Top 5 Products for Churches from InfoComm 2019

For a deep dive into professional loudspeakers, large-format video displays and all the technology that drives them, InfoComm is the best show in North America, and likely the Western Hemisphere.

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For church techs who have never attended InfoComm, it is what can only be described as the largest and most focused trade show and conference devoted to professional audio, video and lighting equipment in North America. Sure, NAB may be larger, but you won’t see the audio, and NAMM may be hipper, but you won’t have the video; you’ll see more staging and lighting at LDI, and WFX might be better to bring your pastor. But for a deep dive into professional loudspeakers, large-format video displays and all the technology that drives them, InfoComm is the best show in North America, and likely the Western Hemisphere.

InfoComm is also one of the few large pro AV events that still alternates between Las Vegas and Orlando. This year’s event, held June 12-14 in Orlando, is reportedly the largest InfoComm event to date in North America, with over 44,000 people in attendance and nearly 1,000 exhibitors. It certainly felt like a healthy, energetic show.

This year’s event seemed to be audio-heavy, with the projector manufacturers having fought or innovated their way into something of a standoff with the LED wall companies.

The show organizers are also trying to bring in more lighting manufacturers, and while there was a healthy representation, most lighting manufacturers had a small footprint--nothing like the Sonys, Canons and Digital Projections booths.

On the show floor, many of the audio manufacturers had modest-sized booths, but the real excitement from audio companies could be found in the demo rooms just off the main exhibit hall.

Each year the Church Production staff and contributors scour the floor at InfoComm to discover the best new products for churches, part of our InfoComm wrap-up. It’s never easy because there’s so much to see and hear--so many possibilities for church applications. So without further adieu, we proudly present (in alphabetical order) the “Top 5 Products for Churches from InfoComm 2019.”

Audio-Technica Microset Headworn Microphones

Touted as an update to the company’s existing Microset line, Audio-Technica has, in effect, relaunched its line of headset microphones with some exciting new features like detachable cables and new connectors for use with a wider range of wireless systems.

We were impressed with the new, more secure ear loops that hold the mic in place and the tiny BP894x omni condenser mic that extends just two tenths of an inch beyond the ear.

For more information, click here. 

Coda Audio N-APS Arrayable Two-Way Point Source Loudspeaker

We’re not entirely sure what special sauce they’re cooking at Coda Audio, but the new N-APS loudspeaker sounds fantastic. It’s designed for small- to medium-sized venues and offers flexibility to mount as a point source or line array. The company says N-APS offers nearly twice the power handling and offers more low end compared to similarly sized boxes.

For more information, click here.

L-Acoustics A Series Install Range

Complete with many of the features of the touring version (ARCS), including the adjustable coverage pattern (the high-frequency horn has movable “fins”), the new A Series Install Range from L-Acoustics offers a new more-affordable, entry-level opportunity for small- to medium-sized churches. The boxes are externally powered, are lighter weight and have an optional acoustically transparent fabric cover designed for use with projection mapping systems.

For more information, click here.

LynTec XRM Remote Power Control Relay Modules 

Not nearly the sexiest thing we saw on the InfoComm show floor, but bear with us. We were at the show to search out the best products for churches and that includes those that save time, money and reduce stress. So imagine this scenario: You’re a church tech on his/her day off, and inevitably you get a call that something won’t work--a projector’s not turning on, for example. Instead of driving across town, only to find the unit’s not properly turned on, imagine you could get on your smartphone or laptop and turn on the power. Or, how about this: Sunday school classes start at the same time as “big church.” Halfway through the first song in the main service, some out-of-breath kid runs up to you at the mix position and says they can’t get audio through the wireless systems in the middle school room--their service is at a standstill. The Lyntec XRM Remote Power Control Relay Modules could help both these situations by remotely verifying electrical connections via any internet connection, or remotely scheduling certain pieces of equipment to automatically power up in a certain order, at specific times, on certain days--saving man-hours and reducing stress.

For more information, click here.

Martin Audio WPS Optimized Line Array 

Part of Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Series, the new WPS is a passive (unpowered) three-way loudspeaker with 10 drivers--more than any other box in its class, according to the product announcement: two eight-inch low-frequency drivers, four mid-range drivers and four high-frequency compression drivers. Despite the massive amount of air this little box must push, Martin Audio is promoting it as a “financially accessible” loudspeaker. WPS was designed, in part, for the church market with flexibility, upgradability and affordability. Besides, we liked what we heard in the company’s demo room at InfoComm 2019.

For more information, click here.