As we talk about speakers and audio systems, until 3-4 years ago everyone was pushing for one thing: Line Array. Most didn't mind the fact that it wasn't the best choice in all conditions, assuming that it was better to shove 6 stacked line array modules into an 8x15m club than a properly tailored point source system with zones.
Awareness in the sound community has thankfully increased a bit already. Companies have more informed systems engineers, which has led to band implementers trusting them more and agreeing to proposed configurations.
Fortunately, in the Line Array vs Point Source dispute, an intermediate solution emerged namely the Constant Curvature Array, which is a linear system based on modules with a constant vertical propagation angle, where the manufacturer generally presented 2 to 4 parcels with different contours that allowed to maintain the consistency of the sound wave.
This is exactly the type of system that Martin Audio recently presented with the Torus series and... lagging behind the competition by only 20 years. Torus is a series of CCA loudspeakers, where we can find 3 models at the moment:
Torus T820: 8 inch midbass and 20° vertical angle (in this size, unfortunately, only one angle to choose from), 14kg in weight and 126dB SPL peak
Torus T1215: 12 inch midbass and 15° vertical propagation angle, 31kg in weight and 134dB SPL peak
Torus T1230: 12 inch midbass and 30° angle, 26kg and 126dB SPL Peak.
The 8-inch version also has a fixed horizontal propagation angle of 100°. The 12-inch version is more advanced and draws on solutions already available on the market. The manufacturer allows changing the horizontal propagation between 90° and 60° and asymmetrically left or right 75°. This "breakthrough" technology is called Dynamic Horn Flare by the British.
At first glance, the rigging system looks not too bad. A bit of a hybrid between the L-A ARCS WIFO System and the L-A A-Series. We continue to use aerospace pins but there are none of those cursed rails, which I'm sure will please those mounting this system on a daily basis.
For this, the system is driven by dedicated iKON amplifiers with their own DSP, and the system can be hooked up with a dedicated SXCF118 or SCXF115 subwoofer (for the T820). For fans of simulation and professional sound work, Martin provides Display 3 software for 3D modeling of the sounding surface.
So, as you can see, Martin is finally filling a gap in its portfolio, with something that has become a standard especially in the world of events. If the British don't skimp on the quality of their products, we could have an interesting system for probably a much more affordable price than line array systems. The question remains whether Martin Audio will gain a little more market share in the Polish market, which is already quite clogged, thanks to Torus?
For more, of course, I refer you to the manufacturer!
Manufacturer: Martin AudioDistributor: Phono Media
