversity to democracy at Frankfurt
As ever, consistency remains a keyword in the d&b audiotechnik almanac. However, this year, it was a multiplicity in size, colour, application and intelligent solutions that were centre stage at Frankfurt prolight+sound 2012. Taking the lime light was the new V-Series, a formidable addition to the d&b stable of line array offerings within their Black product range. The latest cabinets to the E Series, the teenyweeny E4 and E5 were also on display alongside fresh options for installers contemplating the d&b White range.
 Frankfurt prolight+sound was the choice by d&b audiotechnik for their world-wide launch of the V-Series. This mid-sized line array system comprises the 3-way passive V8 or V12 loudspeakers having 80 and 120 degrees horizontal dispersion respectively. These loudspeakers are supported by the dedicated V-SUB which incorporates the d&b patented passive cardioid technology. The V-Series fulfils several roles: as a complement to the J-Series by providing identical coverage to audiences located in off axis areas as well as matching sound characteristics; as a delay system and last but by no means least, as a line array in its own right. Smaller, lighter and equal to the J-Series in dispersion and tonality, the V-Series will provide opportunities to improve sightlines and reduce both cost and weight for productions designed for medium and large sized auditoriums. Another introduction at the show was an upgrade to the d&b ArrayCalc calculator that must always be used to predict the physical, acoustical and safety performance of arrays. The new R1 export function generates a project file for the d&b R1 Remote control software, removing the need to manually transfer configuration information from one software to the other.
But Frankfurt 2012 was not only about the larger elements within the d&b offering. The teenyweeny E4 and E5 additions to the E-Series from the Black range also had their official launch here. These miniature light weight 2-way passive loudspeakers offer a wide symmetrical dispersion pattern in the horizontal and vertical plane while the cabinet may be mounted in either attitude. Both cabinets are intended for speech and music reinforcement in theatres, conferences, industrial presentations, broadcast studios together with their application as surround sound, delay or fill systems. They can be used stand-alone or supplemented by different subwoofers from the E-Series. The E4 and E5 loudspeaker cabinets and most accessories are also available with the Special Colour (SC) option, whilst the cabinets are weather protected as standard.
 Not content with the developments in the Black range, d&b highlights at the show included four elements from their White product range. The 4S, 5S and 8S loudspeakers and the dedicated little 12S subwoofer, all from the xS-Series, are now offered coloured black or white as standard options. The three loudspeakers deliver a one hundred degrees conical dispersion, making them highly interchangeable in mixed applications. Both the xS and xA-Series loudspeakers and accessories are also available with the Special Colour option (SC), in any colour from the RAL European standard, to match venue interiors. Outdoor use can, of course, be accommodated with the selection of the Weather Resistant (WR) option, the exceptions being the 4S and 5S loudspeakers, which meet IP34 as standard.
The presentation of such a wide selection of loudspeaker solutions underpinned the theme of this year’s show: diversity within consistency. The leitmotif of democracy for listeners was never as explicit or fully realised by d&b audiotechnik as at Frankfurt this year.
National Audio Systems |
