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Peer Review- Martin Audio W8LM/W8LMD Line Arrays

I like the size and weight, high output, and smooth performance of the Martin W8LM and W8LMD line arrays.

Peer Review- Martin Audio W8LM/W8LMD Line Arrays

I like the size and weight, high output, and smooth performance of the Martin W8LM and W8LMD line arrays.

Peer Reviewer:Curtis Kelly, CTS, AV designer and integrator, Delicate Electronic Sales Inc., Camarillo, California. Delicate Productions and its wholly owned subsidiary Delicate Electronic Sales Inc. provides sound and full lighting and visual production support for corporate, sporting, and entertainment industry events, as well as installed sound, lighting, and video systems.

My Pick:

Martin W8LM and W8LMD Mini Line Array and Mini Downfill Line Array, $3,989 and $4,299 MSRP respectively

MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS

W8LMD

W8LM

Type: Three-way, compact line array element

Frequency Response: 60 Hz to 18 kHz ± 3 dB

Drivers (LF + MF Section): 8-inch/2-inch voice coil, reflex-loaded direct radiator; 8-inch/2-inch voice coil, neodymium driver, front horn loaded, rear reflex loaded

Drivers (HF Section): 2 × 1-inch exit HF compression drivers, horn loaded

Rated Power: 400 W AES, 1,600 W peak (LF + MF); 75 W AES, 300 W peak (HF); 400 W AES, 1,600 W peak (passive) Sensitivity: 100 dB (LF + MF); 106 dB (HF); 99 dB rising to 105 dB at HF (passive)

Max. SPL (Calculated @ 1 m): 125 dB continuous, 131 dB peak (LF + MF); 125 dB continuous, 131 dB peak (HF); 124 dB continuous, 130 dB peak (passive)

Nominal Impedance: 12 ohms (LF + MF); 12 ohms (HF); 12 ohms (passive)

Dispersion (6 dB): 100 degrees horizontal (down to 800 Hz), 7.5 degrees vertical, 120 degrees horizontal (down to 700 Hz) @ -10 dB

Crossover: 300 Hz passive, 2.2 kHz active or passive

Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.4 × 9.6 × 15.8 inches

Weight (Including Rigging Hardware): 64 pounds

Type: Three-way, mini vertically arrayable enclosure

Frequency Response: 60 Hz to 18 kHz ± 3 dB

Drivers (LF + MF Section): 8-inch /2-inch voice coil, reflex-loaded direct radiator, 8-inch/2-inch voice coil, neodymium driver, front horn loaded, rear reflex loaded

Drivers (HF Section): 2 × 1-inch exit HF compression drivers, horn loaded

Rated Power: 400 W AES, 1,600 W peak (LF + MF); 75 W AES, 300 W peak (HF); 400 W AES, 1,600 W peak (passive)

Sensitivity: 99 dB (LF + MF); 104 dB (HF); 98 dB rising to 103 dB at HF (passive)

Max. SPL (Calculated @ 1 m): 124 dB continuous, 130 dB peak (LF + MF); 123 dB continuous, 129 dB peak (HF); 123 dB continuous, 129 dB peak (passive)

Nominal Impedance: 12 ohms (LF + MF); 12 ohms (HF); 12 ohms (passive)

Dispersion (6 dB): 120 degrees horizontal (down to 750 Hz), 20 degrees vertical, 140 degrees horizontal (down to 650 Hz) @ -10 dB

Crossover: 300 Hz passive, 2.2 kHz active or passive; shading control switch, rear mounted

Dimensions (WxHxD): 24.4 × 11.2 × 15.8 inches

Weight (Including Rigging Hardware): 66 pounds

What I Like About It:

I like the size and weight, high output, and smooth performance of the Martin W8LM and W8LMD line arrays. Their sound quality is well matched with other products in the line, including the Martin W8LC line array. This particular box solves many logistical problems that can often be found in system designs where size vs. output and dispersion are an issue.

I Would Change:

Some of the welded nuts on the install versions of the W8LM and W8LMD cabinets weren’t correctly aligned with the adjacent cabinet rigging bar, which caused some problems while securing the provided bolts to the next cabinet.

Where I Used It:

I used an array of five W8LM series line arrays, three W8LMs, and two W8LMDs at the Saratoga Federated Church in Saratoga, CA. I provided the sound, lighting, and video system, which resulted in a complete AV redesign and installation for the project.

My Results:

In this project, the Martin W8LM and W8LMD line arrays were the perfect solutions to the church’s challenge. Used as a center cluster in the sanctuary, the cluster of five W8LMs is flown above the wood trusses in the sanctuary’s open beam ceiling. The W8LM’s compact size and smooth, wide dispersion properties made this possible.

Also, incorporating the W8LMD into the array for the bottom two boxes allowed the design to use fewer boxes while still covering the necessary areas and remaining within the weight limitations for rigging.

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