SV-8
| Sentry SV-8 | |
| |
| Company | Sentry Siren, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Produced | 2023-Present |
| Type | Directional Electronic |
| Sound output | 110-116 dB (claimed) |
| Wattage | 4000 W |
| Voltage | 120 V AC/DC |
| Preceded by | Sentry VR |
| Documentation | Product sheet |
The SV-8 is an electronic siren produced by Sentry Siren, Inc. and is Sentry's second attempt to enter the electronic siren market. It is intended to replace the short-lived Sentry VR, which was Sentry's first electronic siren. The SV-8, like its predecessor, is designed for campus and public notification use, and competes with the ASC Clarity and similar small electronic sirens.
History and Design
The Sentry SV-8 was leaked by C and K Early Warning Systems in April 2022, with little information being released about it until the siren was released in February 2023, as Sentry's second attempt to produce an electronic siren. The SV-8 is a small electronic siren that is designed as a "Giant Voice" system, prioritizing voice clarity over raw sound output. The siren is rated by Sentry with an 0.85 - 0.95 Sound Transmission Index (STI) rating. This is slightly less than the aforementioned Sentry VR, but still higher than the siren's competition such as the Modulator II, HPSS-32 or WPS-2900. The SV-8 uses 8 500 W Neodymium hi-fi speaker drivers running on a 4000 watt amplifier, and like the Sentry VR, it uses cone speakers instead of horns to project the sound. While this allows for better voice clarity, it requires a higher voltage to get the same raw sound output as an electronic siren with horns. The SV-8 runs standard on 120 V AC, with the option for AC/DC operation on solar panels or battery backup also being available.
Each SV-8 unit has 2 B&C Pro Sound speakers on each side, which are staggered in height. The siren comes standard with 4 Class I high intensity LED strobe lights, one on each side. On two sides, the strobe is above the speakers, while on the other two sides the strobe is located below. The SV-8 is rated between 110-116 dB at 100 ft, which is rather low for the wattage the siren uses. It is likely that this siren is intended for campus use rather than as a standard public warning siren, due to its prioritization of voice clarity over sound output and overall lack of raw performance.
As of February 2023, no Sentry SV-8 units are known to have been installed, although the siren finally appeared on Sentry's website the same month, nearly a year after its original leak. A few units are known to exist as demonstrators, operated by Sentry themselves.