Vari Extension Unit, Vari-directional Array

Many large modern and classical buildings, like passenger terminals and cathedrals, use hard reflective materials for floors, walls and ceilings. Due to their size and absence of absorbing materials the reverberation time is long and the amount of indirect reverberant sound compared to direct sound is high. This is disastrous for good speech intelligibility. Still it is very important to hear and understand the spoken message, whether it is a gate change announcement on an airport, a prayer in a house of worship or an evacuation message in case of an emergency. Here the Bosch Vari-directional Array offers a really smart and easy solution.

System Overview
The Bosch Vari-directional Array series is a comprehensive set of array loudspeakers to address people with clear intelligible messages in large reverberant spaces. These active units utilize integrated digital signal processing and high efficiency class-D amplifiers. Using a PC configuration program the array can be adapted to the venue where it is used and its sound output optimally aimed at the audience, creating a maximum direct to ambient sound ratio, for best intelligibility given the circumstances.

The modular concept allows for three different array lengths for small to large areas. Using separate array elements makes transport easy and upgrading to a longer array possible. An optional CobraNet module allows the array to be networked and to receive digital audio data via CobraNet and to monitor the operational status of the loudspeakers. Special built-in provisions make these arrays compliant to the world's emergency sound system standards. The units are suited for both background music and speech.

Although these loudspeaker arrays are very sophisticated and offer unrivalled sound in difficult acoustical environments, the advanced configuration software makes setup quick and easy.

Functions
Advanced beam steering
The Bosch Vari-directional Array provides a very good direct to reverberant sound ratio. Firstly, it radiates more direct sound to the audience and secondly, it induces less ceiling reflections. The increased direct sound is also due to a lower rate of decay of the sound level with distance compared to a traditional loudspeaker acting as a point source.