K-array

K-array is an Italy-based manufacturer of loudspeakers and amplification products for the professional audio market. K-array’s products are sold in over 50 countries around the world, and have been used in a variety of environments including major concert tours, cathedrals, stadia, theatres, restaurants and hotels.^[1]

K-array

Company type	Public Company
Industry	Audio electronics
Founded	1990 Florence, Italy
Founders	Carlo Tatini, Alessandro Tatini and Massimo Ferrati
Headquarters	Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, Italy
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Audio electronics
Number of employees	60 (2017)
Website	k-array.com

History

In 1990, innovative entrepreneurs Carlo Tatini, Alessandro Tatini and Massimo Ferrati founded HP Sound Equipment to design and fit-out broadcast studios for television and radio. After noticing that unbalanced lavalier microphones would pick up hum from electrical equipment nearby, such as dimmers and power distribution, the group created a miniature microphone with integrated pre-amp inside the cartridge. Later, HP Sound began expanding into the manufacture of other product categories, including their own line of MI equipment, and designing OEM solutions for other manufacturers.^[2]

In 2005, HP Sound re-positioned their loudspeaker products into a new brand and K-array was named. Shortly after, the live sound-focused company launched its flagship Concert Series range of small-footprint line array products, designed to minimize transport and storage costs during touring. The brand’s first product, the KH4 loudspeaker, weighed 100 lbs and had a depth of 6”.^[3]

In the years that followed, K-array has continued to develop line array solutions, including the flat-panel line array modules, alongside slim line column loudspeakers, micro loudspeakers with integrated LED lighting, a flexible rope-like loudspeaker, and a moving head loudspeaker with integrated camera.^[4]

In 2020, KSCAPE, a new division of K-array, combines innovative audio with high-end light in one product to provide architects and designers with a single solution that merges senses. RAIL is a 1.2 meter homogenous linear LED track light with full-range cone drivers.

Following in the footsteps of K-array’s 30 years of pro audio research, KGEAR is born in a bid to meet a wider range of users. A new line of fresh pro-audio products that benefit from the uncompromising technologies developed by K-array. With a deep focus on performance and sound quality, KGEAR products offer an easy and straight technical approach to create effective solutions, providing all the features needed to fit any situation and environment.^{[citation needed]}

Technology

K-array has a number of technology ranges that it integrates into products, including SAT (Slim Array Technology).

Slim Array Technology (SAT) was developed to confront issues using large line array elements by substituting the big enclosures with slim boxes.^[5] Whereas a big air volume inside a large speaker box in a standard line array is necessary to maximize the speaker efficiency in the mid-low frequency range, a slim box allows sound to exit instantaneously without resonance, generating a significant amount of sound pressure in the low and low-mid range with a fast transient response. Therefore, all sounds characterized by fast transients, like percussion instruments, are reproduced in a more natural way.^[6]

Products

Loudspeakers

• Concert Series – Mugello, Firenze (Slim Array Technology-equipped, flat line array elements), Owl (moving head audio)^[7] and Mastiff monitor lines^[8]
• Installed Sound – Anakonda,^[9][10] Domino,^[11] Dragon, Kayman,^[12] Kobra,^[13] Lyzard, Python,^[14] Rumble, Thunder, Tornado, Turtle and Vyper lines
• Portable Systems – Axle and Pinnacle sub-and-satellite systems^[15]

Amplifiers

• Kommander power amplifiers^[16]

Software

• K-framework – K-array product management software, integrated with Dante audio networking, USB and RS485^[17]
• Owl-Manager – software to manage the Owl-KW8 moving-head loudspeaker, with HDSDI and DMX compatibility

Accolades

• EMEA InAVation Awards 2014, Most InAVative Loudspeaker - Anakonda KAN200^[18]
• InfoComm 2014 Best Of Show - Anakonda KAN200^[19]
• Induction into MuDeTo, the online museum that recognizes Tuscan design excellence, for the Anakonda.^[20][21]

See also

• List of loudspeaker manufacturers

References

1. "Lincoln Financial Field Stadium Outfitted With K-array". ProSoundWeb. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
2. Gori, Giulio. "Con la "microcassa" da San Piero a Sieve a New York City". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
3. MM, Redacao (12 May 2017). "Novo alto-falante KH4 da K-array". Música & Mercado (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 August 2017.
4. "PALAZZO VECCHIO, NUOVE LUCI PER SALONE CINQUECENTO". Controradio.it (in Italian). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
5. Mutter, Zoe (27 September 2016). "K-array's Firenze system impresses at Rock In Rio Festival in Lisbon". AV Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
6. "K-array: tecnologia rivoluzionaria per il 'suono' del Salone dei '500". Intoscana.it (in Italian). 19 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
7. Kayye, Gary (1 February 2015). "K-array's Unique Owl Is Most Innovative Live-Events Speaker We've Seen in Years". rAVe Publications. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
8. Abrons, Sara (4 April 2017). "K-array Launches Mastif Line of Speakers for Live Events". rAVe [Publications]. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
9. Lee, Tyler. "K-array's Anakonda Speakers Are Uniquely Shaped But Pricey". Ubergizmo. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
10. "K-array Anakonda KAN200 Unveiled: Rope Like Revolutionary Flexible Speakers". Gizbot.com. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
11. Abrons, Sara (8 February 2017). "K-array Intros Compact Full-Range Speaker Line Called Domino". rAVe [Publications]. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
12. Moen, Debi (8 June 2016). "K-array New Gold Finishes". FRONT of HOUSE. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
13. "Sennheiser's K-array Intros New Loudspeaker Solutions at InfoComm". rAVe [Publications]. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
14. "Italian loudspeaker manufacturer K-array introduces new Redline, Kobra, Python and KMT Series at InfoComm 2012". Live Design Magazine. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
15. Barnes, Laura. "Professional Audio Ltd becomes official K-array dealer for Ireland". MI Pro. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
16. Williams, Michael (26 January 2017). "Top Restaurant in Shanghai gets an SPL Upgrade from K-array". rAVe Publications. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
17. "K-array joins the network with K-Dante". Pro Audio. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
18. "InAVation Awards 2014: Winners Revealed". InAVate. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
19. "NewBay InfoComm Best Of Show Winners". ProSound Network. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
20. "NMuDeTo, K-array si aggiudica un posto d'onore con Anakonda". Integration Magazine. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
21. "Home". mudeto.it.