CPD 18 VALTEC

With the KS CPD 18 and its smaller sister CPD 14, KS AUDIO has created two tools that belong as main speaker systems in every important venue. They are not just very good all-rounders, KS AUDIO proves that you can get maximum musicality, perfect impulse response and more than excellent speech transmission (STI) out of a single system.

At the latest after reading the test report in Production Partner 9/2020, in which none other than Prof. Dr. Anselm Goertz takes a very critical look at the CPD 18, one should understand that KS AUDIO has created a masterpiece with the CPD 18 that is second to none. He sums up his conclusion in two sentences: "Everything was just right, down to the smallest detail. Neutrality, imaging, precision and everything else was exactly on point, as one would expect from a very good studio monitor. The difference, however, is that the CPD 18 can do it all at PA volume.”

Anyone familiar with loudspeakers knows that this cannot be achieved by using only the best loudspeakers in combination with a perfect system configuration. KS AUDIO does not only focus on a 7 channel active amplifier with the best audio quality (3kWpeak) but especially the unrivalled 7 channel FIRTEC™ controller gives the CPD 18 its perfect linearity.

In principle, the FIRTEC™ controller works very simply. By creating a little space “in time”, result a latency of 6 ms, it becomes possible to correct various problems occurring in the time domain. These are not only time-allignment differences between the components themselves, but relate to the entire frequency band of the loudspeaker including all electronic components and the enclosure. Each CPD 18 is individually measured so that it is a perfect match. Even if they are purchased at a later time. The system is thus seen as a whole and can even be measured on site using the same technique so that CPD 18 is seen as a whole with the room. 

Based on all of the above, the CPD 18 is already the only right tool, but KS AUDIO didn’t finish developing it, and we’re taking it one step further:

BEAM-STEERING: VALTEC™ 

By using two sets of acoustic lenses between the driver and the cylindrical wave shaper, KS AUDIO has succeeded in making the vertical dispersion variable in both beam angle and tilt angle. The beam angle is variable between 0° and 30°, while the tilt angle is variable between 15° upwards and 15° downwards.

By the way, the angle of all other drivers is adjusted electronically to match the angle of the mechanical adjustment of the driver-waveguide unit.

The construction of the sound displacement in the VALTEC™ lenses and the wave-guide of the high frequency emitter and its electromechanical vertical alignment is unique. The result is an even dispersion angle, continuing over the entire frequency bandwidth even down to the crossover point, where no dips and peaks can be observed. The great advantage of VALTEC™ is that the high frequency range unit can be precisely aimed at the audience without sidelobs. This results in fewer reflections and thus more direct energy. As the VALTEC™ angle is set via a menu setting on the back of the CPD 18, the angle can be easily adjusted if the room layout is different, e.g. if only the front part of the room is used.

Another advantage is that you can use multiple CPD 18s without negative overlap in the vertical range. If you have experience with multiple speakers in a room, even line arrays, you know how deadly the comb filter effect is to sound quality; with VALTEC™ this is a thing of the past.

As already mentioned, the dispersion of the LF and MF ranges is electronically adjusted to the setting selected via the menu. In this case, electronic beam-steering is used. In the wavelength range in which these speakers operate, there is no danger of producing side-lobes.

If you are looking for a speaker system for a small club, a conference room, theatres, houses of worship - in short, anywhere where audio quality is most important - the CPD 18 is the only logical choice. But also as a studio monitor, the CPD 18 is a correct choice. Due to the design and variable beam-steering, the point source character is astonishingly high, despite the 13 different reproducers. This makes the CPD 18 not only an extremely good mastering monitor but also beats many near-field monitors in terms of imaging and precision.

13 speakers, 7 amplifiers, 7 DSP channels, FIRTEC™ controlled and VALTEC™ beam-steering all housed in a compact cabinet with a slim silhouette, it is almost impossible but you will be positively amazed how affordable CPD 18 is and what it can do for you!