With the LA-Stick 4x4, Voice-Acoustic has created a completely new and revolutionary species of loudspeaker: the Line-Array Stick, in short LA-Stick.
At first glance it resembles an ordinary column speaker, of which there are three types:
A basic column with a row of midrange drivers and a high-frequency waveguide either at the top or in the middle. This type of loudspeaker only finds solitary application; it cannot be variably scaled because effective coupling in the high frequency area is not possible when adding loudspeakers; they are singular sound sources.
Then there are column speakers with a continuous row of wide bands or midrange drivers. These columns can be connected to one another, but they cannot be directed. With each additional unit, the vertical directivity becomes inevitably narrower. To expand the directivity in the listener area, the boxes in a loudspeaker series are offered in a multitude of straight and bend forms. This results in a relatively high number of speaker types needed, reducing flexibility and complicating storage.
Another approach is the so-called dsp beam steering. The loudspeakers are operated in-line from top to bottom. Each transducer in the column has to have its own power amplifier channel and DSP-controller. An electric phase and time delay as well as an algorithm compiler calculate and electronically adjust the directivity. However, this technology is extremely expensive and too complicated for many users.
Large line-arrays in trapezoid-shaped boxes can be angled in order to project the narrow vertical directivity field to the listener area in a very practical way. This goal is achieved very precisely, avoiding unintended room reflections, and enhancing the amount and quality of sound.