ANAHEIM, California – HARMAN's JBL Professional today announced the introduction of the VTX Line Array Series—a revolutionary product that builds on the company's 65-year heritage of loudspeaker design innovation and groundbreaking technology development. Designed for portable and fixed-venue system operators alike, the VTX Series features JBL's legendary sound quality coupled with the most advanced sound reinforcement technology and support available.
“Of all the achievements JBL has made over the years, the VTX Series stands as a milestone in the practical application of creative engineering,” said Paul Bauman, Senior Manager, Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “VTX truly represents the next generation in line arrays—an evolution of JBL's industry-standard VERTEC® that heralds a new era in performance, system integration and user-friendliness.”
The first product from the VTX Line Array Series is the VTX V25—a full-size, 3-way, high-directivity line array element. The VTX V25 features two 2000W, 15-inch Differential Drive® woofers mounted in die-cast aluminum baffles, with four 8-inch Differential Drive mid-range transducers and three of the revolutionary new D2 Dual-Diaphragm Dual-Voice-Coil Compression Drivers mounted on a 3rd generation waveguide and patented RBI Radiation Boundary Integrator® assembly.
At the heart of VTX is the D2 Dual Driver, a revolutionary device developed by JBL that dramatically improves the sound and performance of high frequencies. D2 overcomes the limitations of conventional compression driver technology: limited high frequency extension due to mass of the diaphragm and voice coil, and distortion characteristics that arise due to dome breakup modes.
JBL's patented Radiation Boundary Integrator combines the high frequency and mid-range sections of the VTX V25 so the transition across each band is uninterrupted, undistorted and seamless. A patent-pending, tuned resonant absorption chamber (TRAC) is integrated into the waveguide itself, effectively eliminating throat-related cancellations due to back pressure from the mid-range section. VTX's refined RBI waveguide implementation provides improved horizontal coverage—broader and more stable.
The VTX Series draws from the expertise and integration of the entire range of HARMAN Professional audio technologies. As a result, in addition to the best sound possible, setup, tuning, networking and controlling the VTX Series is efficient, intelligent and truly a system solution. For example, the VTX Series features Crown Audio VRack DSP and amplification. VRack is a rugged touring rack fitted with three Crown I-Tech HD Series power amplifiers, power input panel, and custom-engineered input/output panels that is available in two configurations: VRack 12000 and VRack 4 x 3500 are loaded with three IT 12000HD and three IT 4 x 3500HD amplifiers, respectively.
Apart from the performance advantage of a standard package ensuring that VTX Series enclosures are optimally powered and processed, VRack ensures compatibility for cross rental between VTX Network Partners. Since VRack is supplied with all components installed and internally connected, there is also no need for laborious rack building; no chance that a component might be improperly connected; and a dramatically lower chance of connection failure.
The patented workflow paradigm of the Performance Manager interface guides the system designer through the complete system design, configuration and control process and, in many ways, the entire process feels and acts like a simple step-by-step wizard.
Using HARMAN's JBL HiQnet Performance Managerâ„¢ control software and with reference to measured spatial response, circuit level gain and JBL Line Array Control Panel tapering adjustments are performed as a first step in system tuning with the VTX V25. Once SPL and frequency response has been optimized on a circuit level, global equalization can then be applied to the entire array to compensate for room-related effects. This patented approach to system tuning has been specifically designed into the workflow of Performance Manager.
VTX's patented SAFE suspension system is streamlined for speed and efficiency with improved hardware for faster setup with fewer pinning operations and greater security. A custom-designed protective cover and dolly makes transport easy and the suspension process fast, efficient and safe.
All suspension hardware is integrated into the enclosure and strategically positioned for fast and secure operation. Front flip hinges and captive rear hinge bars utilizing a unique Angle Stop Mechanism (ASM) allow for efficient assembly that is not only secure, but anti-rattle. Also included is provision for mounting a Laser Sighting Module accessory for greater ease and precision in array focus and system tuning.
The VTX Series complies with HARMAN's GreenEdge initiative, combining environmentally friendly design with dramatic energy savings without compromising the excellent performance for which HARMAN products are known.
Like all JBL Professional products, the VTX Series is comprehensively tested in JBL's power testing facilities. Unique in the industry, during the design phase JBL power testing submits each component and system to 100 hours of continuous, high level input, ensuring that your system will deliver extraordinary sound even after years of hard use and thousands of hours of performance.
“The VTX Series is a result of JBL's continued effort to deliver more powerful, more compact, lightweight and flexible sound reinforcement systems,” Bauman commented. “JBL has invested heavily in the tools necessary to design, measure, evaluate and refine components throughout the development cycle. In addition to state-of-the-art CAD systems, we have developed proprietary R&D tools unique to JBL. With these tools, we are assured of meeting each product's intended design goals, able to find opportunities for even better performance, and perhaps most important, have the resources to develop technologies that never existed. The VTX System is a premier example of this.”
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.8 billion for the twelve months ending September 30, 2011.