We knew it was coming. It was simply a matter of time. That time has arrived, and it's great news for the portable church market – or for any church looking for low-cost portable audio.
What I'm referring to is the last link in fully networked, live performance sound systems: the loudspeakers. True, a number of other powered loudspeakers already accept networked multichannel audio, but most are designed for permanent installation and are priced in the $3,000-plus category. Also, most use Cobranet, and that protocol's longer latencies – which present no problems in distributed systems (theme parks, shopping malls, etc.) – can be annoying in live performance.
That brings us to the recent NAMM show, when Behringer broke the barrier with its new iQ Series of fully networked powered loudspeakers. It's hardly surprising since Behringer's parent company, the Music Group, had all the core components sitting the shelf. They had the loudspeaker drivers and cabinet acoustics from their recent acquisition of Turbosound. (The front grille logo reads “Behringer Powered by Turbosound.”) They had their own 16-channel low-latency network, dubbed Ultranet, which was introduced in their Powerplay personal monitoring systems. They also had the Klark-Technik DSP algorithms on hand, as well as the guts of their i-Nuke class D amplifiers.
All these pieces have been nicely re-packaged in four full-range loudspeakers and two subwoofers. The full range cabinets are two-way designs with 1.75-inch titanium high-frequency compression drivers coupled with a choice of 15-, 12-, 10”- or 8-inch, low-frequency drivers. The on-board DSP takes care of system control (crossover with phase alignment, EQ, noise gate, feedback eliminator), and set-up can be done using the rear panel LCD or with a computer via the USB port. Dual analog inputs with mixing are included, along with loop-through analog outputs. All six models – the 15- and 18-inch subwoofers included – incorporate the same Class D amplifier module, touted as delivering 2,500 watts. Behringer doesn't say how this is measured, but considering 2,400 watts continuous sine wave will trip a 20A breaker, we assume it's a short-pulse peak figure. In any case, we can assume that the drivers will hit their limits long before the amp runs out of oomph.
The Ultranet network handles 16 channels of audio with latency claimed as well under 1 ms. Ultranet is a proprietary protocol, compatible only with Behringer's own digital consoles and snakes, so be prepared to invest in a “package deal.” However, it will be an enticingly low-cost package. Projected pricing for the iQ Series ranges from $550 (iQ8) to just under $1,000 (iQ15S), making the whole lot competitive with other DSP-enabled powered loudspeakers that don't have networking.
Another thoughtful feature is locking Powercon connector for the AC input, with a parallel locking output for daisy-chaining speakers. Dual network connectors are provided as well, though we were somewhat disappointed to find these are standard RJ45 and not the protected Ethercon type.
So, how do these loudspeakers sound? Alas, there were no live demos of prototypes shown at NAMM, so we can't say. However, we suspect you'd hear a strong family resemblance to roughly equivalent Turbosound cabinets already out there.
The Behringer folks expect to be shipping these before summertime, and we're sure they will push hard to meet that schedule. The iQ Series likely won't be “first-and-only” for long. PreSonus, for example, is working on an AVB network card for its new powered loudspeakers, and although these will land at a markedly higher price point, they will target the same general market.
So much as to say that portable churches now have one fully networked option waiting at the door, and more options will be knocking soon.
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