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K-array

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K-array
Company typePublic Company
IndustryAudio electronics
Founded1990 Florence, Italy
FoundersCarlo Tatini, Alessandro Tatini and Massimo Ferrati
HeadquartersScarperia e San Piero
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAudio electronics
Number of employees
200 (2017)
Websitek-array.com

K-array is an Italy-based manufacturer of loudspeakers and amplification products for the professional audio market. K-array’s products are sold in over 50 countries around the world, and have been used in a variety of environments including major concert tours, cathedrals, stadia, theatres, restaurants and hotels.[1]

History

In 1990, engineers Carlo Tatini, Alessandro Tatini and Massimo Ferrati founded HP Sound to design and fit-out broadcast studios for television and radio. After noticing that unbalanced lavalier microphones would pick up hum from electrical equipment nearby, such as dimmers and power distribution, the group created a miniature microphone with integrated pre-amp inside the cartridge. Later, HP Sound began expanding into the manufacture of other product categories, including their own line of MI equipment, and designing OEM solutions for other manufacturers.[2]

In 2005, HP Sound re-positioned their loudspeaker products into a new brand and K-array was named. Shortly after, the live sound-focused company launched its flagship Concert Series range of small-footprint line array products, designed to minimize transport and storage costs during touring. The brand’s first product, the KH4 loudspeaker, weighed 100 lbs and had a depth of 6”.[3]

In the years that followed, K-array has continued to develop line array solutions, including the flat-panel line array modules, alongside slim line column loudspeakers, micro loudspeakers with integrated LED lighting, a flexible rope-like loudspeaker, and a moving head loudspeaker with integrated camera.[4]

Technology

K-array has a number of technology ranges that it integrates into products, including SAT (Slim Array Technology).

Slim Array Technology (SAT) was developed to confront issues using large line array elements by substituting the big enclosures with slim boxes.[5] Whereas a big air volume inside a large speaker box in a standard line array is necessary to maximize the speaker efficiency in the mid-low frequency range, a slim box allows sound to exit instantaneously without resonance, generating a significant amount of sound pressure in the low and low-mid range with a fast transient response. Therefore, all sounds characterized by fast transients, like percussion instruments, are reproduced in a more natural way.[6]

Products

Loudspeakers

  • Concert Series – Mugello, Firenze (Slim Array Technology-equipped, flat line array elements), Owl (moving head audio)[7] and Mastiff monitor lines[8]
  • Installed Sound – Anakonda,[9][10] Domino,[11] Dragon, Kayman,[12] Kobra,[13] Lyzard, Python,[14] Rumble, Thunder, Tornado, Turtle and Vyper lines
  • Portable Systems – Axle and Pinnacle sub-and-satellite systems[15]

Amplifiers

  • Kommander power amplifiers[16]

Software

  • K-framework – K-array product management software, integrated with Dante audio networking, USB and RS485[17]
  • Owl-Manager – software to manage the Owl-KW8 moving-head loudspeaker, with HDSDI and DMX compatibility

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lincoln Financial Field Stadium Outfitted With K-array". ProSoundWeb. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ^ Gori, Giulio. "Con la «microcassa» da San Piero a Sieve a New York City". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. ^ MM, Redacao (12 May 2017). "Novo alto-falante KH4 da K-array". Música & Mercado (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  4. ^ "PALAZZO VECCHIO, NUOVE LUCI PER SALONE CINQUECENTO". Controradio.it (in Italian). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  5. ^ Mutter, Zoe (27 September 2016). "K-array's Firenze system impresses at Rock In Rio Festival in Lisbon". AV Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  6. ^ "K-array: tecnologia rivoluzionaria per il 'suono' del Salone dei '500". Intoscana.it (in Italian). Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. ^ Kayye, Gary (1 February 2015). "K-array's Unique Owl Is Most Innovative Live-Events Speaker We've Seen in Years". rAVe Publications. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  8. ^ Abrons, Sara (4 April 2017). "K-array Launches Mastif Line of Speakers for Live Events". rAVe [Publications]. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  9. ^ Lee, Tyler. "K-Array's Anakonda Speakers Are Uniquely Shaped But Pricey". Ubergizmo. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  10. ^ "K-array Anakonda KAN200 Unveiled: Rope Like Revolutionary Flexible Speakers". Gizbot.com. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  11. ^ Abrons, Sara (8 February 2017). "K-array Intros Compact Full-Range Speaker Line Called Domino". rAVe [Publications]. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  12. ^ Moen, Debi (8 June 2016). "K-array New Gold Finishes". FRONT of HOUSE. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Sennheiser's K-array Intros New Loudspeaker Solutions at InfoComm". rAVe [Publications]. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Italian loudspeaker manufacturer K-array introduces new Redline, Kobra, Python and KMT Series at InfoComm 2012". Live Design Magazine. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  15. ^ Barnes, Laura. "Professional Audio Ltd becomes official K-array dealer for Ireland". MI Pro. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  16. ^ Williams, Michael (26 January 2017). "Top Restaurant in Shanghai gets an SPL Upgrade from K-array". rAVe Publications. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  17. ^ "K-Array joins the network with K-Dante". Pro Audio. Retrieved 7 August 2017.