At the recent CEDIA Expo, Origin showed off its latest partnership with Bang & Olufsen: the Terrestrial Line Array outdoor speaker system. The system is made up of a base unit that includes two speaker modules (shown right), and it can be expanded vertically to as many as six modules. Each module features a five-inch full-range driver with a VariBlade Lens placed directly in front of the cone to increase high-frequency dispersion. A 70-volt transformer is housed in the base unit. You can mount the array on a spike (shown below) or use the optional wall/ceiling mounts. The Terrestrial Line Array system will be available in early 2018; pricing has not yet been announced.
From Origin Acoustics
Origin Acoustics is proud to announce its latest collaborative effort with Bang & Olufsen. The Terrestrial Line Array is a modular speaker system that was created for outdoor applications as part of a landscape audio system.
Made up of a base unit that includes two modules and can be expanded vertically to as many as six modules, the system can be assembled to meet the precise needs of the installation. The modules are constructed from aluminum and are almost cube shaped, with the backside being only slightly smaller than the front. Each cube houses a single 5-inch, full-range driver with a VariBlade Lens placed directly in front of the cone to increase high-frequency dispersion. A 70v transformer is also housed in the base unit.
The array can be mounted on a spike driven into the ground, attached to a flat surface with the optional wall-mount or hung from above (under eaves or soffits) with the optional ceiling mount.
Origin engineers have been looking for an opportunity to integrate line array technology into their offering for quite some time, but in an interior installation the benefits are minimal. One of the most impressive advantages of a line array design is its ability to mitigate the SPL fall-off over distance. In simple terms, this means the speakers can be placed farther from the listening area and still provide the required sound levels. Inside a home this is unnecessary. However, outdoors this effect is very desirable. Imagine speakers placed in the far corners of the backyard that project across the landscape and still provide quality sound on the deck or pool area. Of course, with every Bang & Olufsen product there is a tremendous focus on aesthetics and design. This system is a work of art that not only happens to do an amazing job of sound reproduction, but also makes a beautiful sculpture in any outdoor system designs.
"The line array effect itself is actually quite surprising if you've never experienced it before," said Nick Berry, Origin's Senior V.P. "The sound seems to emanate from nowhere, as the speakers are so much farther away than you would expect. Both its projection and coverage give the dealer another powerful tool to utilize in their outdoor system designs."
"With every product we make, and with every user experience we conceive, we strive for the perfect, uncompromising combination of iconic design, beautiful sound, and seamless integration. With the new Terrestrial speakers, we extend our mastery of interior design past a new threshold--both literal and figurative--to the outdoors," says Stefan K. Persson, Executive Vice President at Bang & Olufsen Home.
The Terrestrial line array will be shipping in Q1 of 2018. Pricing TBA.
Additional Resources
• Visit the Origin Acoustics website for more information.
• Check out our CEDIA 2017 Show Wrap-up for more Origin and B&O news.
