Meyer Sound has announced the new self-powered HMS-15 surround loudspeaker, which will debut during CinemaCon 2014 in Las Vegas, March 25-27. Easily the most powerful in the company’s expanding line of surround loudspeakers, the HMS-15 delivers both the intensity and subtle nuances of soundtracks to every listener, without compromise.
“The HMS-15 was specifically designed for the extreme demands of today’s dynamic, multi-channel immersive sound formats,” explains Steve Shurtz, technology director for Meyer Sound’s cinema products. “Mixers can now move music and other sound elements off the screen, while still keeping the sound ethereally in front of the audience with undiminished clarity and impact. This opens up the screen for more distinct dialog and sound effects.”
The HMS-15 is designed for high-power, longer-throw applications in cinema exhibition auditoriums as well as in post-production and screening rooms. While it offers exemplary performance in 5.1 and 7.1 formats, the HMS-15 is ideally suited for the extreme demands of immersive formats such as Dolby® Atmos™ and Barco Auro. Pre-release HMS-15 units have been in use to great acclaim at Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Sound in Marin County, Calif.
Inside the cabinet, the HMS-15 houses a 15-inch long-excursion LF driver; a three-inch diaphragm HF compression driver coupled to a consistent 80° H x 50° V horn; and two-channel amplification with active crossover, driver protection, and correction for phase and frequency response. With a resultant frequency range of 50 Hz to 18 kHz and a maximum peak SPL of 133 dB (@ 1 m) with very low distortion, the HMS‑15 far exceeds the performance level of conventional, passive cinema surround loudspeakers.
The versatile HMS‑15 can be mounted on walls or ceilings at fixed or adjustable angles with the optional wall-mount brackets or U-bracket, adapting easily to the physical requirements of any surround or immersive sound format.
Although designed primarily for cinema applications, the extraordinary power and clarity of the HMS-15 also make it an effective surround loudspeaker for theatrical productions and themed spectaculars.
The HMS‑15 is available in two models. The 48 V DC version, HMS‑15, is powered by the MPS-488HP external power supply, which eliminates the need for wiring conduits while preserving the advantages of self-powered, bi-amplified loudspeaker systems. The HMS-15AC model is ideal for installations where AC power is readily available.
The HMS-15 joins a full line of Meyer Sound cinema surround loudspeakers that also comprises, in descending size, the HMS-12, HMS-10, and HMS-5.
The HMS-15AC begins shipping in July, 2014, and the 48 V DC-powered HMS-15 in October, 2014.
