Alcons Audio has announced that it’s now delivering the new LR18/120 pro-ribbon line array, a 3-way, “compact-mid-size” format line-source loudspeaker combining 120-degree wide dispersion with high dynamic SPL capabilities and throw.
The all-natural cylindrical wavefront of the multiple-patented, purpose-designed Alcons RBN702rs 7-inch pro-ribbon transducer and the acoustically and electronically symmetrical component configuration are designed to deliver a very coherent pattern control in both the vertical as well as the horizontal plane, without any distortion-inducing horn constructions.
The pro-ribbon driver has stated power handling of 1,500 watts (200 milliseconds) and RMS-to-peak power handling ratio of 1:15. Completing the 3-way configuration for mid-frequencies is a horn-loaded 6.5-inch midrange transducer, coaxially mounted behind the HF driver; The LF section consists of two reflex-loaded 8-inch woofers with 3-inch voice-coil neodymium motor-structure.
System drive is taken care of by two channels (bi-amp) of the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller, with LR18-specific drive processing and feedback for each array configuration; The presets now also include Alcons’ VHIR processing with phase-matching with any Alcons system.
The Signal Integrity Sensing™ pre-wiring ensures dynamic cable/connector compensation between the LR18/120 and ALC; This offers a 1:1, undistorted natural sound reproduction, regardless of cable length and amplifier impedance load (system damping factor 10.000).
The rigging system enables angle-setting on the cabinets without lifting the array and a Working Load Limit of 24 cabinets under 10:1 safety.
The LR18/120 is an addition to the LR18 line array system series, which consists of the LR18 module in 90-degree horizontal dispersion; the LB18, the double 8-inch low-mid array extension of the LR18; and the LR18B, the accompanying flying/stacking subwoofer with new generation 18-inch woofer.
Array configurations with these components can be simulated in the Alcons Ribbon Calculator (ARC), Alcons’ 3D simulation program.
Philip “Dr. Phil” de Haan, head of Alcons R&D, states, “The development of the wide-dispersion LR18 has been a direct result from requests from our The Ribbon Network (Alcons global dry-hire rental cooperation network) members group. Over the last year, we’ve been working on different dispersion patterns for all our products with our pro-ribbon transducer technology, resulting in different patent-applications.”
