Amate Audio's first constant curvature array design, the Xcellence X12CLA was specified to fulfil a requirement for a smaller, lighter and more affordable array cabinet, below the twin 8" X208 line-array in the Xcellence series portfolio. A new waveguide was designed to achieve the required 15? constant vertical directivity, partnering a single 12" LF driver. It soon became apparent during the development programme, that the performance of the new waveguide far exceeded the initial design expectations.
Vice president and chief technical officer Joan Amate, explains, "Not only did we achieve the intended signal quality with the desired vertical directivity, the design far exceeded the SPL levels we had anticipated. This enabled us to match the waveguide with a far more powerful LF driver and to increase the amplifier power rating by over 50 per cent."
The resultant performance and power to form and weight ratios make the Xcellence X12CLA among the world's most powerful, high quality compact array cabinets; and among the most competitively priced of any comparable system, says the company.
The result of an intensive two-year design and development programme by Amate Audio's R&D team, the Xcellence X12CLA incorporates a wealth of high-end features, including the custom designed isophasic waveguide, which achieves an exceptional long throw while maintaining consistent frequency and directivity throughout.
Loaded with a 2.5" voice coil and neodymium magnet driver, the assembly is designed and carefully optimized for the X12CLA, providing a side-lobe free vertical dispersion with crystal clear high frequency response. Also specially developed for the Xcellence X12CLA is the new powerful, light-weight 12"driver which provides exemplary low-distortion, full frequency response down to 58Hz.
(Jim Evans)
