Tsark: We're in the process of having a new system installed for our sanctuary. There's no convenient location even close to the speakers to locate the amps. We're looking at 110ft. of cable. Will this compromise our system performance to a noticeable degree?

Vance: In my office, I have a chart that lists the line losses for each gauge of cable for a certain distance. Some of them might be as much as 3dB loss for a long cable runs. That means that 200 watts at the amp turns into only 100 watts at the speaker. This is where powered speakers will become more popular here in the near future. You can either go to heavier cable (meaning larger gauge), or go to bigger amps, but then you lose damping at the speakers. Either way, long speaker runs are not good.

David Distler: Could you offer any comment on your view of in-ear monitors or headphone matrix mixers for church musicians?

Vance: We are designing our systems to include both in-ear monitors as well as personal monitoring systems. The personal monitor systems are mostly used for rhythm section players; in-ears are mostly used for vocalist types. We end up with a mixture of wedges, in-ears, and personal monitoring systems. Everyone can choose what works best for them as long as the budget is there to put it all in. I think there's a place for all of them.

Kevin: A contractor we're working with is recommending the Crown USM-810 for processing. Seems like a good unit, but I've also heard that the software is difficult. What's your experience?

Vance: I've used it on several projects and it works great for what it is. It has some features that other boxes don't, but it doesn't network, so we don't use it except on some of the smaller systems. As far as the software, I haven't been able to figure out the whole A-B signal flow thing myself. I've not had a use for the A-B topology.

D.M.: We have a very traditional worship space - rectangular room, high ceiling, lots of reflections - and that's not gonna change. Services are primarily spoken word with choir and organ. I can't really alter anything from an aesthetic standpoint. Recommendations? (I've been checking out line/column speakers like some of the Bose and EAW LS Series.)

Vance: My recommendation is to not guess about what to do. Find someone who can model the room on the computer and who is competent to design you a system. Make sure they understand your needs and have designed successful systems in spaces similar to yours. Listen to what they've done before. Make sure it works.

Vance (continued): Don't go out and buy some stuff and put it in unless you are confident it will work and are willing to spend your own money on fixing it if it doesn't. That's what I recommend. It's usually not about the speakers you use; it’s almost more about how you use them

Larry: Can you put a fine point on this: we are moving more and more to music, electronic, in our services. I'm considering the possibility of a left-center-right system, thinking we get the best of both in terms of speech intelligibility and full-range music. Your thoughts?