PanBeam is a range of steerable beam loudspeaker columns designed and manufactured in Germany by Pan Acoustics GmbH. The PanBeam range of steerable beam column speakers or digital steerable array column loudspeakers boasts a wealth of technical innovation and are well placed in the market on price and performance making them the ideal choice in many instances. There are models that suit most applications and they are well engineered and are manufactured to very high standards. The PB08 base model is ideally suited to speech and/or background music applications whilst the PB216 model and derivatives with their larger drivers and more powerful amplifiers are the best choice for music reproduction and will of course handle speech with ease.

Steerable Beam Technology

You may be wondering what steerable beam loudspeakers are and why they are needed? Simply put a steerable beam loudspeaker has the ability to shape the radiation pattern of the loudspeaker to form a beam of sound which has wide horizontal dispersion but is tightly controlled in the vertical plane.This is achieved by a mixture of physical characteristics of the column speaker coupled with advanced use of digital signal processing techniques. The resulting energy radiation looks like this:

PanBeam energy plot - straight beam

PanBeam energy plot - downward beam

So why is this important?

In highly reverberant spaces it is important for intelligibility purposes to minimise acoustic reflections e.g. from walls and ceilings and to concentrate the sound energy where it is needed i.e. on the audience or listener. Less acoustic energy reflected back equates to better intelligibility, this is especially so in highly reverbant spaces such as large churches, railway stations, malls etc. PanBeam allows the energy to be directed to exactly where it is needed resulting in improved intelligibility and a more pleasing listening environment. PanBeam also produces a consistent sound pressure level (SPL) over large areas which has the advantage of reducing the number of speakers required to cover a particular area (compared with conventional columns).

Reasons to use a PanBeam solution

• The main benefit of a PanBeam® digitally steerable array column speaker is that it directs the sound onto the audience and minimises reverberation which increases intelligibility
• With our multi-lobe technology multiple beams of sound can be targeted at specific audience locations e.g. the stalls and the upper tier and reduces the number of speakers required
• PanBeams have a small footprint and can be colour matched making them visually unobtrusive and ideal for use in architecturally sensitive location
• PanBeams are suitable for use in fixed locations or for portable use
• PanBeams are easy to set up and use
• With their inbuilt DSP and amplification PanBeams are truly 'plug and play

...and many more!!

PanBeam Features

All models feature:

• Integral signal processing (DSP) and digital amplifiiers. Each driver has its own power amplifier.
• Vertical coverage pattern adjustable to fit the audience area -controlled from intuitive Windows based real time software. Results in improved intelligibility.
• Multi-lobe technology - smaller units may be configured to produce 2 separate sound beams and longer columns may be configured for up to 4 separate beams, this reduces the number of speakers required saving you money.
• Audio DSP processing for control of the vertical beam, the opening and elevation angles, the focus distance and an advanced 5-band parametric equaliser.
• Electronic driver protection, to prevent overload and possible failed drivers.
• High speech intelligibility even in highly reverberant or noisy environments.
• Slim compact design - the units are visually unobstrusive.
• Wide horizontal dispersion.
• RS485 networking for central control of a PanBeam network and simple upload of configuration and software
• Audio is transmitted over Cat5 cable for flexible cabling options.
• User-friendly Windows software to control all parameters.
• Media bus control - enables control of sub-woofer from the control software.
• Electronic surveillance - provides early warning of impending failures.
• Mounting options for fixed installation and portable use for ultimate flexibility.
• CATT Acoustic and EASE simulation data available enabling full modelling of performance in given environments.
• Suitable for use as part of an EN 60849 voice evacuation system.
• Affordable compared against similar products.
• Engineered and manufactured in Germany for excellent build quality.

Why choose PanBeam?

After comparing our products with other leading products we found the difference to be both measurable and acoustically definable. PanBeam is by far the lightest model in the directional sound system scene and boasts low standby power requirements. The loudspeakers are generally all weather (IP54) and are finished to high European standards, guaranteeing consistent high quality in all our products. All PanBeam digital steerable array appliances are put through a 100% burn in test. The musical and playback qualities are precise and the genuine reproduction of sound makes the PanBeam system something that even the acoustic layman will enjoy. Simple to configure and use.

Configuring and using PanBeam

PanBeam is extremely easy to configure and use which is a direct result of the effort taken to produce intuitive, real time Windows based software. To put it into perspective it is possible to set-up a PanBeam speaker and have it working within 10 minutes of arriving at a venue.

One of the great strengths of PanBeam is the ease with which the audience areas are defined and then the sound beams mapped onto the audience area. Better still is the ability to change the beams in real time. Thus if the installer is seated in the audience area he may make fine adjustments to the beam(s) and hear the results as they are made.

Up to 5 preset configurations may be stored making it very easy to switch between different set-up requirements. Of course for larger installations a more precise methodology may be required and to this end PanBeam may be modelled in EASE and CATT Acoustic simulation packages.

Applications

Here is a list of applications for which PanBeams are ideally suited but the list is by no means exhaustive:

• Churches
• Museums
• Railway stations
• Airports
• Conference facilities
• Lecture halls
• Shopping malls
• Fill or delay in larger installations
• Rental
• Voice evacuation systems to EN 60849

About Pan Acoustics

Pan Acoustics was founded in 2002 and has grown to be a leading force in digital audio technology. Pan Acoustics have made it their target to utilise the latest technological methodology to bring innovative and advanced acoustic products to market. Pan Acoustics possesses a wealth of technical "know how"covering areas such as DSP development, wireless solutions, software programming, micro controller and hardware development all brought together in the PanBeam products.