Fulcrum Acoustic Launches FL283 Cardioid Line ArrayAt InfoComm 2015, Fulcrum Acoustic (Rochester, New York and Whitinsville, Massachusetts) will be launching the newest addition to Fulcrum's rapidly expanding product line, the FL283 line array module. The FL283 uses dual 8" horn-loaded woofers and three 1.5" compression drivers in a compact enclosure. The enclosure is shaped to accommodate up to 20 degrees of splay between adjacent boxes, allowing for more sharply curved arrays than comparable line arrays. The FL283 also incorporates Fulcrum's passive cardioid technology to overcome one of the major challenges of most line arrays, excessive rear LF radiation. Fulcrum co-founder David Gunness explains the idea behind the new passive cardioid configuration: "The subcardioid behavior is produced by a meticulously conceived acoustical circuit which balances the horn loading of the low frequency drivers, the enclosure depth and volume, and specially constructed rear-mounted ports which include a calibrated resistive element. It is analogous to a cardioid microphone operating in reverse. By opting for a subcardioid pattern, as opposed to a pure, hyper or super cardioid pattern, the rear rejection increases when the loudspeakers are deployed as a curved line array." Unlike active cardioid loudspeakers, Fulcrum's passive cardioid technology does not require an additional amplifier channel or additional enclosure volume. It achieves impressive low frequency directional control without the loss of efficiency that characterizes active cardioid devices. Each FL283 module is configured for full-range passive operation at 16ohms, allowing eight units to be driven from a single power amplifier channel. 
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