Core Technologies

Think of the focused, targeted beam of a flashlight. Now imagine that beam of light as a beam of sound. Essentially, beam-steering technology allows all our ICONYX family loudspeakers to tightly control sound and put it right where it’s needed: on the audience.

By keeping sound away from other surfaces that may cause echoes and reverberation, our steerable loudspeakers ensure pristine, crystal-clear speech and music reproduction for an unforgettable audio experience. Intelligibility is the key, and our mission at Renkus-Heinz is to give every listener the best sound possible — so that from the front of the room to the back, there’s not a bad seat in the house.

Renkus-Heinz has led the field in beam-steerable loudspeakers since the introduction of ICONYX in 2004. Over the last two decades, we’ve continued to push the technology forward, continuing to innovate and iterate the technology for even greater fidelity, adaptability and ease of use. Today, our flagship line of steerable loudspeakers ranges from the powerful, high-SPL IC Live X Series of modular arrays for concert-level sound to the ultra-compact Iconyx Compact Series for the most sensitive architectural spaces. And with the introduction of our multi-award-winning OmniBeam algorithm, beam-steering is now easier and more accessible than ever — as easy to deploy as point and shoot.

How does it work? Our RHAON II System Manager software offers a simple, intuitive interface to control a complicated mathematical process. Our technology enables sound system designers to generate custom beams of sound perfectly tailored to the room in question with just a click of the “Snap to Audience” button. Powerful FIR coefficients are calculated and downloaded into the loudspeaker’s amplifier module, turning the designed beams into reality. Inside the loudspeaker amplifier module, each driver has its own amplifier and DSP channel which, when loaded with the FIR filters, EQ and Delay, create the steerable beams.

To learn more about the driving technical principles behind our beam-steering technology, click here to read our Iconyx Whitepaper explaining the concept, the mathematics and the practical applications of Renkus-Heinz beam-steering technology.

Developed exclusively for our flagship IC Live X Series of modular, high-output steerable arrays, the Renkus-Heinz Acoustic Source Multiplier (ASM) waveguide halves acoustic source spacing for optimal high-frequency steering with no lobe distortions, resulting in precise, consistent performance.

By splitting the output of a single compression driver into two distinct virtual acoustic sources, the ASM reduces inter-driver spacing to an absolute minimum, allowing listeners to enjoy gradient-lobe-free performance even at very high frequencies.

The ASM allows the HF section to be coaxially mounted in front of the LF section. This coaxial driver arrangement delivers a consistent and symmetrical array of both high frequencies and low frequencies along the entire length of the array, allowing the freedom to choose any acoustic center available, greatly increasing control and steerability.

CoEntrant Drivers enable maximum acoustic power from minimal enclosure dimensions — without sacrificing effective pattern control. Our CoEntrant Driver technology is currently in its 3rd generation, which we call the CDT3.

In our original CoEntrant designs, the outputs of multiple mid- and high-frequency transducers were integrated into a single acoustic source, with inherent alignment in both space and time.

In a visionary-yet-logical next step, we applied these designs to create an entirely new type of wideband, high-output, low-distortion, point-source transducer. It’s no exaggeration to say that the patented CoEntrant Driver is the first truly new approach to converting electrical energy into sound in well over 50 years.

Within the current-gen CDT3, the outputs of a 6.5” carbon fiber midrange cone and an aluminum compression driver with a 3” voice coil are summed together using a highly optimized compound phase plug. This compound phase plug features midrange inlet holes that are spaced based on “repeating asymmetry,” which reduces the effects of pipe resonances in the HF without sacrificing mid-band sensitivity.

CDT3 Drivers are a standard feature in all our three-way cabinets. In our premium, high-performance P Series P3-12 and P3-15 loudspeakers, CoEntrant CDT3 mid-high drivers enable the sonic and performance advantages of three-way loudspeakers in cabinets the size of most two-ways.

The natural, transparent sound that has come to define Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers is a result of our unique Complex Conic Horn technology.

Complex Conic horns work with the spherical expansion of the acoustic pressure wave, instead of trying to force it through a rectangular funnel like conventional designs. Complex Conic horns provide constant beamwidth, and as pattern control devices, they perform better over a wider frequency band than ordinary horns.

One problem conventional horns exhibit occurs at lower frequencies, where the wavelength of the sound waves exceeds any of the horn dimensions. As illustrated (left red ellipse in the graphic), conventional horns exhibit a phenomena known as “pattern flip.” The coverage pattern rotates 90° or “flips” compared to its dominating (yellow) mid frequency pattern.

A second problem with conventional horns occurs at higher frequencies, where the dimensions of the horn are greater than the wavelength. Obviously, the diagonals of any rectangular shaped horns are longer than its sides. The greater dimensions impose greater control. This problem is illustrated at left by the blue “clover leave” pattern.

By contrast, the ComplexConic horn (illustrated above right) demonstrates much improved uniformity in coverage. Note: Not only do ComplexConic horns improve on the uniformity of coverage over a larger range of frequencies, they also deliver noticeably cleaner sound.

Complex Conic horns are used in all our loudspeakers — that’s why they sound more like studio reference monitors.

The TRAP TRue Array Principle has long been a cornerstone of Renkus-Heinz array design and optimization. The synergy of horn design, cabinet geometry, acoustic center placement and array processing all combine to give truly incredible results.

First employed in our TRAP Series of products, this technology was quickly adopted throughout all our arrayable loudspeakers, giving rise to the creation of RPA (Reference Point Array) systems. RPAs are horizontal clusters that outperform their competition by virtually eliminating comb filtering between adjacent cabinets while also maintaining broad coverage at low-mid frequencies.

The latest incarnation of the TRue Array Principle can be found in our VARIA Series — the realization of a true modular point source array, all in a sleek and powerful package that’s incredibly easy to model, specify and install.