“It took a few moments to explain to the subcontractors how the Polar Focus rigging equipment worked, and it just went together like a breeze,” Jensen explains. “When you have a mirror-image cluster, you know exactly what angles to set the Zbeams at, and it was just a dream to hang this rig. It was so much easier.

“The Polar Focus equipment was delivered on time,” he continues. “I also appreciated the amount of detail that Polar Focus provided, making sure I had all the information needed and being there to answer whatever questions I had. Safety is the primary concern.”

He notes that total elapsed work time for flying the entire cluster (excluding breaks) didn’t exceed 12 hours, adding, “Of course, we took our time and were very cautious in what we were doing.”

The new system became necessary when a new pastor and minister of music joined West Asheville Baptist Church. They quickly found that a new sound system would be needed, one capable of supporting the increased dynamic and sound pressure level requirements of contemporary worship, including traditional and electronic music, movies, dramatic productions, and, of course, the spoken word.

Before implementing the new system, the old one had to be removed. It too had a large, central loudspeaker cluster, attached to a framework that extended below a rather expansive hole in the ceiling. B and R Audio, Jensen explains, was required to not only take out the existing cluster, but also to do away with the framework and then arrange for the hole in the ceiling to be patched with sheetrock.

After the sheetrock contractor completed this phase, small holes were cut to allow the new framework to be attached to the roof trusses. These holes are lined with PVC pipe to protect the sheetrock.

The structure containing the old cluster had been covered with grille cloth, a cosmetic option Bruce considered duplicating with the new cluster. Ultimately, however, he determined that this approach would be “somewhat unsightly. I explained that the loudspeakers would be seen in this new installation, but that they would be white and thus would blend in with the white ceiling. The church agreed to that. I have asked them since finishing the job if they are happy with it, and they have said that everyone is pleased.”


Equipment List: West Asheville Baptist Church
8 Polar Focus Zbeams (powder coated white)
9 Polar Focus Tilt Cable Kits
1 Polar Focus Custom Grid (painted white)
4 EAW AS660
5 EAW AS460
2 EAW SB250R
8 EAW JF60
1 EAW MX8750
9 QSC PLX2402
2 QSC DSP-3
1 QSC USA 900 audio power amplifier
1 QSC USA 400 audio power amplifier
1 Middle Atlantic ERK2725 with accessories
1 Middle Atlantic DWR-12-22 with accessories
1 LynTec AC power sequencer