During the market stagnation in all forms of large audience events caused by the global pandemic, L-Acoustics pushed through its development roadmap and now unveiled a new line source system that is perfectly designed to fit the needs of the professional audio industry, when it will be finally able to resume activities. The new K3, compact, full-range line source system rounds out its industry-leading K Series.
The K3 is now the manufacturer’s smallest full-range enclosure, designed to deliver big sound for mid-size events with audiences ranging from 1,000 to 10,000. The K3 design provides full-range bandwidth, without the need for a flown companion subwoofer, while its high efficiency reduces amplification needs. These features make K3 faster and simpler, as well as more economical and sustainable to deploy.
"K3 is ready for the events of today and tomorrow," shares L-Acoustics Executive Director of Application Design Florent Bernard. "Our design team created a dual-12-inch-based system with the form factor and price of a 10-inch design, without the inherent performance compromises of 10-inch loudspeakers. K3 offers long-throw, full-range performance in a compact, accessible package, tailor-made for small to mid-capacity events and venues that are the mainstay of most sound providers. It is a ‘no compromises’ tool, perfectly adapted to the current event landscape and, when paired with K1 and K2, is quickly and powerfully scalable for large-capacity events."
Providing the full-range L-Acoustics contour from an enclosure that is 33% smaller than K2 and weighing only 43 kg (95 lbs), the new K3 system is ideal for applications that require plenty of power and bandwidth from a small form factor, including mid-size tours, festivals, corporate events, religious services and other productions. Dimensioned to keep sight-lines clear, the new design will integrate easily into venues with space restrictions.
The new two-way active WST enclosure possesses all of the hallmarks that have made the L-Acoustics K Series the reference in line array technology, including optimized mechanical design for reduced weight, laminar vents for powerful and linear low frequency response, and time-tested effortless rigging.
The K3 elements also feature L-Acoustics Panflex technology, which provides sound designers with quick access to a choice of four horizontal directivity patterns: 70° or 110° symmetrical or 90° asymmetrical on either side. With Panflex and inter-element angles ranging from 0° to 10°, K3's line source coverage can be precisely tailored to fit any audience geometry.
Inside each K3 cabinet, the design features the L-Acoustics signature DOSC waveguide for long-throw capability (>35 m/100 ft), generating an exceptional bandwidth of 42 Hz to 20 kHz (-10 dB, 70° directivity) and maximum SPL of 143 dB. Without needing a dedicated subwoofer, K3 line arrays can be used as the main system for vocal and music reinforcement in most applications, or as a complement to K1 or K2 as outfills or delays. When deployed with KS28 subwoofers, K3 systems excel as a compact main system for sonically demanding live events.
The product’s power-efficient system design also meets today's requirement for more sustainable deployment and reduced truck space. One L-Acoustics LA12X amplified controller can power up to six K3 elements, meaning that a single LA-RAK AVB unit can drive up to 18 K3.
And the company has not been sitting still. The first K3 production units are already shipping, and L-Acoustics already promised to deliver K3i, a fixed install version, in 2021. K3i will be suited for an even larger range of applications using a distributed approach.
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