JBL Professional by HARMAN introduces new VLA Compact Series

New Line Array Delivers VLA-Quality Performance and Out-of-the-Box Weather Protection for Small to Mid-Sized Stadiums and Arenas

HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in networked audio, video, lighting and control systems, today introduced the JBL Professional VLA Compact Series line array solution.

Built upon the industry-leading capabilities of the JBL Variable Line Array (VLA) Series of long-throw line arrays, the new VLA Compact Series offers the same performance quality in a more compact, outdoor-ready solution for use in any large venue, from small- to mid-sized stadiums and arenas to larger venues where speakers are mounted a long distance from the listener.

“The customer response to the JBL VLA Series continues to be incredible, which is why they are in use in some of the world’s most prestigious venues,” says Kevin Brown, Sports Venues Solutions Manager at HARMAN Professional Solutions. “The new VLA Compact Series takes those capabilities and builds on them, providing a compact, versatile solution that is perfect both for smaller-sized stadiums as well as use in distributed clusters in arenas, domed stadiums and larger performance spaces.”

VLA Compact is designed specifically for permanent installation applications requiring even coverage, high intelligibility and audio levels capable of overcoming crowd noise. As a fundamental design element, VLA Compact Series offers large format horn-loaded modules to provide broad bandwidth horizontal directivity and an increase in sensitivity.

To drive the superior performance of the VLA Compact Series, the full-range models include dual 10” low frequency drivers featuring HARMAN’s patented Differential Drive® technology, with 65° and 100° horizontal coverage options available. A subwoofer with dual 15” Differential Drive® woofers is also available. Because the VLA Compact is intended for outdoor use, the speakers also include weather protection out of the box, with an IP55-rated fiberglass enclosure and steel end panels.

“The JBL VLA Series is simply the industry’s best combination of performance and cost, and now it’s available in a small package that is perfect for a number of new applications,” says Iain Gregory, Director, Large Venue Customer Solutions at HARMAN Professional Solutions. “This is yet another example where HARMAN is not only leading innovation, but is also taking that innovation and bringing it to the widest range of solutions possible, providing solutions that are flexible yet purpose-built to the unique challenges our customers face.”

HARMAN is showing the JBL Professional VLA Compact Series in Stand #1-F10 at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2018.