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A perspective of the renovated Bob Martinez Athletics Center at the University of Tampa, which has been equipped with a new sound reinforcement system incorporating Danley SH69 loudspeakers and a BC412 subwoofer.

Danley Sound Labs Drives Sonic Upgrade At University Of Tampa Arena

Integration firm AvTek implements a new system with SH69 full-range loudspeakers serving as mains joined by a BC412 subwoofer at 3,400-seat Bob Martinez Athletics Center.

A recently completed renovation of the 3,400-seat Bob Martinez Athletics Center at the University of Tampa (Florida) includes a new sound reinforcement system implemented by regional AV integration firm AvTek utilizing Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers and supporting components.

“Over the years, we’ve had a few sound systems in the Martinez Gym and they’ve all been terrible,” says Scott Gossen, Senior Project Manager for the University of Tampa. “Announcements were boomy and indecipherable. You couldn’t understand anything that was being said – not the players’ names, not the details of a foul, or even that the ref was announcing a foul.

“Honestly, there was almost no point in even making the announcements, which was a shame since we typically have a whole production crew to broadcast the game,” Gossen continues. “At 30 feet, the ceiling is relatively low, and you can tell that someone put acoustic panels in ages ago to try to deal with the echo. If it was helping, it wasn’t helping enough.”

AvTek, based in Clearwater, FL, implemented a system with Danley SH69 full-range loudspeakers serving as mains joined by a Danley BC412 subwoofer, all driven by Danley DNA-series amplifiers. “The Martinez Center’s old system was a poor design for the space,” explains AvTek Engineer Geoff Alvarez, who had attempted to fix the university’s prior problems within the constraints of its old sound system. “It had outdoor speakers, not enough processing, and not enough amplifier channels. I couldn’t improve an aspect in one zone without ruining some other aspect in another zone. Shortly after that experience, I heard Danley loudspeaker technology at InfoComm in Orlando. The Danley phase and frequency response was incredible: I could clearly hear every note in the spectrum.”

Specifically, Alvarez utilized 12 SH69 full-range loudspeakers to cover both sides of the court, grouped in three clusters of two per side. Three more SH69s fire straight down to cover the north, center, and south positions above the court. Two 10,000-watt, eight-channel DNA 10k8 Pro amplifiers to power the mains, while the BC412 sub that’s positioned above center court is driven by a bridged 20,000-watt, four-channel DNA 20k4 Pro amplifier.

“From an install standpoint, the Danley boxes were passive, relatively compact for their output, and required only one amp channel per box,” Alvarez says. “I felt Danley might provide the long-sought-after solution that was needed at the University of Tampa.” He used the onboard DSP and model-specific presets pre-loaded in theDNA amplifiers as starting points when he tuned the system and employed Rational Acoustics Smaart optimization software for time alignment.

“A lot of our athletes pour a ton of time into their craft outside of formal games and practices,” Gossen adds. “AvTek installed a tie-in for the students so they can play music through the system from their phones. It’s super flexible and makes practicing and hanging out with teammates an even more enjoyable experience.”

“This Danley installation was the easiest that I’ve ever experienced,” Alvarez concludes. “One amp channel per box; one cable per box; and custom rigging from Polar Focus. (Danley) built custom yokes that bolt each cluster of two together in a u-bracket that bolts to the steel on the gym ceiling. We were also blown away that we had to remove a dozen amplifiers (that weren’t even enough) and replaced them with just three amplifiers that are delivering more than enough power to keep the system well below the point at which it would start to sweat. The Danley system just worked as advertised; I look forward to selling another one.”

Danley Sound Labs

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