Next-proaudio of Portugal has introduced the LA212X, a 3-way, horn-loaded, axially symmetric line array element providing 90-degree horizontal constant dispersion control. The symmetric design results in virtually identical acoustic sound patterns on the right and left, affording easy, accurate alignment.
The bass section makes use of two 12-inch neodymium woofers with 3-inch voice coils that are strategically placed on either side of the speaker in a dipolar horn arrangement. The horn mouths are horizontally separated by a “tuned” distance that uses the Tuned Dipolar Array effect to achieve exceptional low frequency horizontal dispersion control with the nominal angle being maintained down to 280 Hz.
The mid- and high-frequency sections, also horn-loaded, are coaxially mounted in the center of the cabinet, extending lower vocal directivity control and providing smooth mid/high transition.
The mid-frequency horn uses a 10-inch driver mounted coaxially behind the HF drivers, loaded by a mathematically complex, directivity control device that eliminates the HF section acoustic “shadow.” Due to the physical diameter of 10 inch driver it is impossible to achieve interference-free, close coupling of wave sources at the frequencies necessary to crossover with HF drivers, so a proprietary Wave Splitter device was developed.
The Wave Splitter causes the 10-inch driver to behave as twin adjacent 5-inch drivers mounted at half the physical distance. The distance between these adjacent virtual drivers is close enough to couple coherently in the vertical plane extending the upper frequency limit for line source behavior, projecting sound waves farther than traditional systems with a more evenly distributed sound output pattern.
In addition, the mid-frequency section employs a Correction Phase Device which equalizes speaker cone’s acoustical path lengths and thereby minimizes high-frequency cancelation and distortion caused by phase differences, greatly increasing the speaker’s ability to produce clear, accurate and “vocals-in-the-face” realistic sound. This device and the associated horn are optimized to create a high compression ratio which rises conversion efficiency to reach a sensitivity of 115 dB at 1W/1m in full space.
The high-frequency section consists of two 1.4-inch exit HF compression drivers with 2.5-inch voice coils mounted to a dedicated wave-shaping device. This unit is carefully designed so that each path-lengh from the throat to any part of the mouth is precisely identical, which provides accurate high frequency summing and the generation of a flat, isophasic wavefront.
The wave then exits by a diffraction slot to a constant directivity wave guide that spreads out evenly across the horizontal plane, producing a cylindrical wave that couples coherently, with minimal lobing, in the vertical plane while uniformly disperses on the, non-coupling, horizontal plane.
To preserve the acoustical integrity and the natural warmth, all the horns, wave guides and phase correctors are made of low resonance plywood or acoustically neutral polymers. The transducers are exclusively made by B&C Speakers.
The cabinet is constructed from genuine Baltic Birch plywood and has a black textured finish. The front of the cabinet is protected by a rigid metal grill and the side and rear panels incorporate four handles. Two Neutrik NL8 connectors wired in parallel are mounted at the
rear.
