livenews NETHERLANDS FOH Horace Ward The Alcons R&D team with the LR24 line array
Alcons announces LR24 Partner Programme
It’s been 30 months of waiting but the LR24 pro-ribbon line array system is finally ready to go, says Dave Robinson
DUTCH LOUDSPEAKER manufacturer Alcons Audio has announced the start of its Launch Partner Programme for the long-awaited LR24 pro-ribbon line-array system. Designed specifically for the concert touring and large-scale installation market, and first shown at Prolight + Sound in 2010, Alcons Audio has now concluded LR24s initial beta phase. Since the launch over 30 months ago,
Alcons’ R&D team says it has been “working hard to produce what is seen as the holy grail of sound reinforcement: hi-fi sound quality at concert sound pressure levels”. The company boldly adds: “This has now been achieved.” The LR24 mid-sized line-array system includes Alcons Audio’s newly developed, multiple-patented pro-ribbon transducer for the reproduction of mid and high frequencies. Philip ‘Dr Phil’ de Haan, co-founder and head of Alcons Audio R&D, explains: “A long-time ambition was to see how far we could take our pro-ribbon transducer technology, in terms of sheer power output. For the LR24 we purposely built the 02-platform and it’s even more efficient than our evolutionary 01 platform.” The result is a 14” tall, single-
diaphragm pro-ribbon with 14” voice- coil and, combined with a number of patent-pending developments, with, reports Alcon, up to 90% lower distortion and a flat frequency response beyond 20,000Hz at concert sound pressure levels. The system is driven by the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller, which
contains multiple processors and four individual audiophile hi-fi amplifier stages, totaling more than 10kW of power. This is directed by an integrated Linux micro-computer, under touchscreen control. “The completely linear response, the stunning resolution and dynamic response of this system, in combination with perfect throw capacities, will change the way engineers create their mix,” claims Alcons co-founder Tom Back. The LR24 is part of The Ribbon
Network, Alcons’ global rental network, for dry-hire co-operation between members, joint product development, information exchange and factory-direct support. The complete LR24 system contains a total of six global patents and patent-applications. Back continues: “Unlike our peers,
we don’t have an extensive user backbone in the live-sound/touring market. This enabled us to start with a blank piece of paper in terms of development, without any protocols or heritage to take into account. At the same time, it allows us to cater for the interest we receive from owners across all top brand systems. “With the Launch Partner
Programme, we enable a select group of forward-thinking users to get access to this technology at an earlier stage; these innovators will be part of the final development stage and we’re inviting those who are interested in the programme to get in touch with us.”n www.alconsaudio.comwww.wymiwyg.info
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