Alcons targets tour sound after five-year LR28 development
Published: PRODUCTS
Described as the result of five years of development and carrying the promise of ‘fully predictable performance, without any colouration’, the LR28 has debuted from Alcons Audio following two full years of beta testing to ensure ‘proof of concept’ within its target markets of touring sound and large installations. The R&D process behind the flagship system has reportedly led to two patents pending alongside an already existing four, while the manufacturer has declared that the system is ‘not only predictable in terms of sound response, but also in projection and throw’.
Crucially, the LR28 line array module comes as part of wider family of solutions intended for use as a complete system. Also included are the LR28/110 wide-dispersion line-array module, the LB28 line-array bass extension, the BC543 cardioid subwoofer, the Sentinel10 amplified loudspeaker controller, ALControl remote control software and ARC (Alcons Ribbon Calculator) set-up/prediction software.
Each individual LR28 enclosure is loaded with two 14-inch woofers, four 6.5-inch mid-range drivers and a single, entirely redesigned for purpose, RBN 14-inch pro-ribbon driver for HF. The design results in a reported frequency range of 55Hz to 20kHz (-3dB), a nominal dispersion of 80-degrees x 6-degrees (a single LR28) or 110-degrees x 6-degrees (a single LR28/110). The accompanying LB28 comprises two 14-inch woofers, with a frequency range of 55Hz to 250Hz (-3dB), while the BC543 sub contains three 18-inch carbon-coned woofers (two in the front and one in the rear), delivering a frequency range of 35Hz to 150Hz (-3dB).
The launch marks a significant step into the touring market for Alcons – a sector in which it has not previously made its presence felt. However, the company has treated its newcomer status as a benefit, as company founder Tom Back explained: ‘we decided to take our time; build a fairly large rig and do gigs with that, to gather experience and information’. The long R&D period also allowed the company to develop the complete system solution, including the Sentinel DSP amplifier. The beta test itself was based on the Launch Partner Programme, as introduced in 2013. With the 2014 arrival of the LR24 having hinted at what was to come, the now completed LR28 is intended to compete at the highest level of the touring market.