VIDEO: L-Acoustics previews new 5XT and SB15m

Last month’s InfoComm 2012 show in Las Vegas saw L-Acoustics preview its new 5XT ultra-compact coaxial enclosure and SB15m compact subwoofer, both of which are due for winter 2012 availability.

Since then, L-Acoustics has issued the following short video from the show to offer a closer look at the 5XT and SB15m, as well as new ARCS, WIDE and ARCS FOCUS systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIld8CVBmA

The newest and smallest addition to the company’s XT coaxial series, the 5XT is based on a two-way passive design with a nominal impedance of 16 ohms. The compact system contains a one-inch diaphragm compression driver coaxially loaded by a five-inch low-mid frequency transducer mounted in a bass-reflex tuned enclosure.

The 5XT cabinet is made of premium-grade Baltic birch plywood, while a 3/8-inch microphone stand insert and two M8 inserts for the ETR5 flying bracket are integrated into the cabinet. The 5XT enclosure operates over a frequency range of 90 Hz to 20 kHz.

Meanwhile, the coaxial transducer arrangement produces a 100-degree axi-symmetric directivity output along with a tonal response free of secondary lobes over the entire frequency range; a design that renders the 5XT suitable for various distributed applications, as a main or fill system.

Power and processing for the 5XT is delivered by the LA4 or LA8 amplified controller, each of which is designed to ensure linearisation, protection and optimisation for the loudspeaker system in its different operating modes.

“The introduction of 5XT responds to our rental agents’ and system integrators’ requests for a coaxial product with an even more compact footprint than the current 8XT/8XTi models,” says L-Acoustics marketing director Stéphane Ecalle.

“With the 5XT, our clients will be offered a discreet and high SPL solution for both rentals and fixed installation such as front-fills, under balconies, distributed systems and surround speakers. Market segments will cover congress centers, hotels, lounges, bars, AV rooms, theatres, etc.”

Recommended for use with L-Acoustics’ KIVA and XT series enclosures, including the 5XT, the new SB15m extends the operating frequency range of these systems down to 40 Hz.

The SB15m features a single 15-inch driver in a bass reflex tuned enclosure to provide impact, sensitivity, low thermal compression and reduced distortion. The vent features a progressive profile, which is intended to allow laminar airflow and reduced turbulence noise even at the highest operating levels.

As with the 5XT, the SB15m cabinet is also made of premium-grade Baltic birch plywood. A pole-mount socket is integrated into the top of the cabinet allowing one XT enclosure or two KIVA to be mounted directly above. Furthermore, SB15m subwoofers can be flown or ground-stacked as a standalone vertical array or within an SB15m/KIVA array.

The SB15m is also powered and processed by the LA4 or LA8 amplified controller.

“The SB15m will fulfill two goals,” Ecalle noted. “First, it will extend the frequency response of our compact coaxial enclosures, namely 5XT and 8XT/8XTi. Second, SB15m will be introduced with a new KIVA-SB bumper to offer full compatibility with our KIVA modular line source and with added rigging possibilities.

“With a maximum SPL of 135 dB and operating range down to 40 Hz, as well as a progressive profile with laminar airflow, the SB15m will provide KIVA with significantly reinforced low frequency resources and bandwidth. The KIVA-KILO system was originally designed for speech reinforcement, but with the addition of the SB15m, its application range can be further extended for today’s music.”

Expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2012, the 5XT will be available at $850.00, with pricing for the SB15m set at $2,660.00.

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