Driven a column array lately? Maybe not, because you still associate column systems with low-fi, 50-year-old, Vocal Master speakers on a church wall or a wedding band gig. Modern column array designs offer high intelligibility, wide bandwidth (especially if used with a companion subwoofer) and advanced features such as versatile mounting; powering options; onboard DSP — sometimes with the ability to steer audio directly to the listener. So, here’s a selection of some next-gen products for portable and fixed applications…
Ashly IS-3.8
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (8) 3” neodymium
- Response: 105 Hz-19k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 170°
- Size (HxWxD): 32x4x5.1”
- Weight: 12.8 pounds
- Power: Unpowered; 8/32 ohms
- Standard Color: Black/white
- Notes: Up to 8 can be driven by one amp channel
- Subwoofer: SP 12.1P
Bose Panaray MSA12X
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (12) 2.25” MF/HF
- Response: 100 Hz-16k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 145°
- Size (HxWxD): 38.8×4.2×5”
- Weight: 19 pounds
- Power: Unpowered
- Standard Color: Black or White
- Notes: Outdoor MA12EX version offered
- Subwoofer: MB12, MB24
Carvin TRC200A
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (2) columns with nine 3.5”
- Response: 37 Hz-18k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Size (HxWxD): 92x24x23”
- Weight: 124 pounds
- Power: 2,000W
- Standard Color: Black
- Notes: Flyable satellites
- Subwoofer: Includes TRx3118A sub
d&b audiotechnik 24C
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (6) 4” cone LF; (6) 1.1” HF
- Response: 110 Hz-17k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 90°
- Size (HxWxD): 39.4×4.9 x4.9”
- Weight: 19.8 pounds
- Power: Unpowered
- Standard Color: Black or white
- Notes: d&b D6, D12 or D80 amps recommended
- Subwoofer: d&b 12S-SUB
Danley Audio SBH10
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (8) 5” coaxials
- Response: 77 Hz-15k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 140°
- Size (HxWxD): 60x9x9”
- Weight: 100 pounds
- Power: Unpowered
- Standard Color: Black
- Notes: Paraline lens horn design
- Subwoofer: Danley TH112 or TH115
dB Technologies Ingenia IG4T
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (4) 6.5” LF, 1.4” exit HF
- Response: 88 Hz-19.2 kHz (-6 dB)
- Horiz. Dispersion: 110°
- Size (HxWxD): 38.6×7.7×10.7”
- Weight: 40 pounds
- Power: Digipro G3 900W RMS
- Standard Color: Black
- Notes: Onboard DSP
- Subwoofer: Sub 15H, Sub 18H
Eastern Acoustic Works LS832i
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (8) 4” LF; (3) 1” tweeters
- Response: 100 Hz-20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 140°
- Size (HxWxD): 44×6.3×6”
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Power: Unpowered
- Standard Color: Black or white
- Notes: (6) mounting points
- Subwoofer: Numerous LF options
Electro-Voice Evolve 50M
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (8) 3.5” HF; 12” LF
- Response: 43 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Max Height: 89”
- Total Weight: 59 pounds
- Power: 1,000 watts
- Mix Inputs: (2) XLR combo; 1/8” & RCA stereo
- Phantom Power: Yes
- Control App: Yes
- Notes: White version available
FBT Vertus CLA604a
- Application: Install or portable
- Drivers: (6) 4” cone; (4) 1” HF
- Response: 130 Hz-20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 100°
- Size (HxWxD): 33x5x5.1”
- Weight: 25.3 pounds
- Power: Class-D 400+100W
- Standard Color: Black, white
- Notes: Mic/line input; four DSP presets
- Subwoofer: CLA208SA 600W sub
HK Audio Polar 12
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: 1” HF; (6) 3” MF; 12” LF
- Response: 35 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Max Height: 86”
- Total Weight: 62 pounds
- Power: 2,000 watts
- Mix Inputs: (2) XLR combo; ¼” hi-Z; aux input
- Phantom Power: No
- Control App: No
- Notes: Bluetooth audio streaming
JBL PRX ONE
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (12) 2.5” HF; 12” LF
- Response: 40Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 130°
- Max Height: 80.4”
- Total Weight: 55.6 pounds
- Power: 2,000 watts
- Mix Inputs: (4) XLR combo; (2) Hi-Z; 1/8”
- Phantom Power: Yes
- Control App: Yes
- Notes: Onboard DriveRack and Lexicon effects
K-array GP-8A
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (4) 2.5” HF; 8” LF
- Response: 45 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 100°
- Max Height: 73”
- Total Weight: 32 pounds
- Power: 200W
- Mix Inputs: (2) XLR combo; 1/8”
- Phantom Power: No
- Control App: No
- Notes: MP3 playback from BT, USB or SD card
Kling & Freitag VIDA
- Application: Install and portable
- Drivers: (12) 6.5” LF; (12) 3.5” MF; (32) 1” HF
- Response: 65 Hz-22k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 90°
- Size (HxWxD): 44.6×8.3×13.4”
- Weight: 106 pounds
- Power: 48 DSP Class-D channels
- Standard Color: Black + RAL option
- Notes: J-Beam steering; DANTE, AES3, analog inputs
- Subwoofer: VIDA-C
L-Acoustics Syva
- Application: Install or portable
- Drivers: (6) 5” MF, (3) 1” HF
- Response: 87 Hz-20k Hz (-10 dB)
- Horiz. Dispersion: 140°
- Size (HxWxD): 51.3×5.7×8.2”
- Weight: 46 pounds (single column)
- Power: LA4X w/four 1,000W outputs
- Standard Color: Black, RAL available
- Notes: Numerous mount/fly hardware
- Subwoofer: Syva Low/Syva Sub options
LD Systems MAILA-S
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (4) SATs each w/coax 6.5” and five 1” dome HF
- Response: 34 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 100°
- Size (HxWxD): 97x21x31”
- Weight: 464 pounds
- Power: 7,500W peak
- Standard Color: Black
- Notes: Stereo system expandable; by adding more SATs, MAILA COL MFs and SUBs
- Subwoofer: Includes (2) 2×15” MAILA-SUBs
Meyer Sound CAL 64
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (16) 4” LF; (48) 3/4” HF
- Response: 100 Hz-16k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Size (HxWxD): 87.8×7.8×9.9”
- Weight: 124 pounds
- Power: Amp channel for each driver
- Standard Color: Black, white
- Notes: HF beam steering; 32/96 driver versions avail.
- Subwoofer: Various sub options
QSC AD-S162T
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (16) 2.75” cone transducers
- Response: 90 Hz-17k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 160°
- Size (HxWxD): 45.8×5.2×5”
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Power: 70/100V or 8-ohm inputs
- Standard Color: White or black
- Notes: Intended for indoor or outdoor use
- Subwoofer: Various subwoofer options
RCF NXL 24-A Mk2
- Application: Install or portable
- Drivers: (4) 6” woofers; 1.4” HF comp driver
- Response: 60 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 100°
- Size (HxWxD): 41.5x8x10.8”
- Weight: 53.8 pounds
- Power: 2,100W
- Standard Color: Black
- Notes: Onboard DSP
- Subwoofer: Sub 8004 AS
Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact 24/3-RN
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (24) 3” cone drivers
- Response: 135 Hz-17k Hz (±3 dB)
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Size (HxWxD): 79×4.4.4.75”
- Weight: 52 pounds
- Power: 24 amp channels
- Standard Color: Black, white, custom
- Notes: RHAON II beam-steering; AES and analog inputs
- Subwoofer: Various avail.
Sound Barrier LX12275
- Application: Portable and install
- Drivers: (12) 2.75” full range
- Response: 50 Hz-20k Hz with sub
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Size (HxWxD): 37×3.7×3.7”
- Weight: 14.6 pounds
- Power: Unpowered
- Standard Color: Black
Notes: Pole socket and M6 fly points - Subwoofer: LX210AS and LX210A
Studiomaster Direct 121
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (6) 3” MF; 1” HF; 12” LF
- Response: 20Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 120°
- Max Height: 57”
- Total Weight: 50.6 pounds
- Power: 900 watts
- Mix Inputs: (2) XLR combo; 1/8” & RCA stereo
- Phantom Power: No
- Control App: No
- Notes: Versions with 10” sub and digital mixer also offered
Yamaha VXL1B-16P
- Application: Install
- Drivers: (16) 1.5” neodymium
- Response: 80 Hz-20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 180°
- Size (HxWxD): 49×2.15×4.1”
- Weight: 11 pounds
- Power: 6-15 watts
- Standard Color: Black, white
- Notes: PoE powered system; Dante input
- Subwoofer: Various offered
Yorkville EXM 400
- Application: Portable
- Drivers: (4) 3.5” HF; 10” LF
- Response: 50 Hz – 20k Hz
- Horiz. Dispersion: 150°
- Max Height: 78”
- Total Weight: 43 pounds
- Power: 400 watts
- Mix Inputs: (2) XLR-combo; (2) 1/4” stereo
- Phantom Power: No
- Control App: No
- Notes: Bluetooth streaming
To download a PDF of FRONT of HOUSE’s Sept. 2022 Buyers Guide, CLICK HERE
