D3 Product News
AMX buy Procon
AMX announce another acquisition, Procon control systems, thus confirming they are the worlds leading control specialist. This, amongst other acquisitions, puts AMX firmly 
in the driving seat of the integrated control system industry. Having been at the forefront of corporate boardroom and home cinema applications for years they have aggressively made the crossover from traditional AV installers to IT infrastructure designers.
Mmmm Short Throw
Short Throw Projectors are becoming more and more available on the market since the origional NEC WT series was launched. Great for use in specific applications the quality of those products added to this sector from manufacturers such as Unifi, Hitachi, Toshiba and 3M etc need to be carefully considered and tested before purchased. Weak links are Image quality, Lens quality and accuracy, Wall bracketry build, warranty status and deliverability. Buyer be very aware.
L`Acoustic launch Kiva true compact line array (not line arrayable)
D3 directors recently attended a launch of the new L`Acoustic Kiva range of speakers. It is true to say that L` Acoustic have pulled one out the bag with what will be a significant change in the entry level compact line array. Superb sound reproduction and control now at a price that is more accessible.
HD ready….confused!!!!!….we are!!!! read on
No…really. We are confused in a number of ways. D3 understands HD…HDMI….Upscaling……interlacing….progressive scan etc and know really good Plasma (NEC and Panasonic) and LCD panels but realise that the technical data and
presentation of products on the high street makes it so difficult for the customer to make an informed decision. On a recent reccy into two very well known high street electrical stores, D3 sales director Marc Heath posed a number of questions to the TV specialists of the stores to find an informed and knowledgeable consultant.
Store One
MH: Can I see a HD 1080P 42" plasmascreens please?
TV Specialist: No there are none, you can tell by the resolution (1024x768 etc) on the price tag. Only in LCD
MH: Whats that say on that one? (1080P)
TV Specialist: Aaaghh I see what you mean. That would be the one you want to buy then? Its great HD image isnt it?
MH: If that's showing HD signal why is the image quality worse than the plasma screen next to it at 2/3rds the price? Its skin tones are not good and its ghosting. I don't think I could look at it for more than half an hour.
TV Specialist: All these TV`s are sharing the HD signal through a distribution amp. The signal drops.
MH: So if its not a true HD signal? How am I to see what I am buying to make an evaluation between manufacturers?
TV Specialist: That's a good point. Nobody really knows what they are looking for when they come in usually other than an HD ready tag. We sell what's on the store floor.
MH: Thank you for your time
Second store
MH: Can I see a true HD source image, such as I would have from Sky HD or a HD DVD player into a 1080P HD ready Plasma screen please
TV Specialist: Yes sir…here we are.
MH: What's the black box underneath the plasma?
TV Specialist: It's a computer generated HD signal. It's a simulator. We don't have HD sources other than that.
MH: So its not really the same as a Satellite feed or HD DVD player?
TV Specialist: No
We have arrived at the assumption that accurate information and true representation of a screens quality is very difficult to find. Experience of top end manufacturers is far more important to gain assurances that quality is being obtained.
Light and efficient, the new D6 amplifier. Surprised?
Based on the solid and reliable D12 technology, the D6 fills the need for a light, highly efficient amplifier that is designed to deliver medium power into impedance loads between 4 and 16 ohms. The dual channel Class D amplifier section offers increased efficiency compared to conventional designs.
The new D6 offers, via digital signal processing, built-in configurations for d&b's whole loudspeaker range (with the exception of the B2-SUB and 2-Way Active loudspeakers) as well as sophisticated protection. Each channel offers 600 W into 4 ohms (350 W into 8 ohms). All settings, including delay (from 0.3 to 340 ms in 0.1 ms increments) and equalisation (4-band optional parametric or notch), can be accessed and controlled via the front panel mounted rotary encoder and Liquid Crystal Display or through the d&b Remote network. The D6 also features System check to ensure operation is within a predefined condition and Input and Load monitoring for applications compliant with IEC 60849 "Sound systems for emergency purposes".
The new D6 is equipped with analog and AES / EBU inputs and links with digital elements constructed to achieve audio performance that meets or exceeds that of analog devices. Finally, unlike the E-PAC, in 4 ohm mode the D6 amplifier allows multiple loudspeakers to be driven at higher SPLs.
For more details on this product and other D+B Audiotechnik products visit there web site - http://www.dbaudio.com
L-ACOUSTICS Updates XT Coaxial Loudspeaker Range with 8XT and 12XT
The new 8XT and 12XT from L-ACOUSTICS represent the next generation of single-point-source coaxial loudspeakers. Drawing upon two decades of real world, leading edge experience dating back to the MTD coaxial concept in 1987, the new XT systems deliver the ultimate sonic performance in a compact and versatile multi-tasking package.
Featuring an extremely compact and lightweight design, the 8XT cabinet is the most compact model of the L-ACOUSTICS coaxial range. Operating on a frequency bandwidth of 65 Hz to 20 kHz, this response can be lowered to 32 Hz with the addition of the SB118 subwoofer.
The 8XT contains a 1.5-inch-diaphragm compression driver coaxially loaded by an eight-inch low-frequency transducer in a bass-reflex tune enclosure. The internal passive crossover network uses proprietary third-order filters with built-in phase compensation. The linearization and protection of the transducers is defined by the drive parameters contained in the LA4 amplified controller.
Housed in a slightly larger enclosure, the 12XT combined active/passive cabinet is the mid-sized model of the L-ACOUSTICS coaxial range. It features an operating frequency bandwidth of 55 Hz to 20 kHz and, like the 8XT, this response can be lowered to 32 Hz via the use of the SB118 subwoofer.
The 12XT contains a three-inch diaphragm compression driver coaxially loaded onto a 12-inch low-frequency transducer in a bass-reflex tuned enclosure. Managed by the LA4 controlled amplifier, the active filtering encompasses advanced crossover functions, system EQ, HF and LF transducer time-alignment, and dual (real time and RMS) protection of the transducers. In passive mode, the 12XT onboard crossover network uses proprietary fourth-order filters with built-in phase compensators, and the linearization and protection of the transducers is defined by the drive parameters contained in the LA4 amplified controller.
The coaxial transducer arrangement of the 8XT and 12XT produces an axi-symmetric directivity output (90 degrees and 100 degrees, respectively) along with a smooth tonal response free of any acoustic conflicts over the entire frequency range.
The wedge-shaped cabinet design of the two XT models makes them perfectly suited to all multipurpose sound reinforcement applications in addition to short or long throw monitoring use via two fixed angle settings of 30 and 40 degrees (with regard to vertical). Made of high grade Baltic birch plywood, the cabinets also feature a pole mount socket and a predrilled template for third party Omnimount fixtures. L-ACOUSTICS brackets are also available for flown applications.
Due to their flexible design criteria, the XT coaxial loudspeakers meet the highest demands from both the fixed installation and rental production markets allowing them to be used for front-of-house, fill, or monitor applications.
The main advantages of coaxial technology include single point-source radiation combined with excellent phase response, total wavefront coherency at all frequencies, and axi-symmetrical directivity, which produces identical coverage patterns in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The coaxial design also provides LF/HF superimposed dispersion characteristics that are free from polar lobing effects, which are destructive in traditional horn and woofer combinations. The end result is natural studio monitor sound quality, which is ideal for both proximity monitoring use or perfectly matched for semi-reverberant environments.
Its compact and wedge-shaped format makes the XT range equally suited to various sound reinforcement applications, such as front-of-house, floor monitor and distributed systems.
For more details visit the L-Acoustics web site - http://www.l-acoustics.com
New Enclosures, New Amplifiers
The XT range - including both the new 8XT and 12XT in addition to the pre-existing 115XT HiQ active reference floor monitor - has been designed for use with the LA4 amplified controller. Equipped with a wide range of presets across the entire XT range, the LA4 provides the sound engineer with total creative freedom for any conceivable application in theatre, club, concert hall, broadcast and multipurpose facility applications.
In addition to delivering highly pristine and powerful sound, the LA4 amplified controller offers a unique dual transducer protection system, a precise system drive engine, and remote EQ and tonal balancing features. A single LA4 can power and control four active enclosures, such as the 12XT or 115XT HiQ, or up to eight passive enclosures, namely the 8XT or 12XT in its passively configured mode. For more demanding low-end reinforcement, the SB118 subwoofer can be deployed as part of a three-way system.
SoundVision Software Helps with Designs
As an added advantage for the sound designer, any XT configuration can be acoustically and mechanically modeled with L-ACOUSTICS' proprietary SOUNDVISION 3D simulation software. Simple or complex designs can be achieved quickly and intuitively using SOUNDVISION and then transferred into real world situations closely match the computer simulations. The XT software predictions are modeled on the preset parameters of the LA4 amplified controller.
Furthermore, the design of complex and sophisticated control systems is made possible on the LA4 by the integration of an Ethernet-based network capability, which allows for the simultaneous networking of up to 255 LA4 units. The LA NETWORK MANAGER software offers remote control and monitoring of the amplified controllers via a user-friendly and intuitive graphic interface.