JBL Professional is promising a new benchmark in directivity control, adjustable coverage and sonic fidelity with its Constant Beamwidth Technology (CBT) series of passive line array columns. The coverage pattern of the CBT models can be adjusted between Broad Mode (designed for mid-throw situations) and Narrow Mode (for long-throw applications). The speakers also have what JBL calls Dynamic SonicGuard overload protection circuitry to reduce distortion at high drive levels, and user variable voicing, which lets users select a flat frequency response or a midrange presence peak for clear speech intelligibility.
The CBT 50LA is a 50cm-high column that uses a straight line of eight 2-inch drivers. The CBT 100 LA is a straight 100cm-high column using 16 2-inch drivers. It can handle 325W continuous.
Combined with Constant Beamwidth Technology circuitry, both provide constant directivity coverage. Both also contain low-saturation transformers, so they can be used on 70V/100V distributed speaker lines or as low impedance speakers.
The J-shaped CBT 70J is a 2-way coaxial line array with 16 soft dome tweeters and four high power 5-inch woofers at a 70 cm height. The J-shape of the array works in conjunction with the Constant Beamwidth Technology circuitry to provide asymmetrical coverage similar to that of expensive line arrays commonly used in concert systems. The column’s top half projects highly concentrated sound toward the back of the venue, while the bottom half down-fills a broader, less concentrated sound to the front of the venue.
This 500W system contains a pattern control switch for either 45 or 25 degrees vertical coverage.
The CBT 70JE is an extension cabinet for the 70J, further extending the pattern control of the CBT 70J by doubling its height, which lowers the frequency to which the speaker holds a consistent pattern of coverage and doubling the power handling. The 70JE also increases the bass capability and extends the low-frequency response of the system to 1000 Watts continuous pink noise.
For more information, please visit www.jblpro.com.
