L-ACOUSTICS

L-Acoustics is a French manufacturer of loudspeakers, amplifiers and signal processing devices for rental and installed sound markets. Headquartered in Marcoussis, just south of Paris, the company has satellite operations in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, as well as a global Rental Network of production companies deploying and cross-renting its products. The company is also known for providing music festivals with its loud, powerful sounding speakers.

L-Acoustics
TypeProfessional Audio Manufacturer
IndustryProfessional audio
Founded1984
Headquarters
Marcoussis
,
France
Key people
Christian Heil, Founder
ProductsLoudspeakers, Amplifier/Signal Processing
Number of employees
~400[1]
Websitewww.l-acoustics.com

History

In September 1984, Dr. Christian Heil, a physicist in the field of elementary particles with a passion for sound, created an electro-acoustic engineering firm named C.HEIL.TEA, later to be renamed L-Acoustics. In 1989, the company launched its MTD115, a high-performance coaxial loudspeaker for sound reinforcement use.

In 1992, Heil and his team pioneered the field of modern line source array loudspeakers with their V-DOSC system, which benefitted from L-Acoustics’ new Wavefront Sculpture Technology (WST) theory.[2] Based on principles developed by Heil and fellow physics colleague Professor Marcel Urban, WST defined five criteria for design and use of true line source arrays. At the heart of WST is the internationally-patented DOSC waveguide, which was the first high-frequency device capable of creating a rectangular, constant-phase planar output.[3]

In combination with WST, coplanar symmetry - the equivalent of coaxial assembly for HF, MF and LF drivers in vertical arrays - provides a coherent wavefront over the entire horizontal coverage at all frequencies. This behaves as if the sound was radiated by a single, continuous and articulated ribbon, and allows a highly coherent sonic signature in long throw applications, beyond the limits of previously traditional clustered systems.

Although Heil did not invent the underlying theory of the line array, his research and design work that ultimately resulted in the V-DOSC system altered the landscape of loudspeaker design.[4] Today, nearly every professional audio loudspeaker manufacturer has adopted the line array model for their premier touring systems, and Heil is generally recognized as the "father of the modern line array."[5]

Over the years, L-Acoustics has gone on to introduce other products, including the ARCS Constant Curvature Array (1995), dV-DOSC modular line source (1999), Kudo with K-Louver variable directivity (2005), P Series self-powered coaxials (2006), SB28 subwoofer with laminar vents and LA4 and LA8 amplified controllers (2007). The debut of L-Acoustics’ Soundvision simulation software in 2004 enabled system designers to create accurate 3D acoustical models of potential systems using the company’s products.

In 2008, 15 years after the launch of V-DOSC, L-Acoustics introduced its newest flagship system known as K1,[6] designed primarily for large festivals and stadium sound reinforcement applications. Distribution of the earliest K1 systems sold was extremely limited to a small number of touring sound companies that agreed to participate in the manufacturer’s K1/Kudo Pilot Program,[7] providing feedback to L-Acoustics’ R&D team on its field performance.

Since then, the manufacturer has established both its new Rental Network and System Integration Charter, as well as debuted other new products, including the Kara and Kara(i) WST line source enclosures and SB18 and SB18i subwoofers (2010).

The K1 stadium line array system was recognized with the top prize for "Indispensable Technology - Audio"[8] at the 10th annual Parnelli Awards ceremony held at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on October 22, 2010.

Company Milestones
  • 1984: Physicist Dr. Heil founds L-Acoustics
  • 1989: First coaxial system MTD115/LLC
  • 1992: Wavefront Sculpture Technology (WST)
  • 1994: V-DOSC and Network
  • 1995: ARCS Constant Curvature Array
  • 1999: dV-DOSC modular line source
  • 2004: Soundvision simulation software
  • 2005: Kudo and K-Louver variable directivity
  • 2006: P Series self-powered coaxials
  • 2007: Amplified controllers, SB28 laminar vents
  • 2008: K1/Kudo pilot program
  • 2009: New Rental Network
  • 2010: Kara, SB18 (laminar vent), System Integration Charter
  • 2011: ARCS II constant curvature line source
  • 2012: ARCS Wide/Focus (aka ARCS WiFo) constant curvature line sources
  • 2014: K2 variable curvature line source
  • 2015: X Series coaxials
  • 2016: KS28 subwoofer and LA12X amplified controller
  • 2016: L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology
  • 2017: Kiva II
  • 2017: Syva
  • 2019: new ARCS products: A15 Wide/Focus + A10 Wide/Focus and new KS21 Subwoofer
  • 2020: Kara II with Panflex
  • 2020: LA2Xi amplified controller

Product Portfolio

Current Products (as of March 2020)

Amplified Controllers
  • LA2Xi, LA4X, LA8, LA12X, LA-RAK, LA-RAK II AVB
Processors
  • P1 AVB audio processor and measurement platform
  • L-ISA Processor
Networking
  • LS10
Coaxial Systems
  • X Series: X4i, 5XT, X8, X12, X15 HiQ
  • P Series: 108P, 112P, SB15P (Sub)
Colinear System
  • Syva, Syva Low (Sub), Syva Sub (Infra-Sub)
Line Source Systems
  • Constant Curvature: ARCS Wide, ARCS Focus, ARCS II, A10 Wide, A10 Focus, A15 Wide, A15 Focus
  • Variable Curvature: Kiva II, Kara II, Kara(i), K2, K1, K1-SB (Sub)
Subwoofers
  • SB15m, SB18, SB18i, SB18m, KS21, KS21i, SB28, KS28
Software
  • Soundvision
  • LA Network Manager
Miscellaneous
  • Tech Toolcase

References
  1. Wehrhan, Dr. Walter. "L-Acoustics übernimmt HGP". ProMediaNews. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  2. Sound Field Radiated By Arrayed Multiple Sound Sources, AES Convention Paper #3269. Article presented at the 92nd AES Convention, Vienna 1992
  3. Wavefront Sculpture Technology, AES Journal, October 2003
  4. The Birth of the Array: Part 03, Filter 06, July 2005 http://gtaust.com/filter/06/08.shtml
  5. Interview: Christian Heil, Founder of L-Acoustics, France - The Father of Modern Line Array Speaker Systems, Audio Pro International, November 2004 http://www.garycooper.biz/articles/interviews0411-1.html
  6. From V-DOSC to K1: L-Acoustics Enters Its Next Phase, Total Production International, September 2008 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-11-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Audio Pro International, August 18, 2008 http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/668/L-Acoustics-K1KUDOLA8-programme-launched
  8. FOH, November 2010 http://www.fohonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4485&Itemid=54

K2 wins Prolight + Sound International Press Award http://pro-music-news.com/html/16/e51111la.htm

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