Las Vegas. Powersoft contributed immersive haptic technology and state-of-the-art amplification solutions that are being used at Sphere, the new next-generation event center in Las Vegas.
Powersoft's technology is built into the venue's 10,000 haptic seats and as part of Sphere Immersive Sound powered by Holoplot, the world's most advanced concert-quality audio system.
"Sphere Immersive Sound has set a new standard in all aspects of live audio, and tens of thousands have already immersed themselves in its crisp, individualized sound," said David Dibble, CEO of MSG Ventures, a division of Sphere Entertainment. "And last weekend, with the premiere of Darren Aronofsky's The Sphere Experience with Postcard from Earth, visitors, for the first time, experienced a truly multi-sensory haptic experience. Powersoft's state-of-the-art, energy-efficient technology made them the perfect partner to help achieve our sustainability goals without compromising audio quality or tactile feel."
Developed specifically for Sphere's unique curved interior, Sphere Immersive Sound features 167,000 channels of amplification provided by Powersoft's ultra-high-efficiency 16-channel compact amplifier solutions that are integrated into the venue's Holoplot X1 audio system.
MSG Ventures, which develops innovative technologies and content exclusively for Sphere, partnered with Powersoft to leverage its ultra-high-efficiency amplifier solutions that achieve approximately 40 percent energy savings compared to traditional amplifiers, minimizing environmental impact without compromising sound quality.
Sphere's Holoplot X1 audio system leveraged Powersoft's energy-efficient innovations, including its Power Factor Correction (PFC) and Class D PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), two technologies that have directly reduced the environmental impact of the AV industry. The benefits produced by the adoption of PFC technology include energy savings and a lower carbon footprint (CO2 equivalent emissions) of approximately 40 percent compared to amplifiers without power factor correction for the same output. At the same time, Powersoft's PWM technology transforms energy drawn from Sphere's power grid into usable energy that recycles reactive energy returning from its speakers.
In addition to the 16-channel amplifiers built into Sphere's Holoplot X1 Matrix Array, Powersoft provided the patented IPAL (Integrated Powered Adaptive Loudspeaker) technology used in the X1 system's subwoofers. An IPAL-equipped system offers unprecedented acoustic performance and complete control of sound system reproduction, regardless of load and acoustic conditions.
A key component of The Sphere Experience that makes audiences feel transported to another world, Sphere's 10,000 haptic seats are integrated with Powersoft's infrasound system. Powersoft Mover is the company's revolutionary compact transducer that uses haptic feedback to give event attendees a more compelling and realistic experience, engaging the senses beyond visual and auditory stimulation. Powersoft's patented moving magnet technology is more durable, accurate and efficient, and relies on an audio signal with ultra-low frequency reproduction to make the chairs vibrate and shake as desired for each performance. To accompany the infrasound haptic system, Powersoft also supplied 2,500 audio channels for the seats, provided by 718 Powersoft Quattrocanali amplifiers.
