Optocore and Fohhn Audio are to collaborate to provide multichannel digital connectivity to the Fohhn Linea Focus series of electronically steerable loudspeakers.

In order to provide integration onto the Optocore networks, fibre specialist Optocore has created a card, while Fohhn has developed a purpose enclosure, which can be attached to the loudspeakers to provide optional input extensions. This will enable digital audio and control data to be distributed simultaneously via Cat5 or optical fibre.

‘We were looking for a solution to provide our speaker systems with a digital signal and control data; up to now we only had an analogue solution,’ says Fohhn Public Relations & Marketing Manager, Daniela Bohl. ‘We chose Optocore because they are the pioneers of that technology and there is a perfect fit between our two companies, as we are both innovation-driven and German based. These Optocore extensions will provide excellent audio quality, entire control of the speaker and facilitate reliable and redundant digital audio network.

The cards will come in fibre Optocore FX and Cat5 SANE TP versions. ‘Each card will provide two outputs to feed loudspeakers with two independent audio signals, RS485 port for control and GPIO,’ says Optocore Applications Engineering Manager, Maciek Janiszewski. ‘All these signals can be transported on single-fibre or Cat5 cable.

‘The Fibre FX version enables all speakers to operate on an Optocore fibre ring in conjunction with all other devices from the Optocore portfolio, as well as third-party products with an Optocore interface. The distance between loudspeakers can be up to 120km.’

The Cat5 Sane TP version can function as a local extension to the fibre node enabling users to build local daisy chains — with 100m between the loudspeakers.

‘Both companies will benefit from this cooperation,’ Janiszewski  says. ‘Optocore will raise its profile in the installed sound sector, especially in transportation hubs (large scale PA systems in railway stations and airports), while Fohhn will be able to offer the best signal transport solution as well as distributed routing and redundancy.’