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Alcons BC272 Cardioid Sub: Reduced Size, Increased Control

The BC272 is a self-contained, medium-output cardioid subwoofer system for both permanent and portable ground-stacked applications. It is designed to offer a tight and accurate sub-bass response, for low-frequency extension of any Alcons pro-ribbon system.

By means of a front and rear located woofer configuration, in combination with dedicated processing, the system offers selectable cardioid low-frequency pattern control and excellent rear rejection, up to 42dB, without the need for additional cabinets.

On the front side, one 15” long-excursion woofer with four-inch voice-coil is mounted in a front-loaded configuration.

On the rear side, a single 12” long-excursion woofer with four-inch voice-coil is also mounted in a front-loaded configuration.

The large bass reflex ports on the front and the rear side enable excellent breathing capacity, maintaining overall output while minimising port-compression.

The 4-ohms system impedance, makes for a very efficient amplifier loading, thus enabling maximum output from a single, very compact configuration.

The BC272 is powered and controlled by the ALC amplified loudspeaker controller. Driven by the ALC, the BC272 delivers maximum sound quality and output power with long-term operation reliability. Through the integrated processor, the ALC offers BC272-specific drive processing with response optimisation, dedicated power and excursion protection and hybrid filtering.

The preset library contains cardioid settings for maximum rear-/side-ward attenuation.

Through the SIS (Signal Integrity Sensing) circuit, the cable-length and connector resistance between the BC272 and ALC is dynamically compensated (system damping factor >10.000), for further increased accuracy and controlled cone-travel, resulting in a tighter sub and bass response regardless of impedance or cable-length.

The relatively low-weight, but rigid enclosure is available in road-version and installation (“i”) version, without handles, wheel dolly board and M20 threaded stand mount flange. For installation applications, a single-cabinet flying option is also available.

It is finished in Durotect scratch-resistant coating; through the Architect Colour Option programme, the BC272 can be finished in any RAL colour.

Philip ‘Dr. Phil’ de Haan, head of Alcons Audio R&D said: “The BC272 is the most compact self-contained cardioid we offer to date. It features the same cardioid control as its larger siblings, albeit in a more compact form-factor.

“Our mission in the development of the BC range of cardioid subwoofers, was to obtain the highest rearward rejection possible to get a real problem solving solution instead of a ‘nice-to-have feature’.”

In order to achieve this, bi-amp powering configuration was used in the amplified loudspeaker controller, so dual-DSP channels would be available for the required dedicated processing.

Philip continues: “Where a passive cardioid set-up will give around 18dB rejection, the BC subwoofers achieve an up-to- 42dB rearward rejection, which we believe is an industry-leading specification in this category.”

Another focal point was to have maximum system efficiency from even smaller amplifier outputs, as part of a real compact system.

Philip continues: “For this, we didn’t just take a single 8-ohms woofer from a dual-driver subwoofer design, but developed a true 4-ohms driver, specifically to obtain optimal amplifier loading, reducing the required amplifier size for full system response and maximum power output.

Together with the SIS circuit, the BC272 delivers a colourless low frequency response with outstanding directivity control, to perfectly match the ultra-low distortion, crystal-clear response of the Alcons pro-ribbon sound systems.”

16th December 2022

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