Tannoy has announced a number of advances and updates to its QFlex digital beam-steering loudspeaker array. These updates are designed to offer installers and integrators a greater level of functionality and options during commissioning process.
QFlex is designed to focus acoustical output on a specified listening area – thus delivering significant improvements to speech intelligibility and musical clarity in reverberant spaces. Tannoy recently announced the product would now ship with onboard Voiced Steering Presets, allowing users to select between two different Steering Files so that the system can easily optimised to suit changing acoustic environment between two configurations. This is particularly useful for example where a grand ballroom may be sub-divided into smaller conference rooms, or in a large house of worship – alternating between full-size congregation, and smaller audience zoning depending on the specific event.
A Gang-Loading feature is now being introduced, which makes it possible to load multiple steering files into a single QFlex column, with master and any associated slave devices updated automatically. When you consider that a large scale QFlex network in a major transportation hub might have over 200 QFlex devices, this new functionality could save significant amounts of time during commissioning.
With a similar focus on large-scale applications, Tannoy is also introducing the VNET-Ethernet interface, which means QFlex is now even easier to deploy in very large-scale or complex networks such as major railway station or airport terminal applications.
As well as this, there is also a brand new update to the VNET software (podware) featuring improved GUI and more, adding a new level of functionality and improved layout.
A significant, soon-to-be-relased update is the integration of QFlex BeamEngine with EASE Focus, meaning modelling and set-up can be carried out within the one program.
Finally, to complement QFlex and other VNET-enabled loudspeakers, Tannoy is also introducing a new range of subwoofers, named VSXNET. Available in 12.2BP, 15DR and 18DR variants, all VSXNET models are powered, network-enabled subwoofers, designed to satisfy a specific requirement for applications where an installed VNET system needs to deliver more low-frequency response.
Stuart Archibald, product manager for Tannoy, commented: “Having firmly established QFlex as the solution of choice in major transportation hubs in the UK and abroad, Tannoy has utilised that experience and developed a range of important updates to address the specific needs of large-scale network applications. These new developments add to an already extensive feature set and underline Tannoy’s ongoing commitment to be at the forefront of the steerable and architectural audio market. This superior innovation, unbeatable sonic clarity and overall user experience make QFlex the most compelling choice for any application where intelligibility in a reverberant space is a paramount concern.”
