FAQ

Iconyx has been a flagship product since 2006. Its latest fifth generation, which launched in 2013, features a coaxial 4-inch woofer with a triple tweeter for precise steering and high-fidelity sound, and it has been installed in thousands of prestigious places. However, Renkus-Heinz recognized a need for a smaller footprint with similar features for installations where the size of the product is a winning factor. Iconyx Compact was the answer. Utilizing 3-inch full-range drivers, it puts the flexibility and directivity of the original ICONYX series into a package with a nearly 40% smaller footprint. The Compact Series can now be applied to challenging spaces where even the ICONYX Series is too large. The main difference between the two would be the lowest frequency range and precision in steering. The Iconyx Compact is equally as good as the Iconyx for simple venues. When multi-layer audience or extremely challenging room acoustics are presented – the Iconyx Gen5 would still be a first choice. The broadband sound pressure level capabilities between the two are almost identical.

The ICLive Series takes the control and flexibility of the ICONYX Series and scales it up to a higher output product. The ICLive has been on the market for many years, being deployed in higher output applications, both in installation and live sound. In a single ICLive module, the components are five 6.5-inch woofers and three 1-inch compression drivers loaded with the horn. It is an asymmetrical design, where a high-frequency section sits on top of the cabinet. To extend the output and pattern control, the limitation has always been a maximum of two ICLive modules connected together plus an additional low-mid extension module either at the top or bottom.

ICLive X is the next generation. It brings ultimate flexibility in a complete system, consisting of three freely combinable, steerable array modules (ICLX, ICLXL, and ICLLX) and a matching subwoofer. It is a remarkable step forward to the acoustical performance of the loudspeakers; compression drivers loaded with newly designed ASM waveguide are put coaxially in front of the 8-inch woofers. Now the scalability is almost unlimited with up to 12 modules working in one array.

The two ICLXL and ICLLX modules are an option for install applications where low-frequency control is needed rather than overall SPL output.

It is our most versatile, high-powered line array, suitable for nearly any live sound application. The X stands for X-over, a cross-over between point-source, vertical array, and beam steering product. One size fits all.

The C Series is an install-only product available in white or black finish only (subwoofers are available only in black). The product is available for immediate shipment. The T Series has the exact same physical size and components as the C Series, but it is built-to-order with all the options Renkus-Heinz is known for, including custom-color paint, weatherization, and optional handles for mobile usage.

While all spaces are not created equal, and we’d want to work with you to find the right fit—the Directivity Control or Iconyx and Iconyx Compact Series are likely your best options as they’re designed to put sound where you want it in smaller spaces. The decision is based on a few factors, including required product feature-set, size of the room, or type of application (speech reinforcement, video playback, or live sound). Our detailed specification listed on the website helps you to make an informed decision on your own. Nevertheless, we love to be part of your projects. Altogether our team brings more than 100 years of experience—please fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and we can meet with you to go over your unique space and needs to find the right loudspeaker for you.

While all spaces are not created equal, and we’d want to work with you to find the right fit—the ICONYX, ICLive or ICLive X Series are likely your best options as they’re designed to put sound where you want it in larger spaces. The decision is always made based on a few factors, like the type of application (speech, video playback and live performance to name few) or possible position of loudspeakers within the space. Our detailed specification listed on our website helps you to make an informed decision on your own. Nevertheless, we love to be part of your projects. Altogether our team brings more than 100 years of experience—please fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and we can meet with you to go over your unique space and needs to find the right loudspeaker for you.

The best starting point for such an application would be the ICLive or ICLive X series, which are truly high-output loudspeakers (with coverage consistent along the entire 30m distance, with even 105 dbA SPL) and can be mounted flat on the sides of the video wall and steered electronically. That would make the loudspeaker system disappear and be better protected against the weather. Our self-powered steerable loudspeaker has a set of features that are extremely useful in such applications, like digital Dante input, advanced system health monitoring over a network, or even redundancy within one array. Renkus-Heinz products can be weatherized into IP55.

Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers are entirely customizable—we can custom-paint them in a color that matches your space or flush-mount them to the wall, so they blend in and do not distract from your facility’s existing beautiful architecture. There have been a great number of references where our steerable products aesthetically disappear but still provide intelligible sound with output needed for the application, from a speech reinforcement to a complex live performance on stage.

Fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and we can meet with you to go over your unique space and needs to find the right loudspeaker for you.

The best method to decide on the size of the array is to use prediction software, like our propriety RHAON II or third-part EASE where room acoustics can be taken into account. As a general rule, the longer the distance to cover, the more SPL needed, or the more challenging room acoustics, the taller array needs to be. Renkus-Heinz specifies a typical coverage range and maximum SPL for each size of the array as a simple guideline.

The core benefits of beam-steering technology is that loudspeakers are mounted flat against the wall, which helps seamlessly integrate them within the space. The decision about the specific product is made after answering questions such as: What is the type of application (SPL needed)? What is the height of the video wall? What is the size of the room? What is the depth of the video wall? Can an array be deployed in the recess? The Renkus-Heinz application team would be more than happy to assist you and to guide you through the process. Send us details, and we will work with you on the best solution.

For low-ceiling applications, the ideal starting point would be the ICLive X Series—a single ICLX module featuring two 8-inch woofers and 6 compression drivers start to be directional above 750 Hz. However, putting it close to the ceiling will result in the acoustical mirror that will virtually extend low frequency (only!) to twice the size. It will not have an impact on mid-high-frequency energy where directionality allow for steering it away from the ceiling, delivering direct audio to the listeners.

Another example could be the ICLLX. The ICLLX is twice as high as the ICLX, and it is equipped with four 8-inch woofer and a high-frequency section at the bottom. The critical point is always to keep the high-frequency section at least 1ft/30cm above listeners.

Feedback is a common problem for a traditional loudspeaker put in front of the open microphone(s). Energy generated by such a sound source is typically controlled, very often poorly, only for the upper-frequency range where the compression driver is coupled with the horn. Albeit the beam steering where, if carefully designed, almost a full range beam size can be directed and steered away from the places where the microphone is. In this situation the beam of sound would be pointed above the microphones. The beam steering technology has been successfully used in many places where microphones are just in front of the walls where beam steering array is deployed, and where gain before feedback can still be impressive. It requires carefully positioning the array, but it is possible to achieve great results under the right circumstances.

The Iconyx Compact Series or Directivity Control Series are our best recommendation. These loudspeakers put the flexibility and directivity into a size that can disappear into almost any venue. However, all of our digitally steerable solutions can be custom-painted and some even flush-mounted to the wall, depending on your space. Fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and we can meet with you to go over your unique space and needs to find the right loudspeaker for you.

Yes, due to the network-friendliness of Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers, the sound system can be a part of a regular corporate IT network and managed throughout custom-designed API. This makes it possible to remotely mute/unmute, change volume, change presets, put the loudspeaker into standby, or ready the status of the device. There are other DSP and even power supply parameters that can be monitored using the IT network. For example, the log file can be written when the system is operating, and if any occurrence happens it is easier to understand the origin of such an event. The networkable loudspeaker can also be added to AV management software and be controlled globally from one place. For example, there can be a room-preset which turns on lights, video projections, power up the loudspeakers, set the right input or volume, or even recall a coverage preset (for example only when half of the room is occupied).

Beam steering loudspeakers are capable of reaching more than 105 dBA SPL at the desired distance. For example, when using the ICLive X Series, it would just be a matter of the number of modules defining the array. It is always recommended to decide on the right size of the system using our propriety RHAON software or third-party EASE. Our application team will help you with any questions about the right system size to meet the requirements.

All Renkus-Heinz self-powered loudspeakers can be networkable and can have Dante connectivity with switch-over to analog. With that in mind, there comes several additional benefits, such as third-party control. The loudspeaker can be monitored or controlled over the network by other manufacturer’s processors, like Crestron. Throughout custom-designed API, it is possible to remotely put the loudspeaker on stand-by, recall presets, change volume, trigger components health test, or simple get a status of the device. These loudspeakers can be easily integrated into the AV management software that helps to globally oversee and control AV equipment, like video screens, projectors, room-lights, cameras, microphones etc. Renkus-Heinz networkable loudspeakers can be a part of audio-video IT network using regular Ethernet devices.

Beam steerable loudspeakers in principle should generate vertically narrow beams of sound. That helps to deliver direct sound to the audience without bouncing it around the room, ceiling, floor or upper parts of the side walls. The position of such a loudspeaker in relation to the listener is one of the most critical factors. The recommended mounting height from the finished floor to the bottom of the loudspeaker is between 1.6 m to 2.5 m. Higher mounting position will lead to wider vertical dispersion needed, and that can result in compromised energy distribution. Think of the light laser—it is impossible to put light on the entire audience when pointing down, there is going to be a hot-spot only. There are other technical aspects, such as acoustical side-lobes produced as a by-product to the main lobe, to consider. The higher the mounting, the more aggressive down-steering needed, the more vertical coverage needed–that will lead to less directional beams.

The API gives the ability to write and/or read specific parameters of the self-powered loudspeaker. The end-user/maintenance engineer can be informed about the status of the network, amplifier, signal, and the transducers, all in real-time. The table below lists the main parameters available throughout the API. There can be an extra layer of remote monitoring outside the network as loudspeakers feature Fault Relay. Normally Closed or Normally Open relay report if the mains voltage drops below the operational level, if the amplifier temperature is too high, or if there is DSP failure. Once an issue occurs and it is reported to the central unit, it is easy to troubleshoot the system from there. By simply running software that keeps the log file writing on the hard drive, it is easy to understand the origin of the problem in the system and solve it.

Digital beam steering allows integrators to focus the sound where it is needed––on the audience. Vertically, sound beams are narrow—almost like a laser—and when you direct them to where they need to be, the sound avoids unwanted reflections from the ceiling, floor, or upper parts of sidewalls. This drastically reduces long reverberation tail or eliminates echoes in spaces that might have architecturally challenging elements.

RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network) software platform makes it easy to connect and network multiple power loudspeakers (-RN, -RD1, -RD) using standard Ethernet cabling and devices. As a default, no IP settings are required and every PC set to obtain IP will connect to the loudspeakers when RHAON software is launched. Our 360 degrees platform guides you to find the best settings for the application, like our new URGO beams workflow, or to control loudspeaker-specific DSP functions and supervise the entire system from one place. It is user-friendly and constantly updated based on feedback from users. We are open to any new feature suggestions—do not hesitate to send us your comments!

Short answer, absolutely! We can direct beams coming from the same loudspeaker to different sections of a multi-level audience due to the complex mathematical algorithms. It is possible to superimpose audience specific settings to generate a separated coverage beam which can be directed into different places in the room. There are some limitations to this approach, so fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and our applications team will work with you to figure out if this approach is right for your space.

It means that loudspeakers can be a part of IT networks and can be connected using standard Ethernet switches, either manageable or unmanageable. For example, our RD (RHAON and Dante-enabled) models can be given unique IP addresses and assigned to specific AV equipment VPN. This helps to keep the traffic out of the other services on the same IT network and connect to and control the loudspeakers when required.

If you’re experiencing issues with unwanted sound reflections, spoken word intelligibility, feedback, sound clarity, or you simply wanted to improve performance of the loudspeaker system and blend it unobtrusively with interior design, it might be time to look into a new  system. Digital beam steering technology can solve a lot of these problems, especially in acoustically challenging spaces.

Renkus-Heinz has weatherized audio solutions for outdoor applications, which is IP55 rated.

Subwoofers deliver lower frequencies, which means a more powerful, bass-heavy sound system that you can ‘feel’. Including a subwoofer in your sound system can enhance certain musical elements and sound effects for a better experience/performance. In order to steer the lows, the same physical applies as with steering the rest of the audio spectrum. The array needs to be at least one-wavelength tall to start to have a directionality. If you want to steer from 40 Hz upwards, your total subwoofer (array) size needs to be 8.25 m long. To help control the low-frequencies better, a subwoofer should be placed in close proximity to main array - it helps all audio waves to come from one place and to control the waves, especially when there is an energy overlap between full-range loudspeakers and subwoofer systems. Our application team can walk you through the process anytime—fill out our loudspeaker recommendation form and we can meet with you to go over your unique space and needs to find the right loudspeaker for you.

Renkus-Heinz Dante-enabled loudspeakers help with the set-up and networking of a sound system. Dante is a complete audio networking solution for high-performance audio distribution over standard IP networks. This gives manufacturers, integrators, and users alike the tools and capabilities for full interoperability. Renkus-Heinz Dante-enabled products support Dante Domain Manager that protects networks from unwanted changes, has advanced security features, and features robust user authentication and role assignment to ensure the right people can have access to the system.

The Renkus-Heinz company name is a combination of the two founders’ surnames. Harro Heinz, one of the founders, is of German descent but started the company in California.

We are proud to manufacture and assemble our products at our headquarters factory in Foothill Ranch, California, USA. Our facility includes woodshop and electronic assembly lines. Two of our product families, the C Series and UBX Series, are built to our standards by our partners overseas.

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