Celestion Debuts Two Next-Generation 1.4" Compression Drivers

Celestion, one of the world’s leading suppliers of professional loudspeakers and compression drivers for sound reinforcement applications, announced availability of two new 1.4" exit, neodymium magnet, high frequency compression drivers to their range, the CDX14-3055 and CDX14-3045. These next-generation drivers both offer improved power handling and sensitivity, with a lower crossover point and overall reduction in size, making them compact and extremely effective HF solutions for use in high-quality fixed installation, or touring sound systems.

Capable of 135dB peak SPL, Martin Audio’s latest announcement, THS, is an extremely powerful point source loudspeaker which combines very high output with extended frequency response. This new design using a custom version of the DCX464 Coaxial HF dual-diaphragm compression driver and a 15" woofer, joins the wider TH series from the British manufacturer, and is ideally suited to medium-scale DJ club applications and installations which call for exceptionally high sound levels from a compact, standalone loudspeaker system.

Renowned audio speaker design, David W. Gunness, now with Fulcrum Acoustic, and previously with Electro-Voice and Eastern Acoustic Works, is no stranger to this field of research where he holds numerous patents.This review is a fascinating read, especially given that Fulcrum has already proven the validity of the proposed designs in actual products. It seems clear that Gunness achieved “a very good design that should advance the art in the category of cardioid devices,” as Croft notes.

Italian professional audio manufacturer FBT has debuted a host of new products that highlight the benefits and advantages of the AES70 standard. A long-term OCA Alliance member, FBT created the INFINITO system management software to leverage the AES70 platform, and its AES70 product portfolio has now expanded to include powered loudspeakers, control software and, new for 2023, the new MIURA Series of DSP and Dante-enabled power amplifiers.

A new office in Beijing, bolstered by the appointment of solutions engineer Miao Wang, signal Powersoft’s growing ambitions in the important Chinese market. Wang, who will host the highly anticipated Chinese launch of the UNICA platform at InfoComm China (19–21 July), is the latest hire for Powersoft’s local operation, which recently relocated to the national capital from its previous office in Shenzhen. He will report directly to Abbu Hu, Powersoft’s chief representative officer in China.

RCF introduced TT+ Audio, a new premium brand in the group, founded on the company's decades of experience designing high-performance sound reinforcement products that provide integrated, reliable solutions for professionals seeking the highest quality in sound reinforcement. The brand's all-encompassing approach to product design, engineering, and tour-tested reliability, is intended to be perceived as a premium solution for touring professionals and high-quality permanent installations.

d&b group announced a major investment by Providence Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in investments in media, communications, education and technology. The d&b Group is the entity that combines German company d&b audiotechnik, one of the leading manufacturers of sound reinforcement systems, and d&b solutions, a service-focused business entity, offering audio, video, lighting and presentation systems, mainly based in the UK.

Holoplot, the company that disrupted the market with the first large-scale commercial implementation of 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wavefield Synthesis solutions, will be introducing its second product following the original X1 Matrix Array. Designed to address smaller scale sound reinforcement needs for a multitude of audio applications, and particularly focused on tackling speech intelligibility issues, the X2 is the latest hardware innovation from the Berlin-based venture.

Alcons Audio introduced the latest LR15 Pro-Ribbon Ultra-Compact Line-Array, relieving its predecessor from duties after 20 years. The new LR15 is a 2-way, line-source sound system with high SPL capabilities and throw in a very compact form factor is considered an evolution in all key performance metrics by the Dutch pro-ribbon transducer innovator. At the heart of the new design is the patented RBN502rs 5” pro-ribbon transducer, combined with next-generation 6.5" woofers with FlowVent loading for full-range performance.

This article examines a notable patent from VUE Audiotechnik, describing a loudspeaker system with one driver providing a direct radiating output from the front, and a second driver on a ported side chamber, sharing a ported common chamber, where at least one port of the ported common chamber exits the front of the loudspeaker system. As Croft notes, this is an innovative advanced system - that was patent-pending at the time - and provides a unique combination of technology, offering real-world advantages. The patent was granted in 2021.