Over the past four years, Soundfield Voice Reinforcment in the classroom has seen significant growth in the UK, thanks both to a high profile campaign of 'educating the educators' through exhibitions and conferences and also due to education budget increases, Building Schools for the Future and the publication of the Government's white paper on improved acoustics in the classroom - Building Bulletin '93.
CIE-Group's existing 'i-ceilings' Soundfield packages which feature some of the most advanced and appropriate audio technology for this application have now been joined by the introduction of the 'IRX' system as part of CIE's new Clever Little Box UK-manufactured product range.
The new Soundfield IRX Kit has been developed for retrospective classroom installations and rooms without suspended ceilings and features a newly developed wallmount combination amplifier / mic receiver coupled with FBT Studio 2 wallmount loudspeakers.
This more 'conventional' soundfield system allows an even greater flexibility of the range, providing for all types of classrooms and teaching areas, says the company. Like all of CIE's soundfield systems, the new IRX again relies on the flexible functionality of infrared wireless microphone technology. Unlike VHF/UHF which is limited in channels and licence issues, infrared is both lower cost and benefits from the 'limitations' of walls. As a light-based transmission technology, the microphone signal remains within the confines of the room, allowing a limitless number of adjacent rooms to feature a soundfield system without conflict.
Designed to be completely safe and child-friendly, the IRX wallmount amplifier/IR receiver unit also features additional line/mic inputs and tone/level controls per channel, whilst remaining extremely tamper-proof against 'wandering hands'.
IRX Soundfield also allows for integration of induction loop and personal hearing assistance systems, to further enhance voice coverage for all levels of hearing in the classroom environment.
(Jim Evans)
