After a highly positive launch at the recent Prolight & Sound exhibition, dBTechnologies has announced that the first batch of DVA T12 self-powered line array modules is now shipping.
The DVA T12 is a step up the evolutionary ladder from the DVA T4 line array, providing more power and greater range with an active 3-way design.
The DVA T12 incorporates neodymium speakers and high-performance digital amplifiers with total of 1,400 watts of output power, combined with digital signal processing and premium quality A/D-D/A converters. It delivers a uniform 100-degree by 10-degree coverage pattern.
The T12 makes the most of two acoustical effects to help distribute SPL evenly. One is the vector addition of individual horns’ output, with the other being cylindrical wave formation. The coverage pattern may be adapted to suit the sound reinforcement application by varying the length of the array and adjusting the splay between individual components.
The cabinet features three 1-inch neodymium HF drivers, each with a 1.5-inch Mylar diaphragm. Two 6.5-inch neodymium woofers with front-loaded horn are placed close together to maximize coherent coupling and response for midrange frequencies, while the powerful 12-inch neodymium woofer reaches down to 60 Hz.
For an added acoustic benefit, both systems’ driver sections are in line so that they generate phase-correct high-frequency additions allowing T4 to serve as down-fill extensions in large systems.
T12 is a fully powered unit, enabling sequentially configurable array segments. The onboard DSP offers a full set of signal processing features including crossovers with steep slopes and all the EQ functions needed. It aligns phase and time, and provides digital peak, RMS and thermal limiters for maximum headroom, performance and operating safety at peak levels.
The T12’s DSP offers eight system presets that adapt the unit to its assigned task in the array. They tweak the gain structure and EQ for the near-field/ midfield and far-field positions to compensate for high frequencies absorbed by air, and for low/midrange frequency coupling as the array length increases. All presets may be selected using the rear-mounted rotary encoder or downloaded from a PC using RDnet software.
The T12 comes with a fast and efficient local data network (LDN) comprising a main CPU and four ancillary CPUs. Each microprocessor manages its assigned component, for example, the HF amp, processing temperature, voltage, current, impedance, input, output, and other data independently and continuously.
The main CPU captures and evaluates the ancillary CPU’s data streams in real time, detecting problems such as an internal defect in a power amp channel or speaker. Only the affected channel is muted to prevent noise.
