"We chose to differentiate the systems in a clearly visual sense," said Freddie To, director, d&b China, "but with the emphasis firmly on how the many elements of the d&b product range can be integrated in any combination."
Highlights included elements from the xS-Series, the 4S, 5S, 8S and 12S loudspeakers, along with the dedicated 18S-SUB subwoofer. The 4S, 5S and 8S are light weight coaxial 2-way loudspeakers with a 100° conical dispersion, while the larger 12S is a biaxial bass reflex loudspeaker with 12" bass driver and a 1.4" compression driver mounted to a rotatable horn (75° x 50°, or 110° x 55° for the wider angle 12S-D variant). The 18S-SUB is a direct radiating subwoofer designed for use with both xS and xA-Series loudspeakers, it has a single 18" driver providing a frequency response between 37Hz and 140Hz.
From the xA-Series, the 10AL, coupled with the 27A-SUB, provides a classic installation line array combination. The 27A-SUB houses a front facing 15" driver in combination with a rear radiating 12" for stand-alone cardioid performance off a single channel of D6, D12 or D80 amplification. The 10AL is a 2-way passively crossed bass-reflex enclosure (10" and two 1" compression in the HF) with a nominal horizontal directivity of 75°.
The J, V and Q-Series line array systems are all well established in the Chinese market, so too the C-Series point source system. The displayed Ci-Series is the installation variant and amply illustrated how all these Series V, Q and C (with the exception of J-Series), have an acoustically compatible installation version where touring handles have been eliminated for a more aesthetically pleasing cabinet, while M10, M12 and M16 threaded inserts are provided for attaching installation hardware.
The xC-Series of column loudspeakers featured at both shows. The 24C loudspeaker is an installation product developed specifically for speech reinforcement in difficult acoustic environments, such as railway terminus and other large open buildings. The xC-Series also includes 16C, a smaller column using four 4" low/mid drivers plus centrally mounted constant directivity HF horn with 0.75" compression driver.
And finally, exclusive to PL+S the new Y-Series offering both point source and line array loudspeakers, though only the line array products were on show. The Y7P and Y10P point source and the Y8 and Y12 line array modules each feature two 8" drivers with neodymium magnets mounted in a dipolar arrangement around a 1.4" compression driver. All models are passively crossed over, keeping amplifier channels to a minimum.
"Such a wide selection of loudspeaker solutions for a diversity of situations," concluded To, "yet all with the typical d&b goal of precise propagation control in mind. Response to the products on display was the best we have experienced and the consistency of tonal quality and frequency response across the whole range was widely acknowledged as a major benefit."
(Jim Evans)
