REPRINTED FROM AUGUST, 2005
First Look
WWW.PROAUDIOREVIEW.COM
BY WAYNE BECKER
QSC ISIS WideLine Array
Loudspeaker System
in touring and installed sound for section for attendees. The WideLine arrays
SC has widely been known for their
power amplifiers. Their reliable and
accurate sound has been a mainstay
Q
decades. However within the past two years, were hoisted to both sides of the stage area
QSC has made a bid for their place in the loud- sporting eight array modules along with subs
speaker market, coming out with some very on both sides. The frequency response
good, cost effective designs. One of their latest seemed to be very consistent and the pattern
designs, the ISIS WideLine array has opened control was well controlled from the front of
to a critical audience of audio professionals.
the room to the back of the room. The hori-
The design objective for the WideLine zontal response was very even and articulated
array as stated by QSC is “To design a com- throughout the coverage pattern. Even though
pact system that would perform as a larger the room presented a delay off of the back
system in terms of power handling, frequency wall, the stack still presented a clear and
response and coverage. The primary focus is unmarred direct field presence.
to be on the regional corporate user in ball-
What I liked immediately about the sound
room situations, theaters and the myriad of of the WideLine is that it didn’t have a “hyped”
small to medium size events that confront high end, but rather a smooth midrange transi-
such users daily.”
tioning to a clean but not overly bright top end.
And recently, I had a chance to demo the Although not overbearing, I did notice a bit of
ISIS WideLine arrays at the Trump Taj Mahal “tubbiness” in the lower midrange, I attributed
Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New that to the room. Overall I was impressed with
Jersey. The demo was held in the main ball- the wide horizontal coverage and linear and
rooms A&B along with the entire line up of even transition of frequency response as I
the latest QSC installed sound offerings. moved to different seating locations from the quick set-up and quality sound are required.
QSC did it up right with a full live rig includ- front to the back of the room and from side to
THE PRODUCT
ing a Yamaha DM2000 digital mixing con- side between arrays. The roll off of the pattern
sole, a host of outboard effects and of course was decisive as well. The intelligibility was
The ISIS WideLine Array is made of a
QSC power amps and loudspeaker processors good, even in this less-than-ideal acoustical lightweight composite cabinet, and comes
all running under the control of their setting. I was also impressed with the mid- in black or white finish with an optional
QSControl.net platform software, Venue range frequency shading demonstration. It weatherized version (black only) and
Manager. And not only did they have various seemed to make a noticeable difference in the weighs about 70 pounds. Its multiple aper-
program material, but they had an entire live response and behavior of the array. Although I ture diffraction slot waveguide provides a
band made up of piano, drums, upright bass, would have liked to do a few more tests with a wide dispersion of 140 degrees horizontal
guitar and vocalist.
male and female speaking voice, the live sound and 10 degrees vertical. It also provides
The room roughly 150 feet x 150 feet was of the vocalist and the program material of var- three-way, biamp or triamp design with
mostly empty, had plush carpeted floors, stuc- ious artists (I selected the CDs) certainly pro- selectable frequency shading between the
co walls and some moveable partitions, your vided me with enough proof that these arrays enclosure’s two woofers, which are 10-
basic huge conference room. A few chairs are certainly a good solution for this type of inch, 16-ohm long excursion, high power
were set up in front of the room in the middle environment and other stage settings where (380 watts), low-frequency transducers.
Copyright 2005 JRS Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
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