RCF ART 9 - should you upgrade?
Posted on: 12th August 2021
RCF have taken a giant leap with their flagship ART series speakers, choosing to completely redesign the range from the ground up to create ART 9. As the big brother to the ART 3 and 7 series, ART 9 certainly looks the part; but how much has actually changed, what’s stayed the same and is it worth the upgrade?
New Look
From the outside, virtually everything from the 3 and 7 series has changed. The cabinet now has a full-length flush grille with sleek edges, flush screws and black on black logo while the rest of the cabinet has been tightened up with sharper corners than the ART 3 and 7. This was a conscious update from the design team whose goal was to give ART 9 a clean professional look making it more accessible to the corporate events market as well as casual live events.
Size wise, the ART 9 range is pretty much in line with the ART 3 and 7 series, ranging from around 57-72cm tall and weighing in between 16-24kg. The means that ART 9 won’t take up any more space on the road and should be just as portable as any existing ART speakers you may have.
Like previous ART series speakers, ART 9 is also very easy to mount and carry with a built-in pole mount, wedge cut outs, rubber feet, M10 mounting holes and sturdy handles. All of these have also been redesigned the fit the new polished look and, while the cabinet is still made from a plastic composite, ART 9 has an extra trick up its sleeve with a new internal element called M-Brace. This connects the 4 walls of the cabinet to the amplifier, reducing deformation and enhancing acoustical dampening for a much deeper wooden sound.
New Hardware
Speaking of the amplifier, the updates continue under the hood, with an all new bi-amp 2,100W amplifier across the range which delivers up to 50% more power than previous models. Peak power is split between a brand new 700W compression driver and 1,400W woofer, with heat efficiently dissipated via the convection element at the rear. Not only does this cut down on power usage and fan maintenance, it also means ART 9 speakers operate silently at all levels.
Under the grille, the reflex ports around the horn have moved down creating a wider 100° horizontal and 60° vertical coverage which in turn minimises reflection and distortion inside the horn. The redesigned compression driver features a new voice coil and diaphragm with improved thermal resistance, energy transfer and a reduced crossover of 1,300 hertz, producing a cleaner more reliable sound than previous versions. On the other end of the spectrum, the brand new low-frequency woofer has been designed to deliver greater stability and less distortion over higher currents. This combined with advanced DSP and dynamic electronics means the drivers easily sail through RCF’s regimented stress testing giving you even more confidence to run your systems hour after hour.
New Software
On the software side, ART 9 introduces some advanced new DSP features with improved FiRPHASE algorithms and Bass Motion Control. These work together to manage and optimise sound in critical areas like low frequencies, reverb preproduction and stereo image quality. Bass Motion control also keeps your woofer from over-excursion, returning higher SPL and better-defined sound even at higher energy levels. RCF have also introduced a new True Resistive Waveguide which reduces the high-frequency distortion of a classic horn. This was achieved through several adjustments to the physical design of the horn and drivers using Finite Element Analysis, as well as the updated FiRPHASE technology. In short, a lot of work has gone into evolving the ART design to product a consistent and clear sound across the entire listening area.
So, should I upgrade to ART 9?
Well, if you’re working towards corporate events or applications where you need a clean and discrete solution, the full front grille, black on black logo and clean lines of the ART 9 are guaranteed to add a professional yet discrete layer to your productions. On the other hand, with the immense power of the new 2100W amp and advanced transducers, a selection of ART 9 speakers can pack a powerful punch for live music and performance. You could even supplement your existing stock with ART 9 turning your ART 3 or 7 into monitor speakers or using them for additional fill.
Whatever your live sound requirements, it’s safe to say that with all its premium features and competitive price, ART 9’s giant leap forward makes it a natural step up for your hire and install projects. Check out our full ART 9 feature overview on YouTube or click here to shop the range.
