Alcons has announced the LR18 pro-ribbon, a three-way, ‘compact-mid-size’ line-source sound system, combining high sound quality with very high SPL and throw.
Using Alcons’ pro-ribbon technology for mid and high frequencies, a super-fast impulse response with up-to-90% less distortion is claimed. This enables the LR18 to offer a fully intuitive linear response, with very high intelligibility and non-compressed identical tonal balance at any SPL.
The a cylindrical wavefront of the RBN702rs 7-inch pro-ribbon transducer and the acoustically and electronically symmetrical component configuration bring a high level of pattern control in both the vertical as well as the horizontal plane, without using a horn construction. The pro-ribbon’s power handling of 1.5kW and RMS-to-peak ratio of 1:15 promise high intelligibility and throw, with high dynamic headroom.
The MF-section features a 6.5-inch midrange transducer with Neodymium motor-structure co-axially mounted behind the RBN702rsr pro-ribbon driver. The LF section comprises two extended-excursion, reflex-loaded 8-inch woofers with oversized 3-inch voice-coil Neodymium motor-structure. The 8-inch reckons to surpass the output of larger drivers in higher-category line-array systems, while maintaining the unobtrusive aesthetic.
The LR18 is driven by two channels of the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller, optimising the system’s response by LR18-specific drive processing and feedback for each array configuration, including presets for phase-matched low-frequency extensions.
A form-factor matching LB18 is also available, consisting of two of the same 8-inch LF transducers. Adding LB18 modules enlarges the array length, extending the controlled (cylindrical) projection of the LR18 down to the lower frequencies, while increasing throw of the low-mid frequencies over distance.
The Signal Integrity Sensing pre-wiring ensures dynamic cable/connector compensation between the LR18 (/LB18) and ALC, without any preset requirement; This offers a 1:1, undistorted natural sound reproduction, regardless of cable length and amplifier impedance load (system damping factor at the speaker terminals of 10.000).
The rigging system enables angle-setting on the cabinets without lifting the array, resulting in safer and faster set-up with minimal handling and a WLL of 24 cabinets under 10:1 safety (LB18 32 units). Array configurations can be simulated in the new release of Alcons Ribbon Calculator (ARC3), Alcons’ high-resolution 3D simulation program.
‘With the development of the LR18, we followed the design footsteps and system approach of the LR28 large format line-array and the LR18’s larger brother,’ says Philip de Haan, Alcons’ Head of Alcons R&D. ‘We paid specific attention to the projection of the LR18; In the vertical (coupling) plane, the side-lobe free projection creates a perfect wavefront for an unprecedented throw. In the horizontal plane, the 90° horizontal dispersion is completely maintained from 20kHz down to 360Hz for a seamless coverage.’
‘This is one of the most important product releases for Alcons Audio to date – not only for the market volume in both the install and rental market, but also to complete the LR28 large-format touring system package,’ says Alcons MD, Tom Back. ‘When we started development of the LR18, we knew we had to pull out all stops to make this a benchmark system in the projection control and also in the 1:1 sound reproduction in any type of application.’
The LR18 is part of The Ribbon Network, comes with a six-year ‘hassle-free’ limited warranty and is available now.
More: www.alcons.audio
