17 Noteworthy Audio Products Showcased at InfoComm 2016

It was all about options – both wired and wireless mics – in Audio-Technica’s Infocomm 2016 booth. But since there has been a lot of enthusiasm around ceiling-mounted microphones lately and Audio-Technica introduced two Dante-enabled ceiling-mounted mics – the ATND931 Dante six-inch gooseneck microphone and ATND933 Dante hanging microphone. They standard with the new ATND8734 Microphone Ceiling Mount Power Module with Dante Network Output, which Audio-Technica says offers a simple and cost-effective solution for integrating these new microphones with a Dante network without the need for a separate, standalone audio interface.

The company added that the ATND931 and ATND933 join the ATND8677 Microphone Desk Stand and ATND971 Network Boundary Microphone as the world’s first wired microphone products to transmit both audio and control data using the Dante network protocol. A simple Ethernet connection allows these microphones (powered by network PoE) to communicate across an existing network of Dante-enabled devices.

QSC grabbed a lot of eyeballs at InfoComm 2016 with the unveiling of its AV-to-USB Bridging solution, which includes the Q-SYS I/O-USB Bridge and two PTZ-IP Conferencing cameras—the Q-SYS PTZ-12X72 and Q-SYS PTZ-20X60. According to QSC, the new Q-SYS PTZ-IP Cameras and Q-SYS I/O-USB Bridge will solve the problem of the meeting room geography when integrating soft codec conferencing with camera feeds and audio by introducing IP-based cameras and USB bridge into the Q-SYS platform.

With no need to download drivers and USB extenders, the AV-to-USB Bridging solution fully integrates with the Q-SYS platform, changing the way integrators integrate soft-codec enabled meeting rooms by leveraging AV/IT streaming technologies to simplify and give back design flexibility.

Meanwhile, the Q-SYS AV-to-USB Bridging solution addresses the inherent limitations of using USB in a geographically diverse meeting room. There is no need for USB extender technology to integrate a PC into the installed room AV System. This provides flexibility to add as many bridges and cameras as required for the room usage.

Shure may have unveiled at ISE 2016 its Microflex Advance line of networked ceiling and table array microphones, audio interfaces and control software for enhanced AV conferencing, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a big draw at InfoComm 2016.

Microphones in the ceiling used to mean sacrificing audio quality for convenience, said associate VP of Global Product management Scott Sullivan, adding that that conflict created a challenge for the Shure. “It really raised the bar for product development.”

The Microflex Advanced microphones come in two options: table array and ceiling array. The table array mics are sleek in design and light up with LED colors to show which speaker the mic is picking up on at the time. The ceiling array microphones can be disguised as ceiling tiles or hung easily several inches below the ceiling, in a similar place a ceiling projector might be. Both mic options are controlled through Intellimix system software through a web-based GUI, are Dante-enabled and feature echo reduction.

The GEO M6 Series is comprised of the GEO M620 arrayable cabinet and the GEO M6B bass extension. The GEO M620 is a full-range unit for stand-alone, curved array or line array application.

Extremely compact in size and lightweight (less than 10 kg), the GEO M620 uses a NEXO-designed long-excursion high-efficiency 6.5-inch LF driver and 1x1-inch throat driver on a BEA/FEA optimized HR Wavesource, to deliver a frequency response of 80 Hz - 19 kHz ±3dB with nominal peak SPL of 127dB.

HF dispersion is 80 degrees or 120 degrees horizontal, with 20 degrees vertical coverage, 0 to 20 degree splay when arrayed.

The new Bose PowerShare adaptable power amplifier line consists of three 1U models: 2- and 4- channel fixed-install models (PS602 and PS604) and one 2-channel portable amplifier (PS602P). Each model delivers 600 watts of power that can be shared across all output channels. With support for both low- and high-impedance loads up to 100V, PowerShare amplifiers adapt to a wide range of applications. Onboard configurable loudspeaker processing and direct access to zone controllers eliminate the need for an additional signal processor in many installations, while outstanding audio performance and reliability are assured with patented technologies inherited from the field-proven PowerMatch line. This unique set of features and technologies makes PowerShare one of the most versatile high-performance amplifiers available today.

Building off of the Crown DriveCore Install family of amplifiers, Crown by HARMAN introduced the DCi-DA Series amplifiers that feature Dante networked audio transport. For applications that require Dante networked audio, the Crown DCi-DA Series provides a balanced combination of output power, channel count and speaker load flexibility. The Crown DCi-DA Series consists of five amplifiers with a combination of channel count and output power. In addition to being able to send and receive Dante audio, the DCi-DA Series includes many of the same features as the DCi-Network Series, such as the inclusion of a high-level DSP with JBL tunings, network control/monitoring, highly efficient design, and the ability to drive 2/4/8 ohm, 70V and 100V speaker loads out of each channel without the need for an external transformer.

Designed for outdoor applications, the highly weather resistant Control 80 Series Landscape speakers provide excellent full-range sound quality and 360 degree coverage. Designed to be mounted on or in the ground, Control 80 Series Landscape speakers can be used in a wide variety of applications including shopping malls, theme parks, sports venues, hotels, casinos, resorts, restaurants, hospitality and leisure venues, entrance ways, and anywhere a high quality music and/or paging speaker landscape speaker is required. Compact in design, the speaker is unobtrusive and easily blends in with its surroundings. A tough polyethylene enclosure resists abuse from lawn care equipment and the elements, and the enclosure color extends throughout the material so the speaker will maintain color even when scraped or scratched.

Biamp introduced TesiraLUX, an encoder/decoder pair that introduces low-latency 4K networked video distribution to its Tesira platform. The siblings, as they’re called, transport both audio and video signals over a single network using AVB (audio video bridging). The TesiraLUX product line will initially include an AVB video encoder (TesiraLUX IDH-1) and an AVB video decoder (TesiraLUX OH-1). The encoder features one HDMI port, one DisplayPort port, and two mic/line-level analog inputs. The decoder includes one HDMI port and two line-level analog outputs. TesiraLUX supports the latest advancements in video formats, including 4096x2160 at 60-Hz, high dynamic range (HDR) and the Rec. 2020 color space. It can accept video at up to 16-bit color depth with 4:4:4 chroma subsampling, as well as supports 8 channels of embedded PCM audio, which can be broken out to be routed and processed independently.

Barix is releasing the Annuncicom PS1 paging and intercom station, which allows the user to make announcements, get pages and interrupt background music when necessary. In addition to K-12 and higher education applications, it can also be used in retail settings.

Tucked away in the company’s booth it would be easy to miss, but Soundtube’s useful line of amplifiers can be utilized for any number of installation scenarios. Displaying several of the products as part of a static display in the MSE Audio booth, the Soundtube amps provide integrators a choice of seven models that range from single channel monoblocks, to three-channel amps that can be used to power the front channels in a surround sound system. In addition to their power ratings and channel configurations, the line of amps also provide a choice of circuit designs to allow integrators to choose from Class A/B, Class D or the proprietary Class G MA3501t amp (pictured). The MA3501t is rated to provide 350 watts of power into 4 ohms, 25 volts, 70 volts and 100 volts, and 225 watts into 8 ohms.

Working in the shadows of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Leon started as a small custom loudspeaker company serving the residential market. A few years ago the company entered the commercial market developing customized speakers for applications that include outdoor and boardroom installations. During the InfoComm show Leon showed how it can design and build speakers that include integrated cameras for boardroom collaboration systems, as well as loudspeakers that blend into outdoor environments for installs as varied as theme parks, restaurants, and public spaces.

Partnering with Barco, Dolby Laboratories and Harkness Screens, the California high-performance audio company crushed InfoComm’s demo room experience with the mother of all system demos. Explaining how it started in the post production category a decade ago, which ultimately led the company into the corporate boardroom and residential high-performance home theater market, the company showed a video demonstrating how it tests products to meet its high SPL and low-distortion goals. Meyer Sound capped its demo with an eight-minute clip from Tom Cruise’s 2013 movie Oblivion in a DCI color space with bone rattling sound that would impress its fellow Bay Area music clients Metallica.

A key part of Media Vision’s Assistive Listening System is the MV-ALS-PRFM Portable Receiver. The MV-ALS-PRFM offers 57 programmable channels and its OLED screen displays the channel name, settings lock status, volume, signal strength and battery life.

Users can benefit from clear and enhanced audio when using Media Vision’s Assistive Listening System in lecture halls, meeting rooms, House of Worship and other spaces where hearing can be difficult.

The LR-4200-072 receiver is one of Listen Technologies’ new personal listening products showcased at this year’ InfoComm show.

With Listen’s unique DSP SQTM noise reduction technology, the company says users experience 20 dB less noise and hiss than any other listening device. Users can wear the DSP RF Receiver around their necks, with a belt clip, or concealed in a pocket and can benefit from an enhanced listening experience in places where it’s difficult to hear, such as in theaters, lecture halls, concert venues, houses of worship, and more.

Featuring lightweight, energy-efficient Class-D switching amplifier technology combined with a switch mode power supply, Ashly Audio’s nX amplifiers are designed to meet demanding live sound environments and fixed installation sound systems in stadiums, arenas, performance venues, worship spaces and convention centers.

The nX series are available in three product families (nX, nXe, nXp). The base model nX Series amplifier is offered in two and four channel configurations. The nXe Series adds Ethernet control, event scheduling, preset recall, AUX outputs and can be customized to add digital options including AES3, CobraNet and Dante. The nXp Series has all of the features of nXe along with comprehensive signal processing using Protea DSP as well as swept load impedance monitoring for system maintenance.

ClearOne’s second generation Beamforming Mic Array has beamforming and adaptive steering, ClearOne’s next-generation Acoustic Echo Cancellation and Noise Cancellation. The solution’s sleek design allows it to easily fit into any conferencing environment, as it can be mounted to a ceiling,wall or table.

The Beamforming Microphone Array 2 also features CONVERGE Pro 2 CONSOLE software, auto-discovery of devices and system monitoring and troubleshooting. Whether installed in a boardroom, conference room, training center, courtroom or House of Worship, users can benefit from clear audio pickup through the Beamforming Microphone Array 2’s Acoustic Intelligence technology.

Stewart unveiled its new MC850 series at this year’s show, a family of multi-channel Dante amplifiers aiming to expand the reach of the audio network.

Featuring eight channels and 50W of output per channel, the MC850 commercial amplifier series offers flexibility and includes three models to cover applications where low impedance is required.