Meyer Sound has announced the 2100-LFC low-frequency control element, a new 21-inch active loudspeaker designed to extend the low-frequency performance of the PANTHER large-format line array as well as the entirety of the company’s line array products, and it will be officially introduced at the upcoming ISE 2023 show in Barcelona (hall 5, booth #5F100).
Specifically, it pairs a new class D amplifier with a single, newly designed 21-inch driver with four voice coils. Stated frequency response is 30 – 125 Hz, with an enclosure that is more than one foot (30 cm) narrower and about 20 percent lighter than the 1100-LFC.
“The 2100-LFC shares the core design philosophy behind our breakthrough PANTHER line array,” says Meyer Sound senior product manager Andy Davies. “With the 2100-LFC we’ve had the same goal of making a lighter and slimmer self-powered cabinet with all the performance the industry has asked us for while bringing it to the market at a lower initial cost than the previous generation. With PANTHER and the 2100-LFC we now have a complete, full-bandwidth solution for high-impact sound reinforcement in large-scale portable and installed applications that meets the practical and budgetary demands of the modern industry.”
The Meyer Sound engineering team built on the experience gained from the dual voice coil 18-inch driver in the 900-LFC, this time stepping up to four voice coils. The new class D amplifier is rated to deliver 1200 watts maximum continuous power with peak power of 8000 watts.
“Like all sub-bass loudspeakers producing very high levels over hours of use, the magnets and voice coils can get very warm and that affects the linearity of the output,” notes Davies. “But since we have AC power on board, we are able to engineer cooling systems not just for the amplifier but also for the magnet and voice coil assembly. So, the output of the 2100-LFC maintains a linear response no matter how hard you drive it.”
Like the 1100-LFC, the 2100-LFC has symmetrical rigging hardware, allowing the mixing of front and rear orientation in cardioid arrays. However, the narrower cabinet profile of the 2100-LFC allows for a more efficient truck pack, with three-high stacks fitting three across in USA or European semi-trailers. “The stacks are a bit higher than other models in the LFC family, but that’s usually wasted space up at the top,”Davies says. “Overall, it’s a far more efficient use of truck space, and when you add the savings in space PANTHER has already contributed, we are dramatically reducing the cost of touring logistics.”
Preliminary specifications for the 2100-LFC low-frequency control element give measurements of 42 inches (107 cm) wide, 24 inches (61 cm) high and 26.5 inches (67 cm) deep. The enclosure is multi-ply birch with a textured finish. The grille is powder-coated stamped steel.
The 2100-LFC also incorporates the same standard dual input module as PANTHER, offering both a Milan AVB endpoint for digital audio and monitoring telemetry, plus an analog input for backward compatibility with existing systems. System monitoring and connectivity is handled by Meyer Sound’s Nebra software package. The 2100-LFC also benefits from the integration functionality in the Galileo GALAXY series of processors. All connections on the module — network, AC power, and analog XLR input — are via Neutrik TOP (True Outdoor Protection) connectors with an IP55 rating, making weather protection a standard feature.
Davies: “A sub-bass unit with a single 21-inch driver is something we’ve wanted to offer for a number of years because of the size and weight advantages as well as the sonic benefits. Finally, technology and engineering have caught up with our ambitions. We set a high bar with the 1100-LFC, which set a new standard for power paired with accuracy and musicality. We expect the 2100-LFC will deliver a level of open, transparent, and linear low-frequency power that will again raise the bar for the industry and redefine what is possible.”
The team responsible for the design, specification and testing of the 2100-LFC was led by engineering director, Acoustical & Mechanical, Katharine Murphy Khulusi. Orders are being accepted immediately, with the first shipments anticipated in Q2 of this year.
