New Technologies and Trends of PA Loudspeaker

June 22, 2022

Modern audio is more than just placing woofers and tweeters in a box. Now it takes you inside the horn speakers and explores new devices in the speakers.
Sound design is an evolving science. The quality of components such as the woofer and tweeter has improved significantly over the years due to material upgrades. At the same time, new functions have been added to the horn speaker as the internal electronics have become more powerful. The results of these improvements are much greater than the effect of changing the voice coil to a paper tray.
It's safe to say that in the high-end audio market, there is no such thing as a bad audio system. Different products have their own proponents and detractors, but when it comes to sound quality, the difference is mostly down to personal taste. Because of this, brands that were once able to win projects on the basis of their sound quality or reputation are now having to compete for business in other ways. They needed to provide integrators with a great sound solution that could be quickly deployed by non-professional users, monitored and controlled remotely, and at an attractive price. This means that a lot of technology needs to be loaded into the box.
Of course, installations come in all shapes and sizes, and not all solutions meet the same needs—you wouldn't choose a suspended sound system as the main sound reinforcement in a nightclub. Therefore, this article will explore some common commonalities in modern PA loudspeaker design.
Wall Speaker

smart system
Audio networking systems have always been a common feature, but in the last few years, they've really taken off.
In the 1990s, audio networking systems were expensive, but they gave integrators a big advantage. In the following years, the rapid development of processing power, and the emergence of various standards, means that audio network technology has become part of the expectations.
The overhaul of the internal electronics means we can easily discern new speakers without the technology and understand why. From quick installation to easy control, the audio network system provides reporting and diagnostic capabilities that enhance the user experience. So it's easy to see why it's hard to find manufacturers that don't involve this kind of networking component in their sound design.
Of course, audio network systems are only part of the broader electronic picture for building highly intelligent systems. Most speakers today contain electronics and digital signal processors that ensure that each speaker can be tuned to provide sound for the area it covers and the entire venue.
Beam steering is a prime example of this, and the use of digital control techniques to control sound distribution is an important tool for dealing with challenging spaces and is used worldwide. The internal processing system allows the designer to combine the outputs of multiple drivers (usually a column in a column-type speaker) to ensure that the sound only goes where the designer wants it to go. This technique brings huge acoustic benefits to difficult reverberation spaces such as airports and churches by moving sound sources away from reflective surfaces.
Historically, much of the system processing has been performed in the cabinet room. This is still the case for some technologies, such as immersive and object-based audio, but thanks to Moore's Law, the computing power available on tiny chips means an increase in computing power is available inside speaker cabinets. We can imagine that in the not-too-distant future, speakers will be released with more functionality.

size problem
A common problem that sound designers face is the conflict between audio systems and interior design. Unfortunately, audio systems rarely have this conflict, and good design often has to give in because placement wreaks havoc on the "clean lines" that interior designers demand. While this often helps us examine how important part of a project is to our customers, it also helps motivate manufacturers to help the AV industry get rid of the "black box on the wall" impression.
Advances in materials science have also greatly improved this. Large, heavy ferrite magnets have been replaced by smaller, lighter rare earth metals such as neodymium, which make smaller devices that can deliver more power.
This has resulted in increasingly compact product designs, resulting in sleek, stylish speakers. These speakers no longer conflict with interior design and still pack enough punch to deliver the sound pressure level and clarity required for acoustic design.
The most common is the slender and elegant design, which can be customised to the RAL colour card so they fit seamlessly into the overall look of the venue. A larger subwoofer is hidden in the unit, delivering bass without being seen. However, the recent trend is for low frequency speakers to adopt this compact design as well.
While tweeters are getting smaller, woofers have remained relatively large. One of the reasons for this is the full range of audio available in this size. And as smaller systems get cheaper, it's no surprise that subwoofers take up less and less floor space.

Safety first
A final factor that cannot be ignored in modern loudspeaker design is the importance of safety standards. With the European EN54 standard for safe evacuation becoming a globally accepted standard, manufacturers seek to obtain this certification for their products.
Since many countries have adopted this standard, and at the same time have added music programs to ensure public safety. This rigorous process has resulted in significant business growth for some manufacturers. This change also meets the needs of the interior design again, as BGM and PA/VA can be played through the same system, reducing the number of speakers needed for the project.
After the initial surge, more brands are making safety features standard, and audio design is gaining ground in the design world. Audio is a long way from getting the same attention as stage sets, but this extra factor can certainly help.
While the audio's core components remain largely unchanged, the capabilities added by the new technology ensure that the audio development environment is constantly changing. These trends are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg of exciting developments in the coming years.
Active Column Speaker