Our Alutruss Decolock system has been refreshed with young blood. With the DQ1 we can now offer a 1-point truss.

Besides the 3-point (DQ3) and 2-point (DQ2) versions Alutruss can now present a third member, the Decolock DQ1. This 1-point system offers you even more decoration possibilities.

Decolock DQ1 is made of aluminum. The individual elements are connected via a cone, pivot and pin. The advantage of the conical connection system is that the cones completely fit into the main chords so that highest load capacity is guaranteed. The Quick-Lock system enables fast, efficient and highly aesthetic assembly when the truss constructions are frequently assembled and dismantled.

With Decolock, you can realize compact installations with low self weight, e. g. for shop displays, shop decorations, exhibitions, interior design, fair booths, discotheques and theaters. Decorative frames with advertising signs, transmission canvas etc. can also be realized.

The documentation of this truss system is closely related to the Codes of Practice SQ P1 – Truss Systems published by the VPLT/PLASA. The load table as calculation base can be downloaded before buying the product.

Find the komplete DQ1-Serie here in our shop.

DECOLOCK DQ1-500 1-way cross beam	DECOLOCK DQ1-1000 1-way cross beam
DECOLOCK DQ1-1500 1-way cross beam	DECOLOCK DQ1-2000 1-way cross beam
DECOLOCK DQ1-2500 1-way cross beam	DECOLOCK DQ1-3000 1-way cross beam
DECOLOCK DQ1-C19 2-way corner 45°	DECOLOCK DQ1-C20 2-way corner 60°
DECOLOCK DQ1-C21 2-way corner 90°	DECOLOCK DQ1-C22 2-way corner 120°
DECOLOCK DQ1-C23 2-way corner 135°	DECOLOCK DQ1-T35 3-way corner 90°
DECOLOCK DBP base plate for DQ1

You don’t need DMX to control a KLS an four additional spots – you only need a DMX line…

A DMX line, a spot with 3 DMX channels and the Eurolite FP-1 foot pedal, to be more precise. Sound strange, but it is not at all. A maximum of four spot have to be connected to the DMX out of the KLS and then lopped through (it works with KLS- 200, 401, 801, 1001). Everything is controlled with the foot pedal in a kind of Master/Slave mode.

Necessary requirement, the spot’s 3 channel DMX mode needs the following starting addresses:

Synchronic to panel 1 of the respective KLS: starting address 4
Synchronic to panel 2 of the respective KLS: starting address 7
Synchronic to panel 3 of the respective KLS: starting address 10
Synchronic to panel 4 of the respective KLS: starting address 13

Functionality of the foot switch remains unchanged: blackout, freeze, sound control, auto program.

Here are some of our spots which can be connected:
EUROLITE ACS Bars RGB,
EUROLITE PAR-64 RGB 24x5W,
EUROLITE PAR-64 RGB 36x1W Short sil
EUROLITE ML-56 TCL 18x3W
EUROLITE PAR-64 TCL 18x3W

To those who cannot call a KLS their own we recommend to take a look at our 8 KLS Kombo Packs. With the Kombo Pack 7 we also offer an alternative without DMX.

Scanners also offer the choice. The choice between conventional or new technology: halogen or LED. We show you, which devices are comparable. The final decision, which way to go in the future is not ours, it is up to you…

Compared to static effects scanners feature a benefit. Due to the mirror deflaction the light beams have wider operating range. Moreover, the show gets more dynamic with the motion of the mirrors. But how to create this dynamic action, with halogen or LED? After all, it is a given fact, that considering the light power. LEDs have closed the ranks a can replace halogen models easily. We show you which models can be compared and thus are exchangeable.

By the way, when you are looking for cheap LED effects with mirror deflection you should take a look at the Eurolite LED PD series or the Eurolite LED TWS-10. Also our new flowers with mirror (Eurolite LED MFS-100) and with mirror barrel should not be forgotten.

If there was a league for speaker cables, our new representatives would definitely be part of it. With Neutrik as team mate and German manufacturing skills, the enormous high quality of our cable team shines through.

The 2 pole speakon cables from PSSO have been developed to serve the demanding and professional engineer. It was our goal, to produce a highly reliable cable which is rugged enough for the road and which overcomes a vast number of plugging procedures uncomplainingly – everything without being too expensive. In collaboration with Neutrik we have achieved this goal.

Neutrik supplies the very stable Speakon NL2FC cable plugs, the cables are made in Germany. Up to now we offer three cables with different lengths, 5 m, 10 m and 15 m.
With our PSSO Speakon cables we have accommodated a new product family which is perfectly suited for our PSSO audio products. And one thing is sure, it won’t be the last family to join our cable assortment.

• Connector A: Neutrik Speakon NL2FC plug
• Connector B: Neutrik Speakon NL2FC plug
• Cable cross-section: 2.5 mm²
• Cable length: 5 m, 10 m, 15 m
  
• Cable diameter: 7 mm
• Weight: 0.5 kg
• Cable construction 140 x 0.15

Opening hours at Christmas

Here are the opening hours at Xmas and at the turn of the year…

24 – 26/12/ 2011 – closed

27 – 30/12/2011 – normal business

31/12/2011 + 1/01/2012 – closed

6/01/2012 – closed

We wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The human ear is mainly adapted to the frequency range where speech is transmitted. Frequencies below this frequency range are less noted although the same physical level is present. In practice, this effect requires higher bass power e. g. by more powerful subwoofers, more subs or a mixture of both. As speakers generally have a low efficiency comparable to a halogen lamp, manufacturers try to achieve the highest efficiency by optimized housing shapes. But not every housing shape is suitable for every event location and audience. The following article should help to find the suitable subwoofer type.

1. Introduction

The loudspeaker celebrates its 150th anniversary based on the invention of the telephone by Philipp Reis in the year 1861. Already in the year 1878, the electro-dynamic loudspeaker was patented. This kind of loudspeaker is still built into most speaker-systems today.

If such a loudspeaker is operated without housing, an acoustic short-circuit is produced because the sound waves produced by both membrane sides are eliminated by each other. The volume is clearly reduced, especially the lower frequencies. A pragmatic use is not possible like this so that diverse types of loudspeaker housings for different applications were developed.

The easiest way to avoid the acoustic short-circuit is the (open) sound wall. If the louspeaker is mounted into a sufficiently big, massive plate, the sound waves of both membrane sides cannot eliminate each other directly. This solution is not so practical so that it can only be found in permanent installations, e. g. 100-volt-systems.

Far more often, the folded sound wall, normally the rear panel can be found, where parts of the opposite plate are removed. Old tube-radios were built like this due to temperature reasons and many guitar amplifiers still today are constructed in this way. PA speaker systems, however, are not constructed this way.

The closed housing is another, very simple housing type. Imagine a cube or cuboid having a hole for the speaker on one side. Simple Hi-Fi speaker-systems and small systems for public areas or pubs are often constructed like this. Subwoofers, however, are not constructed this way because the efficiency is far too low. The main reason for this is that the flexible air cushion in the housing absorbs a considerable part of the sound pressure level. This effect is even more visible at low frequencies because then the membranes move most.

2. Bassreflex subwoofers

Coming from the closed housing, the bassreflex-housing has an additional hole, mostly on the front panel and next to the bass speaker. This hole is called channel or port and leads into the inner housing, it is not just a “hole”. The size of the hole and the length of the channel are chosen in a way that the air cushion in the rest of the housing works as resonator. In the area of the resonance frequency, a higher sound pressure level can be achieved in this way. Below this frequency, an acoustic short-circuit is produced by the channel while above this frequency no positive or negative effect can be noted. In practice, the resonance frequency is chosen in range where the mounted speaker already shows lower levels at lower frequencies. In this way, the bandwidth of the loudspeaker can be extended by approximately one octave.

Bassreflex-subwoofers are mainly used for small to medium-sized rooms and small open-air events. The react directly and precisely but are limited in respect to maximum level and throw range. Due to their sound characteristics they are especially suitable for live music.

Omnitronic offers a variety of bassreflex-subwoofers. The AZ-series includes the AZ-112, AZ-115 and AZ-118 with one loudspeaker at different speaker-sizes. The PAS-series accordingly includes the PAS-121, PAS-151 and PAS-181. Furthermore, the PAS-151S with sloped woofer and thus smaller housing and the PAS-152 with two loudspeakers are available.

The subwoofers of PSSO’s Compact Line Arrays are also bassreflex-systems. The CLA-115 can also be flown whereas the CLA-118 is only meant for floor use. The PSSO CSA-112 subwoofer also features a bassreflex-housing.

Tip:

The Omnitronic PAS-151S is especially suitable for restaurants or smaller event locations. Due to its comparatively low height, it can be placed anywhere and produces a considerable sound pressure due to its dual voice-coil.

The Omnitronic PAS-121 convinces in a cluster of four or more subwoofers. The small membrane diameter grant a very fast reaction time and thus a very clear sound reproduction. The reduced depth of the loudspeaker is compensated by coupling-effects in the cluster. In this way, four PAS-121 in a cluster produce better results than two widely positioned PAS-152.

3. Bandpass subwoofers

These subwoofer constructions are very popular. As the name already implies, bandpass subwoofers have a high efficiency within a certain frequency range mostly not larger than one octave. Bandpass subwoofers can be constructed in different ways. Normally, bandpass systems provide two chambers, one including the loudspeaker. This chamber may be closed or forms a bassreflex-housing. The bandpass effect is created by the second chamber positioned in front of the loudspeaker hole. This additional chamber features a bassreflex hole. The transmission range can be extended by the combination of two bassreflex chambers.

The advantages of the bandpass subwoofer can be found in the higher efficiency as bassreflex housings and their smaller size as horn constructions. Bandpass subwoofers are suitable for small to medium-sized rooms where high sound pressure levels are needed.

The Omnitronic PAS-series includes two double ventilating bandpass subwoofers PAS-15 and PAS-18. PSSO offers the CSA-115.

Tip:

The PSSO CSA-115 combined with the CSA-218 and CSA-228 is recommended as mobile PA-system for little and medium-sized events where demanding background sound is required. Together with an amplifier of the Omnitronic HDA-series, effective 2.1 systems can be realized with the amplifier also working as active crossover.

4. Horn subwoofers

Horns can be constructed in different way whereas they all have in common that a kind of flare is attached to the loudspeaker. Similar to a paper flare in front of the mouth, the horn bundles the sound and thus increases the efficiency. The basic horn subwoofer has a closed housing with a horn directly attached in front of the loudspeaker. This construction is also called front loaded horn. Many tweeters and the horn loudspeakers of the 100-volt-systems are constructed this way. Subwoofers do rarely have a front loaded horn although these are used as exponential horn.

Mostly, the subwoofer horn is folded in any way in order to reduce the housing size to acceptable dimensions. The crossover frequency as an important feature of horn constructions depends on the size of the horn opening. As the horn shape is mathematically defined (for bass depending on the exponential function) a certain length of the horn is determined for low frequencies. In the early days of PA-technology when the driver power was still very limited, some bizarre big horn constructions were made for cinemas.

Many years ago, subwoofers with speakers radiating directly to the front but with a horn on the rear panel were very popular. These were called rear-loaded-horns. Folded horns can be built in a more compact way with speakers opposite to the radiation direction and having two folded horns at the same time.

Horn constructions convince by their mere power. Due to the horn directivity, they also throw at a greater distance than other housing shapes. This is why they are very popular for large open-air events. Their enormous bass pressure is also popular in discotheques and dance events. An advantage of these systems is that the folded horns are relatively slow when compared to other subwoofer constructions.

The two horn constructions of Omnitronic’s PAS-series have folded horns in the classic alignment. Regarding their construction, PAS-118 and PAS-218 are identical only that the PAS-218 is a double PAS-118.

Tip:

Horns also like to be among each other. The lower crossover frequency of PAS-118 and PAS-218 can be optimized when being put together. Stereo bass is a luxury one must not have at any price because the human ear cannot locate the bass frequencies precisely. Additionally, the low frequency range (also of horns) is radiated undirected, not like the mids and highs. Clearly, it may be a good alternative to put all subwoofers together and operate them mono.

5. Hybrid subwoofers

All subwoofer constructions have their advantages and disadvantages, higher efficiency or higher throw distance, but also slower reaction speed and worse sound. One way to find a balance was the development of hybrid subwoofers combining the strength of two different constructions and minimizing the disadvantages. The combination of bassreflex and horn subwoofer is very popular and can be found in the PSSO SUB-2150 and SUB-2180. In this way, a better sound can be reached with a higher efficiency. The throw distance is far better than of bassreflex subwoofers.

Tip:

The PSSO SUB-2150 and SUB-2180 can be laid on the floor in order to increase the efficiency. Due to the sloped speakers it makes a difference on which side the subwoofer is laid. Just try.

Due to the lower membrane size, the SUB-2150 is ideal for live applications demanding a quick reaction speed. The SUB-2180 is ideal for dancing events demanding a powerful bass volume.

6. Overview

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With conventional lightbulbs it has begun – electric light for everybody. Read about the history of modern light…

Within the past five to ten years, LEDs became very popular in the lighting industry. With all the hype about even brighter LEDs one might forget that there are still conventional lightbulbs.

Sometimes one feels reminded of the “wars” between analog and digital signal processing in audio technology when incandescent lamps are called “warm” and LEDs are called “cold”. On the other hand, the lightbulb’s light efficiency of 5 to 30 lumens per watts or an efficiency of less than 10 % is considered to be very low and not environmentally friendly. This is why the lightbulb is partly forbidden in Australia and in the EU – a development which did not help the LED but the energy-saving lamp which is also not environmentally friendly.

For the entertainment industry, the wide selection of different lamps is very positive. Technicians can choose from a large variety of tools to be used for solving a lighting installation. When classical incandescent lamps should be used, one must make a decision between with halogen additive or not. Halogen lamps have a longer live and are a little brighter at the same wattage. Are there any other differences? Which are the main steps in the development of incandescent lamps?

The lightbulb’s history dates back more than 200 years. In 1802, the Englishman Sir Humphry Davy experimented with the just invented battery and platinum filaments, but nowadays he is more known for developing the carbon-filament bulb. For the early 19th century, there is also controversial evidence for a lightbulb designed by De la Rue or De la Rive. Up to now, neither the designer, nor the origin or an exact year could be given. The sources speak of an invention around 1820 or even earlier, however, there is no evidence from this period of time. In 1835, the Scottish James Bowman Lindsay publicly presented a lightbulb with platinum filament and vacuum flask, but he didn’t continue to pursue the idea. Further patents of other scientists followed in the 1840s and the 1850s. A mass production never started because platinum has a melting point of approx. 1770° C and the light efficiency was rather low. High material costs also contributed to the failure.

Today, Thomas Alva Edison is regarded as the real inventor of the incandescent lamp as he succeeded around 1880 with carbonized bamboo filaments. With the coal he could work with the double temperature compared with platinum. Edison already had some experience with the coal filament from earlier inventions. The legend that the German Heinrich Göbel already invented a working coal filament bulb in 1854 cannot be maintained when regarding the sources and was maybe only announced due to patent litigations with Edison.

The coal filament was quickly replaced by materials like osmium and tantalum which were first available at the turn of the century. The material tungsten with a melting point of 3400° C, which is still being used today, was only available a little later due to the contributions of Carl Auer von Welsbach, the founder of OSRAM, and other scientists. But again, it was Edisons company General Electric (GE) which launched the lightbulb as known today from 1911. GE’s success remains until today because most household lamps still use the base with Edison thread (E14, E27, E40). Further improvements were reached by adding noble gas and spiral heating coils.

The lightbulb’s life is limited because atoms leave the heating coil at especially hot places. These atoms gather at the cooler flask. When a larger flask is used, the gathering can be spread on a larger space and the shadowing of the glass can be reduced a little bit. The number of atoms leaving from the heating coil depends very much from the voltage being used and thus the temperature being reached. Increasing the voltage by 20 % doubles the brightness, but also reduces the life by 95 %. Increasing the voltage by only 5 % still reduces the life by 50 %. In the first half of the 20th century, finding the compromise between brightness or light efficiency and the lamp life lead to an illegal cartel with all big manufacturers like General Electric, Osram and Philips. Still today, there are rumors that manufacturers artificially reduce the lamp life.

By adding noble gas like xenon, argon or krypton, the evaporation of heating coil tungsten atoms can be reduced. Furthermore, the noble gas allows a higher heating coil temperature and thus a higher light efficiency. This can be optimized by increasing the interior pressure of the flask, but the maximum interior pressure depends on the ruggedness of the flask.

In the middle of the 20th century, the development of halogen lamps brought several essential improvements. Additional halogen like iodine reacts with the vaporizing tungsten and stabilizes a tungsten containing atmosphere in the flask. The tungsten condensate does not gather on the glass but again on the heating coil. As the tungsten moves rather to the thicker parts of the heating coil, the lamp life is not significantly increased. Instead, the halogen enables much more compact flasks so that even higher interior pressure can be realized. Furthermore, a smaller flask reduces the costs for filling it with expensive noble gas. The decisive point for a longer lamp life of halogen lamps is not the tungsten-halogen-circle, but the especially high interior pressure of the gas. A further contribution was the invention of especially rugged and heat-resistant silica glass.

Some day, the heating coil of a halogen lamp does also burn through because noble gas and halogen cannot avoid that the heating coil becomes thinner at some places and finally burns through. Mostly, this happens in a critical situation when switching on and when a very high currents runs through the lamp. We refer to the pre-heat-function of many dimmers and lighting controllers which provide voltage to the lamp shortly below lighting up and thus reducing the starting currents.

Another advantage of halogen lamps is the much higher light efficiency especially in the low voltage sector. Halogen lamps can be operated at low voltage in households.

Why should any technician choose lightbulbs without halogen mixing, when there are so many advantages?

Next to the price difference between the two versions, the light temperature and its spectrum is also very important. Even carbon-filament bulbs are still popular as they have their own specifications regarding color temperature and starting behavior. Halogen lamps have a color temperature of 3000 and 3400 Kelvin, “normal” bulbs have 2200 to 2800 Kelvin depending on the wattage and the filling.

Colour range daylight

Colour range light bulb

Colour range halogen

In artistically demanding surroundings, it may be useful to have bulbs without halogen mixture. Halogen lamps also have the disadvantage that they emit a low portion of ultraviolet light so that skin burns may be caused or color surfaces may be bleached.

Sources:

Max Keller: Faszination Licht

Carl-Friedrich Baumann: Licht im Theater

Cases don’t have to be merely functional – they are also allowed to be an optical highlight. Such as our new all-blackl hardware cases. Until now, cases like that have only been available at special manufacturers – now, Steinigke offers them as well.

Transporting CD players safely, that’s the meaning behind the two noble black flightcases. Both measure a height of 85 mm and a length of 420 mm (inner dimensions). Just their width differs: the BLHD Type 2 is a bit wider (320 mm compared to 250 mm). Apart from that, the two cases are identic in their first-class quality. Not only considering the looks, also in the matter of workmanship:

7 mm thick multilayered glued plywood, an interior upholstered with foam, a aluminum profile frame (30 mm) with rounded edges, three-leg. Medium-sized steel ball corners, 2 high-quality butterfly locks, padded carrying handles, adopter strips for fitting the respective players and a removable front plate for front-loading CD players.

The all-black cases are available from now on.

	CD-Player carrying case, BLHD-Typ 1
	CD-Player carrying case, BLHD Typ 2

Don’t miss this opportunity: From the 1st until the 31st of December prices of 10 Antari fog machines are reduced. We like to show you which devices have become cheaper. The prices can be checked in the restricted dealer’s area – on the 1st of December. The Power Offer which contains the foggers can already be downloaded.