There’s a lot of novelty being presented at the fair in Barcelona by K-array. In addition to the already seen Vyper and Pinnacle, it’s also possible to see the new proposals Kommander, Thunder and Mugello at the company’s booth.
What is most unfortunate is that it’s not possible to get all the details and aspects of the innovations presented by K-array at ISE 2022. Due to special restrictions, we have to be satisfied with a quick “roundup”. But in the meantime, let’s give at least an overall idea of the K-array ISE (booth 7P200), starting with the new Kommander series, which opens a new chapter in terms of amplifiers and cloud-based technologies, thanks to the Integrated Electronic Brain (IEB) on board. Basically, Kommander is a line of carefully designed amplifiers with powerful DSPs and Class D amplifier modules managed by sophisticated integrated DSP processors, which extend the sound experience like never before, adapting it to any context.
Lightweight and reliable, the Kommander series products are constructed of stainless steel and occupy 2 RU. Each amplifier has all the necessary configurations on board to drive any K-array passive product with maximum power and from 4 to 8 amplifier channels, fully configurable thanks to the integrated DSP that offers equalisation and level control of each channel as well as acting as a routing and delay matrix, making the adoption of signal processors unnecessary. The real novelty, however, is represented by IEB (Integrated Electronic Brain) with the new osKar operating system that offers extensive sound processing and complete control over system performance: volumes, signal routing, presets and a complete USB reader, all manageable directly from the device via a mobile app and dedicated professional interface.
Another exciting novelty is the Thunder bass which, based on a new design approach in both form and materials (Finnish birch frame), allows a further extension of the sound reproduction in low frequency and a significant increase in SPL performance. In essence, the new Thunder-KS have a deeper sound, higher sound pressure and better tonal definition. Furthermore, by combining two or more subwoofers, it’s possible to obtain a configuration that guarantees cardioid diffusion even of low frequencies, allowing greater cleanliness on the stage, less risk of triggering acoustic feedback and greater control over sound propagation in general. Sturdy and reliable, Thunder is a product particularly suitable for rental and for all applications involving its transport, thanks to the new polyurethane paint and cataphoresis treatment for the front mesh, which give greater resistance to atmospheric agents and saline fog. Thunder-KS also integrates the new generation osKar intelligent control system, which allows you to manage the entire ecosystem through various control platforms and offers numerous features directly on board the device. Finally, among the Thunder-KS accessories, of particular importance are the suspension mechanics in arrays that allow them to be hung with line array speakers from the Mugello family, or in clusters composed exclusively of subwoofers.
Speaking of Mugello, we come to the third novelty presented at ISE 2022, a new series consisting of three line array models – KH2, KH3 and KH5 – compact and lightweight, designed for quick and simple installation, an ideal solution to reduce the costs of transport and handling. Slim Array Technology (SAT) marks the transition to a new interpretation of line array technology, characterised by a compact form factor and special load of the transducers. The Mugello line, in perfect K-array style, offers high quality standards of professional audio in a unique design. The implementation of EBS (Electronic Beam Steering) technology allows one to electronically modify the directivity of the system in order to improve coverage, even in the absence of correct mechanical alignment, a feature that also allows extreme configurations in which the array is hung perfectly straight, without inclination angles, or stepped.
