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Alcons QR36 Leaves the Factory
After its successful launch at ProLight&Sound in Frankfurt, Alcons is now shipping the first product of its Q-series: the QR36.
The Q-series scalable ribbon-array columns represent a new type of product and can popularly be seen as a “cross-over product” of a traditional point-source loudspeaker and a J-curved line-array system. The series has been designed as a solution to obtain excellent coverage and ultimate intelligibility over longer distances in “acoustically challenging” environments.
Applications range from stand- or truss-mounted single-unit mobile PA system, up to multiple-module flown array in reverberant halls or high ceiling theatres. But also as high power side-fill stage monitoring the QR36 offers new solutions, or as single-column main PA system in low-ceiling applications, where a J-curved line-array will not give satisfactory throw/dispersion results.
The QR36 is a two-way passive-filtered modular line-source column. With a length of one metre/39-in, the QR36 consists of 6x 6.5” woofers in frontal bass reflex-loading and two units of Alcons’ RBN1801 18” pro-ribbon transducers with patented “Real-90” horizontal dispersion. The frequency response is 74Hz – 20kHz.(+/-3dB), with a lowest usable frequency of 53Hz (-10dB). Power handling is 780W RMS, bringing 129dB continuous output, while the 6000W (!) peak power handling from 1kHz. up, offers a 150dB “virtually infinite headroom”.
As an “array of line-sources”, a QR system acts as true cylindrical radiator, offering a 3dB SPL drop-off per doubling of distance (in the “near-field” or “Fresnel-zone”). This brings significant advantages in SPL coverage and (intelligibility) throw, from a relatively simple system. When used in multiples, the QR’s form a continuous line-source, extending the “near field” of the system over longer distance and lower frequencies.
The specific spacing of the sources (within half of wavelength) and the unprecedented frontal radiation of more than 92% make the QR36 compliant with the two most important (and most difficult to realise!) line-array criteria. The result is a very large “main lobe” without any significant “spikes” above and below the array, preventing ceiling reflections and offering unusually high “gain-before-feedback”.
Main component of the QR36 is the unique RBN1801 pro-ribbon driver; an 18” flat-Isophase ribbon-driver with previously unknown efficiency (110dB) and enormous system peak power handling of 3000W. Besides the physical behavior of the RBN1801 driver, the famous “ribbon-known” transient response and flat impedance (completely resistive amp.load) offer a sound experience that surpasses high-end HiFi-standards.
The RBN1801 is mounted on a 90-degree HempHorn, but is also available with 120-degree dispersion for ultra-wide coverage.
The Signal Integrity Sensing pre-wiring ensures complete cable/connector compensation between QR36 and ALC controller-amplifier, regardless of length. In this way, the ALC can be loaded down to 2 ohms, without any sacrifice on response quality.
As with all Alcons cabinets, the QR36 system is finished in Durotect scratch-resistant coating.
21st July 2005
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