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The Martin Audio W8LCD is a compact, wide dispersion, vertically array able enclosure. It can be used individually and in small quantities for short to medium throw (<40m) applications as well as a down fill element for the W8LC. Its 20deg. vertical dispersion requires fewer cabinets to cover the same area as a conventional line array element, yet it still benefits from the smooth, predictable coverage of a vertically coupled system. Using one or two W8LCD cabinets at the bottom of a W8LC array benefits the whole system. The W8LC array becomes less curved and throws further and the W8LCD's 120deg. dispersion is now covering 'front row central' and the extreme front left and right. Configuring the system in this way requires 2x3 processor channels and three amplifiers to drive up to four cabinets, two per left and right column. It is also possible to adapt the six-way controller settings used with W8LC arrays to incorporate the drive required by the W8LCD.
As a stand-alone enclosure, the W8LCD is effective in arrays of 1 to 4 cabinets when used over short to medium (<40m) distances and coverage areas that require a large vertical angle. To optimize SPL from the front to the rear of the coverage area, the W8LCD is fitted with a rear mounted amplitude shading switch. This boosts output from the top of the array where throw distance is typically greatest and cuts output from the bottom of the array where cabinets may be close to the front of the audience. The W8LCD is a full-bandwidth system (-3dB at 60Hz) and may be used without subwoofers in many applications. Where additional low frequency extension is required, it is ideally complimented by the WLX subwoofer from which the W8LCD can be flown or ground stacked. It can also be used with the other Wave front series subs such as the WSXa, W8LS and WS218x.
Constant directivity (in the horizontal plane) horns are used for high and mid frequencies, ensuring consistent on and off axis performance. The high frequency horn generates the correct vertical wave front curvature to provide optimum inter-cabinet summation and to seamlessly integrate with W8LC arrays. Extreme high frequency output is maintained right out to the edges of the 120deg. coverage pattern thanks to the patent pending HiBlade device. The mid horn features patented (US6950530) toriodal phase bung and generates the vertical low curvature wave front essential for optimum inter-cabinet summation.