Community Launches New Subwoofer for Staging Apps Community has expanded its VLF Series of subwoofers with the re-introduction of the so-called improved VLF218. Joining the existing VLF208 and VLF212 models, the newly updated VLF218 is a high efficiency, dual 18-inch subwoofer system with a slim profile and rugged Baltic birch-ply enclosure. With power handling of 1600-watt continuous (4000W program) and sensitivity of 99dB/W/m, it offers what Community calls “high output and low distortion.” Additionally, the drivers may be configured internally to be driven by a single amp (1600W @ 4 ohms) or by dual amplifiers (800W @ 8 ohms each).
Although it’s not on their website yet, it’s supposed to deliver later this month. When it’s on their site, it will be here: http://www.communitypro.com/index.php/product-list/113-vlf-series Back to Top The End of VGA Coming in 2015: It's Official AMD, Dell, Intel Corporation, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics LCD Business and LG Display today announced intentions to accelerate adoption of scalable and lower power digital interfaces such as DisplayPort and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) into the PC.
Intel and AMD expect that analog display outputs such as Video Graphics Array (VGA) and the low voltage differential signaling technology (LVDS) panel interface would no longer be supported in their product lines by 2015. HDMI has increasingly been included in new PCs for easy connection to consumer electronics devices. DisplayPort is expected to become the single PC digital display output for embedded flat panels, PC monitors and projectors.
DisplayPort and HDMI allow for slimmer laptop designs, and support higher resolutions with deeper color than VGA — a technology that is more than 20 years old. Additionally, as laptops get smaller and their embedded flat panel resolutions increase for more immersive experiences, the power advantages, bi-directional communications and design efficiency benefits of DisplayPort make it a superior choice over LVDS, the previous standard for LCD panel inputs.
Intel plans to end support of LVDS in 2013 and VGA in 2015 in its PC client processors and chipsets. Back to Top Extron Ships HDMI and DVI Matrix Switchers Just before the end of the year, Extron told rAVe the company had started shipping its DXP HDMI Series and DXP DVI Pro Series matrix switchers. Both HDMI 1.3-compatible matrix switchers support HDTV 1080p/60 and PC resolutions up to 1920×1200. HDCP compliant, both series allow for simultaneous distribution of protected content to one or more HDCP-compliant displays – solving all multi-resolution switching issues with HDMI and DVI signals. Featuring what Extron calls intelligent technologies that help integrators ensure compatibility between digital devices including Key Minder, HDCP Visual Confirmation, EDID Minder, and Automatic Input Cable Equalization and Output Reclocking, they are both available in I/O sizes from 4×4 to 8×8. For complete specs on the DVI Pro Series, go here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=dxpdvipro and for specs on the HDMI Series, go here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=dxphdmi Back to Top Lectrosonics Guarantees Wireless Mic Muting – Pop Free Called the Mute switch and designed for use with the company’s belt-pack transmitters (although, we have an inside source that tells us it can be modified to work with any manufacturer’s wireless mic), this product is a belt-mount unit that provides instant, pop-free audio muting in a tiny package. The Mute switch is an active device that is powered by any five-pin Lectrosonics transmitter, including the new Servo Input transmitters such as the SM Series, LMa, and UM400a. It works with most two- and three-wire lavalier microphones wired according to Lectrosonics guidelines. The new Lectrosonics Mute uses an optically coupled switch to silence the audio signal without any clicks and pops, even when located in a strong RF field. The unit’s toggle switch is weather resistant and the included cable has weather resistant vinyl boots at each end. A wiring kit is included that provides a five-pin connector, strain relief parts, and an additional water resistant vinyl boot to protect the lavalier microphone connector from moisture. Complete specs are here: http://www.lectrosonics.com/accessories.html Back to Top Sanyo Intros 15,000-Lumen Projector Sanyo launched its brightest projector to date in the form of the 3LCD (specified) 15,000 ANSI lumen PLC-HF15000L (2048×1080). Aimed at large venue presentation, staging and giant format digital signage, the PLC-HF15000L (lens sold separately) is scheduled to ship later this month and lists at $44,995. Using Sanyo’s QuaDrive engine (adding a yellow color control device to the existing red, green and blue elements) and what Sanyo claims is a new long-life inorganic 2K LCD panel and a 380-watt lamp, the PLC-HF15000L is equipped with a "Hot Operation Lamp Exchange System" that allows individual lamps to be replaced without turning the projector off. Previous models required a projector shutdown and restart for all bulb replacements. The new hot-swappable system gives operators a smooth, simple way to replace a failed bulb and continue presentations without interruption. All the details are here. Back to Top Extron Intros DVI 110 Signal Regenerator This month Extron launched the DVI 110 signal regenerator for single link DVI-D signals. The DVI 110 retimes and reshapes marginal or noisy DVI signals, such as those occasionally encountered on the output of consumer-grade graphics cards or notebook PCs, or when passive DVI couplers and wall-plates are utilized within the signal path. The DVI 110 helps to eliminate noise and reduce jitter at the output of the source, ensuring a strong, stable digital signal, and improving system performance. The DVI 110 is designed to be used in conjunction with the Extron DVI 101 or HDMI 101 cable equalizer to ensure optimal picture quality on a long cable run and it can also be used with DVI or HDMI products that are equipped with input cable equalization, such as the Extron SMX HDMI and DVI Pro matrix boards, or DXP Series, DMS Series, and DCX Series digital matrix switchers. It is HDCP compliant and is fully compatible with HDMI signals when used with the appropriate Extron DVI-HDMI adapters. Complete specs on the 1” high DVI 110 here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=dvi110&s=5 Back to Top For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe Rental [and Staging] out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the rental and staging industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions — in this case, it’s industry-veteran Joel Rollins' opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004. rAVe Rental [and Staging] launched in November 2007. rAVe Ed [Education] launched in May 2008. rAVe DS [Digital Signage] was launched in January of 2009.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 2011 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln., Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
rAVe Rental [and Staging] contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |