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two, three or all four outputs. Matt Skogmo, director, R&D Power Group at QSC, explains that this allows PLD/CXD Series products “to drive, for example, four full-range loudspeakers or subwoofers; a high-power subwoofer and a biamplified speaker; a single high-power full- range loudspeaker and subwoofer combo; or multiple power-hungry subwoofers from a single, very high output mono-block.” Elaborating on the thinking behind FAST, Skogmo says that
saw the announcement of Camco’s new i-Series iDR power/management system, while Powersoft has lately announced plans for a solar-powered solution and confirmed the integration of AFMG’s FIRmaker technology [see box, page 52]. Yamaha, meanwhile, has just
added four eight-channel products to its XMV amplifier range, for which ease of connectivity and networking are priorities. The XMV8280 and XMV8140 are equipped with
“When it comes to amplifier developments, I’d say it’s economic factors more than anything: how to make
ownership more cost-effective and provide greater power density, lower current draw, more energy efficiency and more reliability” Mark Flanagan, TC Group
“rather than burden a single channel with the full current and voltage swing required, we began with a single high power channel and then built four of those into a single amplifier. Our FAST technology gives us the ability to then bridge or parallel those amp channels to deliver the required power to a load – no matter if it is 70/100V or 1 ohm… One amplifier can do it all!” All this is only to skim the surface of recent launches. March
Yamaha’s YDIF digital audio format connectivity, designed for fast and easy set-up with Ethernet cables. The XMV8280- D and XMV8140-D, meanwhile, utilise Audinate’s Dante digital audio networking technology. “The eight-channel XMV products are due to begin shipping in Q4 this year,” confirms Yamaha Commercial Audio Europe’s Tim Harrison. All of which leaves one
obvious question unanswered:
QSC’s CXD family
CROWN, DOLBY DOUBLE FIRST AT DENMARK’S CINEMA APOLLON
Not only is the Cinema Apollon in the Danish town of Struer playing host to the first installation of Harman’s Crown DriveCore Install series amplifiers in Denmark – it also constitutes the country’s first Dolby Atmos surround sound-equipped movie theatre, incorporating the CP850 Dolby Atmos Cinema Processor. Dolby Atmos technology
employs up to 64 loudspeakers to heighten the realism and impact of movie theatre sound. For the 180-seat theatre at the Cinema Apollon, Danish Harman Professional distributor LydRommet Denmark worked in conjunction with Danish theatre design firm AVC Kino Digital and London-based
why so much creativity in this area, and why now? PSNEurope anticipated a range of theories, but in fact there was a broad consensus that the evolution of Class D platforms and the corresponding energy-saving benefits for increasingly cost- conscious consumers has been the greatest single spur to action. “When it comes to amplifier
developments,” remarks Flanagan, “I’d say it’s economic factors more than anything: how to make ownership more cost- effective and provide greater power density, lower current draw, more energy efficiency and more reliability.” Tschetter echoes some of these sentiments, noting the emergence of technology that “allows the creation of more sophisticated, sonically accurate
of JBL loudspeakers, including JBL ScreenArray 3732 main speakers and 4642A subwoofers, 8350 cinema surround speakers and 4645C subwoofers. The Crown DCi analogue
Dolby staff to devise and supply a system capable of meeting the stipulated Dolby Atmos criteria, which include maximum SPL levels for every speaker in the installation. The resulting solution saw
LydRommet Denmark supply extensive Harman brand equipment, including Crown DCi 8|300, 4|600 and 4|300 amplifiers. These power a range
and higher-powered Class D designs. And at a time when there is concern about energy costs, the market welcomes the efficiency of Class D.” Powersoft’s Luca Giorgi
similarly credits the “maturation” of Class D designs, but also emphasises “competitive factors. Some manufacturers have lost ground during recent years and have therefore sought to regain share with new products in the same market.” Greater functionality vis-à-vis
networking and overall system control will continue to have a growing influence on amplifier design. But right now it’s clear that the sector’s traditional drivers – of delivering more power, more compactly, more cheaply – have come back into sharp focus as amplifier makers
amps were specified for their ability to deliver clean, powerful sound from a compact design, said Flemming Bjerke of LydRommet, adding: “The Dolby Atmos specification requires 105dB peak SPL at the reference point in the theatre, and one of the biggest challenges we had with the system was achieving this spec with enough headroom. DCi is such a high-quality amplifier range that it is a perfect match for Dolby Atmos.”
work to calm the nerves of users whose eyes are locked evermore intently on the bottom line. n
www.afmg.eu www.camcoaudio.com www.crownaudio.com www.dolby.com labgruppen.com www.qscaudio.com www.powersoft-audio.com www.yamahaproaudio.com
KEY POINTS
l More efficient Class D amplifier topologies inspiring a raft of new products
l End-user concerns about rising energy costs a priority for manufacturers
l General sense of increased competition between newer and more established amp makers
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