On Jan. 31, 2022, Meyer Sound launched PANTHER, a new flagship linear line array loudspeaker engineered to meet rapidly evolving demands for large-scale touring and installed systems. The company noted that PANTHER aims to set a “new industry benchmark for a compact, lightweight, powerful, and energy-efficient line array loudspeaker.”
Complex and visually focused production scenarios, coupled with tighter safety regulations, can often place significant space and weight constrictions on loudspeakers used for concert sound or installation applications. At the same time, environmental policies require greater energy efficiency and a smaller footprint for transport, as more productions shift to a networked signal infrastructure.
Responding to these demands, PANTHER’s acoustic output is closer to the significantly larger and heavier LEO line arrays and occupies the slender form factor of the existing LYON line arrays. Despite offering stadium levels of performance, PANTHER weighs just 150 pounds and offers substantial savings on current draw from the previous generation flagship line array loudspeaker. PANTHER’s dual analog/Milan AVB network input module offers flexible signal distribution options and each cabinet comes standard with an IP55 weather protection rating — all at a substantially lower initial cost compared to LEO and LYON.
“This is our most significant loudspeaker introduction in more than a decade,” says, Meyer Sound president and CEO John Meyer. “PANTHER advances my commitment to making loudspeakers with linear response, predictable coverage and extended headroom for dynamic, uncompressed music reproduction — transient peaks in particular. Essentially, PANTHER produces nearly the same power and headroom as LEO in the footprint of LYON. I’m proud of how our engineers achieved ambitious performance benchmarks while reducing weight and increasing energy efficiency.”
Designed for Peak Power
PANTHER’s onboard electronics module is an all-new, lightweight design incorporating a four-channels of Class-D amplification coupled to an innovative power supply. With advanced power factor correction and higher voltage rails, the new amplifier package delivers higher peak current to the loudspeakers, while presenting a stable load to the AC line. PANTHER also features new, longer-excursion 12-inch woofers and new 3-inch compression drivers that combined with a new LF port, and a choice of 95°, 110° and narrow 80° horizontal dispersion horns, provide a maximum peak SPL output of more than 150 dB.
Lightweight = Flexibility, Safety, and Cost Reductions
Without compromising John Meyer’s performance goals, the PANTHER engineering team, led by acoustical & mechanical engineering director, Katie Murphy, pursued a unified approach to weight reduction.
“With PANTHER, we excelled with a full system design approach,” says Murphy. “We had the electrical and mechanical engineers working in a coordinated effort, which meant we could leverage reduced amplifier and transducer weight with new cabinet designs and materials to further reduce weight.”
Reduced weight means more PANTHER loudspeakers can be flown on a single motor, and larger arrays can share the same truss and hang points with extensive video and lighting gear. Also, larger and longer arrays can be flown outdoors while complying with new safety regulations related to wind events. Shipping costs will be substantially reduced, particularly when air transport is required.
A Family of Three For Precise Coverage
The PANTHER family consists of three cabinets with different horizontal coverage patterns. The 95° PANTHER-M and 110° PANTHER-W will be familiar options for existing Meyer Sound owners. PANTHER-L features an all-new long-throw horn with a tightly defined 80-degree horizontal pattern. These three options allow system designers to precisely tailor coverage in any size venue with uniform response from front to back and enable deployment of fewer arrays or shorter arrays in some applications, such as in-the-round configurations.
Return On Investment
PANTHER offers new features designed to provide a greater long-term return on investment. By incorporating Meyer Sound’s new Avnu Alliance-certified Milan input module, PANTHER becomes the world’s first Milan-Certified line array loudspeaker. With this advancement, PANTHER extends Milan-based networked systems all the way to the loudspeaker cabinet, while the always-active parallel analog input assures backward compatibility with existing hardware.
PANTHER is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing Meyer Sound equipment, ranging from the company’s suite of system design, deployment, and management tools, including MAPP 3D, GALAXY, Compass, and Spacemap Go.
PANTHER is also weather protected to the new IEC IP55 standard with full rain protection when using mating Neutrik TOP series signal and powerCON connectors. No rain hood is required. With standard weather protection, the same PANTHER cabinets can be used for indoor or outdoor events with no special preparations required.
With the system’s compact size and lower weight, the same PANTHER inventory can be assigned to a wide range of applications, from theaters and convention halls up to arenas, stadiums, and festival sites. And, when on tour, a tight truck pack with no amp racks further reduces expenses for enhanced ROI.
Ready, Set, Go
“We see PANTHER as more than just a new product, but as something that adds a new dimension to what we are doing as a company,” says John Meyer. “It has the potential to change the path we are on in the sound industry. I’m excited to see how industry professionals — and, more importantly, audiences — respond to it.”
The PANTHER linear line array loudspeakers began production last month (Feb. 2022) and are shipping now.
Early Adopter: Major Tom Ltd. and Ed Sheeran Tour with PANTHER
Backed by a management team with a combination of over 50 years’ in the industry in venues ranging from clubs to stadiums worldwide for some of the biggest acts in the business, rental company Major Tom Ltd. is one of Meyer Sound PANTHER’s initial launch partners. Company principals Lars Brogaard and Chris Marsh plan to deploy PANTHER on Ed Sheeran’s 2022 + – = ÷ x (“Mathematics”) Tour, which kicks off March 21 in London.
“Chris and I discussed the sound design for the new Ed Sheeran tour quite some time ago and came to the realization that Major Tom would need to invest in a lot of new speakers to achieve the coverage required,” explains Brogaard. “From this discussion, we spoke with John and Helen Meyer about whether the investment was to be in any of the current speakers or was it time for a new product.”
John Meyer replied by asking, “Well, what would you like?” and Brogaard said he’d like LEO coverage in a LYON-sized box. “It turned out that wasn’t physically possible as the horn was too deep for the box. Since then, [Meyer Sound engineering director, acoustical & mechanical] Katie Murphy designed a new 80° ‘L’ horn that would fit in the box. John was nervous that the 80-degree would not suit our requirements, but the team at Major Tom agreed that an 80° horn would be perfect for when we need a long-throw outdoors. It also works well in a theater or arena where 60° can be a bit too narrow, and 90° is almost too wide. Meyer Sound took all our suggestions seriously and it’s reflected in the final product.”
Another issue Marsh and Brogaard considered was putting faith in the new Panther design. “Some might say we’re taking a chance being the first to go out with a brand-new product,” Marsh noted. “After all, the Ed Sheeran tour will be the follow-up to the most successful tour that ever was, so undoubtedly the eyes of the industry will be on us. But looking back at the relationship we have enjoyed with Meyer Sound, we have full confidence in the way this box is going to perform.”
“We’re putting ourselves on the line in a sense,” Brogaard added, “but at Major Tom we’ve always been groundbreakers. It’s much more interesting to be out front than to be a follower, and that’s how we expect it to be with PANTHER.”
Certainly the sound of any new audio system is critical, but other factors — such as Milan AVB interfacing, flexible coverage with fewer hangs, reduction of speaker weight/size, savings in truck space and ease of rigging — are important in modern touring applications.
“We are investing in something that is new and exciting in many applications,” Marsh explains. “Yes, the boxes will start in stadiums on the Sheeran tour, but because of its size and weight they could easily end up in theaters or venues supporting smaller acts. PANTHER is finally a box that can really be used in all venues.”
For more info, visit www.meyersound.com/product/panther
