Digitally steerable column loudspeakers StepArray

Digitally steerable column loudspeakers StepArray

The StepArray columns loudspeakers have been designed to equip large rooms in which sound reverberates. Mounted vertically, these columns, whose vertical directivity is digitally controlled, provide excellent reproduction and intelligibility of voice and music.

A curved vertical loudspeaker array is the right solution to get a homogeneous SPL and a strong direct sound over the audience. With a digital signal processor (DSP), the array may be rectilinear, thus leading to the concept of DSP column loudspeaker. Considering the laws of acoustics, one can show that there is approximately a ratio 12 between the column height and the distance range of the column. StepArray columns implement the DGRC principle (Active Audio Patent), which is a synthesis of geometric and electronic arrays. They use a large number of high quality 3″ loudspeakers.

The main difference of DGRC columns, compared with the other classic DSP columns, is to decrease the number of channels to be controled independantly.

Like this, it is possible to place the electronics outside the columns, which has the following key advantages:

• Easier installation and maintenance
• Sharing of electronic between multiple columns
• Security: electronics can be placed in a secure room, with uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

StepArray range

In room acoustics, when column speakers are highly directional, it is necessary to have several sizes of columns to fit all kind of venues.

Simulation tools

There are powerful CAD software tools that can predict the acoustics of a room and accurately model the radiation of loudspeakerarrays. These tools can calculate various acoustic index, such as reverberation time, sound pressure level, STI…ent calculer des indices acoustiques variés tels que le temps de réverbérations, le niveau sonore, le STI….

In a loudspeaker array, all loudspeakers operate in a coherent way. This must be taken into account in the modeling. To do so, software modules (DLL) which enables the CAD tools to properly simulate the StepArray columns are included in CATTAcoustic™ and EASE®

Relative Products

Examples

Technical datas

	SA100P	SA180P	SA180S	SA250P	SA250S	SA400P
Acoustical datas
Range ±3dB	15m	30m	22m	35m	28m	68m
Range ±5dB	21m	40m	29m	45m	36m	90m
Angle of audience	0°-5°	0°-5°	5°-20°	0°-5°	5°-20°	0°-3°
Frequency bandwidth (-10dB)	110Hz-19kHz
Horizontal opening angle	180°
Mechanical datas
Net weight	9kg	17kg	17kg	24kg	24kg	39kg
packed weight	12kg	21kg	21kg	29kg	29kg	46kg
Height	1024mm	1840mm	1840mm	2505mm	2505mm	4096mm
Width	124mm	124mm	124mm	124mm	124mm	124mm
Depth	131mm	135mm	135mm	159mm	159mm	135mm
Standard colors	White (RAL9016), Black (RAL9005)
Electrical datas
Number of channels	3	3	3	6	6	6
Impedance min.	8Ω	8Ω	8Ω	4Ω	4Ω	8Ω
Cable	4G	4G	4G	7G	7G	7G
Connector	Phoenix contact 12 pins