Originally built in 1914, the Orpheum Theater is located in the center of downtown Flagstaff. The 650-seat space with additional standing room up to 1,000 people hosts major bands, plays, classical concerts, film screenings, community events and occasionally TV shows. After closing it’s doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre is now open and showcasing a new KF810P PA system from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW).
Scotty J., Audio Production Manager, chose the KF810P Line Array and SB818P Single 18-inch flyable subwoofers from EAW with the help of Sound Image, a full-service audio, video, theatrical lighting, control system, acoustic design and integration firm.
“Since we are a multipurpose music venue, we really needed a PA that could handle all different genres of music that encompass various different decibel levels,” says Scotty. “Ben Davis from Sound Image was instrumental in helping us find the best system for our venue.”
The new EAW PA system consists of 12 KF810P line arrays with six boxes on the left and right respectively, 12 SB818P Single 18-inch flyable subwoofers and four RSX129 2-way self-powered loudspeakers for front fills. When spec’ing the system, Davis wanted to make sure the PA could generate enough SPL from the mains and didn’t want to rely too heavily on the subs. In addition, the venue is a long rectangular space with a balcony on one end, so making sure the balcony was covered was another important factor.
While the Orpheum’s original 18-year-old PA system’s coverage was no longer adequate for the room’s design, it wasn’t ready to be silenced forever. As a result, the Orpheum donated the system, which will be traveling to Africa where it will be used on a tour of the continent, beginning its journey in Cameroon with the band Kemit.
