SoundTube speakers achieve IP65 rating
Published: PRODUCTS
Four of SoundTube Entertainment’s SM-EZ speaker family have achieved an IP65 rating. The SM52-EZ, SM52-EZ-WX, SM82-EZ-II and SM82-EZ-II-WX have all been certified as dust-tight and will withstand water jets aimed directly at the speakers. The –WX models are IP65 capable out of the box, while the standard models achieve this rating when an included port plug is installed.
SM-EZ speakers are constructed with 5.25-inch polypropylene woofers in the SM52-EZ and SM-52-EZ-WX and 8-inch in the SM82-EZ-II and SM82-EZ-II-WX. All four have soft dome tweeters and use the manufacturer’s proprietary BroadBeam Ring technology. Enclosures for the SM52-EZ and SM82-EZ-II are ported, with port plugs included for outdoor use; grilles and mounting hardware are aluminium. The SM52-EZ-WX and SM82-EZ-II-WX versions feature sealed enclosures, aluminium grilles, and stainless steel fasteners and mounting brackets.
A 32W transformer with six position tap switch in the SM52-EZ and SM82-EZ-II offers 25.5V, 70.7V and 100V operation with an 8-ohm bypass. The SM82-EZ-II and SM82-EZ-II-WX uses a 64W transformer with six position tap switch and 8-ohm bypass. Inputs are made via ceramic terminal strips.
Heading back indoors, the manufacturer has added Dante capability to some of its in-ceiling and surface-mount speakers. A unique addition comes in the form of Master speakers that allow the connection of non-Dante speakers on the network. Initially four SoundTube IPD in-ceiling models and one surface-mount speaker are available, along with two Master IPD4 speakers with additional models to be added in the future.
The system not only permits individual setup of speakers, it provides 40W per channel PoE to any STNet speaker on the system with the STNet Switch. The speakers can also be connected and powered by standard PoE plus and PoE switches. The category cable which connects each SoundTube IPD speaker to the SoundTube STNet-Switch provides the signal, speaker power and report-back information. The speakers are self-monitoring and report voice coil, amplifier and overheating issues. Each speaker in an STNet system can be part of a zone or can be in its own zone.
SoundTube’s speaker monitoring software graphically indicates groups of speakers; if a problem occurs in a speaker within a group, the group will be highlighted on the system manager’s screen. Clicking on the group of speakers will bring up the information for the group and will identify the speaker that is having an issue.
A Dante system controller DSP is connected to the STNet Switch via a gigabit Ethernet port. Up to 16 speakers may be connected directly via one STNet Switch and switches may be linked via a second gigabit Ethernet port for expansion of the system. The manufacturer states that any Dante-enabled controller DSP will work with the STNet switch.
The IPD4 Master Dante-enabled speakers can power up to three additional non-IP speakers. Each IPD4 speaker can be broken down into two channels and can be matched in a system with standard passive SoundTube speakers of the same type.