Alcons Audio Announces the QR24 Line-Source Array Column

	Alcon's QR24 pro-ribbon line-source column

Alcons Audio introduces the QR24 line-source array column, a modular two-way column loudspeaker to be used as vertical array system, for both permanent and (limited) portable applications.

The QR24 combines a perfectly natural, dynamic sound reproduction with superb intelligibility and throw, in even the acoustically most challenging environments without the need for DSP-based beam shaping.

Due to its modularity, throw and low-frequency directivity ("near field") can be increased just by extending the array length. Multiple individual mid-high frequency lobes can be made, by using the QM low-mid fill columns.

The QR24 measures a mere 66cm / 26" tall in length, and is fitted with four by 6.5" woofers and two purpose-built 12" pro-ribbon drivers. Specifically for this system, the "RBN03" pro-ribbon platform was developed, offering Alcons' renowned non-compressed HiFi sound quality with absolute lowest distortion possible, but with less mounting depth. This accommodates a co-axial driver arrangement with the LMF transducers, which are, at the same time, actively cooling the RBN drivers for further power compression reduction.

By using only two 12" RBN drivers, the system's active frontal radiation is close to 90%. According to the company, the resulting sharply-controlled vertical dispersion offers a superb, SPL-independent, intelligibility over distance, without the necessity of DSP-based beam-shaping.

The symmetrical acoustic design, in combination with the patented horizontal dispersion of the RBN HF drivers, offers a coherent horizontal pattern control with seamless coverage. The company says this widens the "stereo sweet spot" significantly, for the off-axis positioned audience.

The projection pattern in the horizontal / non-coupling plane is 80-degrees (-6dB) and in the vertical / coupling plane, it is six-degrees (single column).

Each purpose-designed 12" RBN driver has a peak power handling of 2,000W (200msec), creating a virtually infinite system headroom of 4,000W from 1kHz up. Together with the high acoustical sensitivity, the system enables high-SPL sound-reinforcement performance.

The frequency response is -3dB flat between 74Hz. to 20,000Hz, to easily match an accompanying subwoofer system, catering for a relatively simple bi-amped, three-way system.

The flat frequency response and the fast transient response of the RBN mid-high frequency transducers, in combination with the sharply controlled dispersion, brings a maximum "gain-before-feedback" up to directly in front of / under the system.

The passive filtering allows up to three QR24 modules to be combined on one amplifier channel, with an array length of two-meters, or seven feet.

The QR24 is powered and controlled by the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller. Through the integrated processing and feedback, the Sentinel offers QR24-specific drive processing with optimal response and reliability and utmost user-friendliness.

The signal integrity sensing pre-wiring ensures complete cable/connector compensation between the QR24 and ALC. This offers a 1:1, undistorted natural sound reproduction, regardless of cable length and amplifier impedance load (system damping factor >10,000 down to two ohms).