As with several other successful high-profile sports venue projects, AVI-SPL chose a combination of EAW AX Series (longer throw) and MK Series (shorter throw) installation loudspeakers. Specifically, AX344 (45-degree by 45-degree dispersion) are mounted equidistantly on structural support beams on a line down each long side of the rectangle, providing full coverage to the bleachers at throw distances of up to 60 feet.
“When we were doing the EASE modeling, it told us that the AX344 is extremely well-behaved in terms of controlled dispersion,” Gutierrez says. “The EASE data provided by EAW also proved to be particularly accurate, which is always a plus, especially for larger-scale loudspeakers going into a reverberant space. And, the predicted behavior proved to be the reality, where literally, you can walk into and out of the edges of coverage right at the point where we thought it would be.”
Each AX344, secured with custom mounting brackets – engineered far beyond structural integrity requirements in addition to matching the aesthetics of the ceiling – is accompanied by a single EAW SB250z compact dual-15-inch-loaded, direct-radiating subwoofer. The subs are simply positioned on top of the mounting brackets, making them almost undetectable to the uninformed eye.
“Certain events, such as women’s basketball and volleyball, tend to utilize dynamic recorded tracks, so the subs are great for adding dynamic to that presentation. Men’s basketball games, however, utilize a very traditional PA approach,” Moats explains.
“We also took a page from another arena system we did in dedicating a separate channel on the console to controlling the subs so that the client can tailor them as desired. In an arena venue, there’s often a fine line between having tight, dialed-in low-frequency energy and an all-out boom, so it’s always a good idea to put an extra level of control on it.”
The two long-side upper seating regions are covered by equidistantly mounted sets EAW MK2394 mounted horizontally to stay well out of sightlines, with their 90-degree by 45-degree dispersion horns rotated to attain the desired coverage. Each set includes two loudspeakers, one coving the top half of the seating area with the other seamlessly transitioning at the halfway point and extending coverage down to the front row.
Meanwhile, each end of the court, both presenting far deeper coverage areas, are accommodated by single, tight loudspeaker groupings flown centrally. Dual AX344’s arrayed side-by-side reach the bleachers, while dual MK2394’s handle the upper seats. This is topped by a single SB250z subwoofer to bolster direct LF energy.
A few more MK2394 loudspeakers are flown individually at carefully selected positions above the floor to serve as “monitors” – offering coverage for performers in halftime shows as well as when the floor is being utilized for applications such as commencements and banquets.