EM Acoustics HALO-B Medium Format Line Array Element

Description

EM Acoustics HALO-B Medium format line array element

Following on from the highly-anticipated release of the large format HALO Arena system early in 2018, EM Acoustics are proud to announce the third system in the family, HALO-B. Intended to bridge the divide in both physical size and overall system output between HALO-A and HALO-C, HALO-B follows the same design principles as HALO-A to provide consistent, predictable performance in a convenient, compact and flexible package.

HALO-B is intended to fulfill three core tasks – be a companion system to the larger HALO-A, be a companion system to the smaller HALO-C, and be a system in its own right. The same core design principle of the maximum headroom possible means that HALO-B delivers a consistent performance across all SPL levels. HALO-B has been built to be equally comfortable in both fixed installation and mobile applications.

FEATURES

• Signature EM Acoustics “maximum headroom” design approach ensures consistency of performance regardless of SPL level
• Extremely consistent horizontal dispersion pattern across the operating frequency band – nominal 110-degree pattern is maintained down to 350Hz
• Compact enclosure with low weight means less truck space used and smaller motors required
• Inclosure coated with 3-step polyurethane process – ensuring the cabinets are not only weather resistant but more resilient to impact damage
• Intuitive, simple 3-point flying system, assembled from ultra-high tensile strength steel with XylanTM coating for enhanced durability
• Biamplified design for maximum efficiency with amplifier channel count

A single HALO-B exhibits a flat, free-field frequency response from 65Hz to 20kHz (±3dB) and a phase response which is ±20 degrees between 150Hz and 18kHz. Due to the unique loading technique applied to the low frequency drivers, combined with the high frequency waveguide, the dispersion pattern control is maintained down to 350Hz.

Similar to HALO-A yet scaled down, HALO-B uses a proprietary emulation manifold, which combines the energy of four 1” (25mm) exit ring-radiatior compression drivers into a plane-wave array. This assembly gives not only a very significant moving area for the high frequency section, but provides twice the headroom of other comparable systems along the same principles as HALO-A. Additionally, the use of ring-radiator compression drivers significantly reduces the 3rd harmonic distortion, resulting in a far smoother and more natural sonic character. Working alongside these four high frequency drivers are a pair of high power 2.5” (64mm) voice coil 8” (203mm) low frequency transducers.

These two powerful drive units, combined with optimally-tuned low turbulence porting and generous cabinet volume ensure HALO-B has a low frequency performance to match the stunning highs. Keeping HALO-B as a two-way system reduces the off-axis parallax issues to a single crossover point, and through tireless research and development this issue has been almost completey eradicated.

The HALO-B enclosure is constructed from premium 15mm and 30mm (⅝” and 1 3/16”) multi-laminate Baltic birch plywood – rebated, screwed and glued together for maximum strength. Intelligent internal bracing, combined with the unique low-loss porting structure minimises panel flexure – thereby removing unwanted resonances but still keeping the overall enclosure weight low. The enclosure is finished in a polyurethane coating, which as well as being far tougher than the conventional water-based paints used on other products, offers HALO-B a significant level of weather resistance without any further treatment.

The flying hardware has also been built with touring flexibility and reliability in mind. HALO-B uses a 3-point system, utilising quickrelease pins as you would expect. Array angles can be pre-set on individual elements whilst stored on their transit chariots. As the array is lifted the rear links move to their pre-set array angles, and a final pin fixes everything in position. Ultra-high tensile steel parts form the core of the 3-point system, which is coated with XylanTM – a fluoropolymer coating which contains PTFE for both lubrication and impact resistance. Arrays of up to 24 elements can be safely assembled with above-regulation safety factors.

HALO-B requires two amplifier channels and makes use of the latest in FIR DSP technology – as such it must be used with the DQ Series of advanced system amplifiers. Using these amplifiers a maximum of eight HALO-B enclosures could be driven from a single amplifier (DQ20), although six is recommended as a maximum for full output.

Additional information