Day One at InfoComm…
Despite a less-than-wonderful economic climate, InfoComm 09 opened decently at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The organization predicted 28,000 attendees visiting 850 exhibitors over three days. Randal Lemke, InfoComm International‘s executive director, estimated that two-thirds of the attendees are systems integrators and the rest are technology managers and end users, following a pattern that’s developed over the last five years.

Some good news came early in the day. At Harman International‘s morning press conference Michael MacDonald, Harman Professional Group executive vice president of sales and marketing, told reporters that the professional products group’s revenues had stabilized and that the end of fiscal year 2009 would show a profit, with the fiscal year 2010 budget on a solid footing. MacDonald also hinted at possible merger and aquisition activity in the near future, but the comment that drew the most notice for this audience was that expectations of increased revenues would increase advertising and marketing budgets. Because of its size and sector diversity, Harman is considered a bellwether on the pro audio side of systems installation and integration, so MacDonald’s comment suggests the industry might see growth returning before the end of the calendar year. more…

Once again this year, at InfoComm 08 in Las Vegas, SVC‘s editorial team fanned out to find some of the most important, leading-edge AV-related products debuting at the show, investigating if they might be deserving of our annual InfoComm Pick Hit awards. Read on at The Briefing Room

Klein + Hummel introduces the visually appealing CLS Series of slim-line loudspeakers at InfoComm08. With special features like a power amplifier and plenty of virtual effects on the FX version, the CLS-2 Series is ideal for such applications as point-of-sale digital displays or multi-media shows. In addition Klein + Hummel is also debuting the CLS-3 Series column loudspeakers for wall-mounting in locations where high ceilings or the architectural or visual design limits speaker placement for distributed public address or background music applications. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 08 news from The Briefing Room

SoundTube Entertainment, a leading manufacturer of high-performance commercial sound systems, has adopted manufacturing techniques that meet the RoHS directive. RoHS is a European standard for manufacturing that includes “the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment�. In detail, the RoHS bans any new electrical equipment that contains more than the agreed to levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). The RoHS directive and regulations came into force on July 1, 2006. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 08 news from The Briefing Room

Danley Sound Labs was showing its dozens of new offerings in its demo room. In terms of raw numbers of new product introductions, so far Danley has beaten every other company I’ve visited. Mike Hedden gave me a rundown of the most prominent new boxes. Danley’s new GH-60 is quite a monster — 18 drivers (8 low, 8 mids, and 2 highs) per cabinet, using the company’s new Synergy horn. Hedden explained that the GH-60 avoids some of the problems associated with line array systems – for instance, that coupling filters don’t work at all frequencies. It’s got a 60 degree horizontal and 45 degree vertical pattern, and actually makes use of all of those 45 degrees (at the top). The GH-60 offers 20dB of gain (rather than a typical 6dB of a line array). Hedden claimed that when it’s hung at 25ft., the cabinet provides even coverage from 10ft. to 100ft. out.

One technological feature that helps support that last claim is the patent-pending amplitude-shading technology, which depends on a “shaded amplitude lens,” a physical means of directing the sound. (Hedden says that Altec did something similar 50 years ago). Another box (2′x2′, for possible ceiling install) that does not yet have a name uses this amplitude shading to achieve an extremely directional sound. Look out for that future product from Danley.

I’m looking for a quote at the Tannoy demo room in the North Hall. “Three days in, not enough sleep, too much to drink?� offers Marc Bertrand helpfully. “Nothing our customer base doesn’t already know.�

Still, there is news at Tannoy, big news actually: the launch of the VQ Series—a line of precise directional loudspeakers, built for large scale installations that need great quality–and high SPLs. Really high SPLs.

Since the press release calls them “revolutionaryâ€? I need to know why, specifically. more…

Sennheiser acquired Klein + Hummel about three years ago. At that time, the company was known in the U.S. only for its reference and studio monitors. In Europe, however, the company is no stranger to the installed sound space. As Klein + Hummel president Achim Gleissner explained at the company’s press conference today, Sennheiser’s aiming to leverage K + H’s success in the European loudspeaker market and raise its profile stateside in the installed sound market.

At InfoComm 2008, Klein + Hummel is showcasing its IS 122, IS 123, and IS 153 installed loudspeakers. The IS 122 is a horn-loaded 1in. model with 12in. woofer. The IS 123, a three-way loudspeaker, has a coaxially integrated 1in./2in. driver and a 12in. woofer. The IS 153 is a three-way model with a 1in./2in. coaxial driver and a 15in. woofer. Peak SPL is 135dB.

All three models are bi-amp only or available with self-powered back-plate options. The self-powered version includes factory DSP tuning.