Alcons Audio has introduced the QR24, a modular 2-way column loudspeaker to be used as vertical array system for both permanent and (limited) portable applications.
The QR24 combines a natural, dynamic sound reproduction with intelligibility and throw, without the need for DSP-based beam shaping.
Due to its modularity, the QR24’s throw and low-frequency directivity (“near field”) can be increased just by extending the array length; multiple individual mid-high frequency lobes can be made by using the QM low-mid fill columns.
The QR24 measures 26 inches tall and is fitted with four 6.5-inch woofers and two purpose-built 12-inch pro-ribbon drivers.
Specifically for this system, the RBN03 pro-ribbon platform was developed, offering Alcons’ non-compressed hi-fi sound quality with exceptionally low distortion, but with less mounting depth. This accommodates a co-axial driver arrangement with the LMF transducers, which are, at the same time, actively cooling the RBN drivers for further power compression reduction.
By using only two 12inch RBN drivers, the system’s active frontal radiation is close to 90 percent. The resulting sharply-controlled vertical dispersion offers SPL-independent intelligibility over distance, without the necessity of DSP-based beam-shaping.
The symmetrical acoustic design, in combination with the patented horizontal dispersion of the RBN HF drivers, offers a coherent horizontal pattern control with seamless coverage. This widens the “stereo sweet spot” significantly, for the off-axis positioned audience.
The projection pattern in the horizontal/non-coupling plane is 80-degrees (-6 dB), and in the vertical/coupling plane, it is 6 degrees (single column).
Each 12-inch RBN driver has a peak power handling of 2,000 watts (200 msec), creating a virtually infinite system headroom of 4,000 watts from 1 kHz up. Together with the high acoustical sensitivity, the system enables high-SPL sound-reinforcement performance.
The frequency response is -3 dB flat between 74 Hz. to 20 kHz to match a accompanying subwoofer system, catering for a relatively simple bi-amped, three-way system.
The flat frequency response and the fast transient response of the RBN mid-high frequency transducers, in combination with the sharply controlled dispersion, brings a maximum “gain-before-feedback” up to directly in front of/under the system.
The passive filtering allows up to 3 QR24 modules to be combined on one amplifier channel, with an array length of 7 feet (2 meters).
The QR24 is powered and controlled by the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller. Through the integrated processing and feedback, the Sentinel offers QR24-specific drive processing with optimal response, reliability and user-friendliness.
The Signal Integrity Sensing pre-wiring ensures complete cable/connector compensation between the QR24 and ALC. This offers a 1:1, undistorted natural sound reproduction, regardless of cable length and amplifier impedance load (system damping factor >10.000 down to 2 ohms).
