JBL AWC82 Loudspeakers for Sports Facilities - Page 4

• It can be challenging to properly signal-align (sometimes referred to as time-align) multiple speakers to minimize multiple arrivals. • B ecause the speakers tend to be small in size, the coverage pattern is only accurate down to a certain frequency. Below that, the signals from multiple speakers can interfere with each other. SCOREBOARD SPEAKER SYSTEMS Many open-air facilities, such as college football stadiums, lack any type of overhead infrastructure to mount distributed systems. In these situations, a common solution is to install large scoreboard speaker systems. These systems utilize large speaker arrays to blast high sound pressure levels throughout the stadium from one or two centralized locations-typically the scoreboards in the endzones or a center video screen. In the right venue, this type of system can work well and doesn't require as much processing behind the scenes for time alignment. However, achieving perfectly uniform coverage at every listening location can be a great challenge. Also, because sound loses power over long distances, this solution requires high levels of amplification and excellent pattern control to produce adequate volume throughout the stadium. JBL VLA AND VLAI SERIES SPEAKERS JBL answered these challenges by introducing VLA (Versatile Line Array) loudspeakers. VLA Series speakers combine modern line array technology with a traditional horn-loaded design, resulting in improved horizontal pattern control. Because various seating sections in a stadium require variable horizontal coverage to account for the differences in distance from the speaker, VLA speakers are available with 40-, 60- and 90-degree coverage patterns to cover short, medium and long distances respectively. Thanks to their innovative design, VLA Series speakers offer great sound pressure capabilities, sound quality and consistency of coverage. The full-range cabinets are trapezoidal (tapered) on the top and bottom, allowing for convenient curved array capability. Subwoofers are sometimes installed along with the main speakers but it's also common for the subwoofers to be installed either behind or beside the main cabinets. For this reason, VLA Series speakers excel in a wide range of scenarios, including both partially distributed central systems as well as centralized scoreboard systems. Today, VLA Series speakers are utilized in many notable facilities, such as: • S oldier Field, home stadium of the Chicago Bears, National Football League • M oda Center (formerly the Rose Garden), home arena of the Portland Trailblazers, National Basketball Association • U S Bank Stadium, home stadium of the Minnesota Vikings, National Football League • B C Place, home stadium of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Major League Soccer, and BC Lions, Canadian Football League, and many other top venues JBL replaced the original VLA models with the VLAi Series, which improved rectangular sides, yielding more cabinet space for greater low frequency extension of the new, even higher performance, low-frequency drivers. Some of the featured highlights of the VLAi Series include: • A dvanced neodymium differential drivers • D ual voice coils • D eeper bass response • H igher sensitivity and power handling • B etter heat dispersion LOUDSPEAKERS FOR SPORTS FACILITY APPLICATIONS | DESIGN GUIDE | © 2020 HARMAN | v.11.2020 JBL VLAi Series Variable Line Array Loudspeakers Page 4 of 7