A new sound reinforcement system at the football stadium at New Caney Independent School District (ISD) in Montgomery County, TX is headed by Electro-Voice and Dynacord components in a project by Brent Thornhill and his team from Southwest Building Systems (SBS), who specialize in high-school stadium AV applications.
The installation employs new MTS high-output point-source loudspeakers – the largest and loudest models ever produced by Electro-Voice. SBS was also responsible for the previous Electro-Voice and Dynacord installation at New Caney ISD about a decade ago.
“The previous sound system served us very well; it was over 10 years old and had been outside through all sorts of extreme weather situations,” explains Grant Pappas, marketing and multimedia director at New Caney ISD. “Ten years of Texas heat is a challenge for anything. The fact that it lasted as long as it did is a testament to Electro-Voice products. When we heard the MTS demo, we knew that would be our next system.”
Soon after the demo, the scoreboard also started showing its age, and the decision was made to upgrade the audio and video systems simultaneously. The form factor and output-power density of MTS also freed-up space for the integration of a new 16:9 widescreen LED scoreboard in the existing enclosure. Integrated alongside the new display, the three-unit MTS system provides audio coverage across both the stadium and the field.
“The previous system had vertically arrayed speakers and subs on the left and right sides of the scoreboard,” Pappas continues. “They were angled to cover the home and away bleachers but didn’t provide field coverage. The new design mounted three MTS loudspeakers left-center-right on top of the new scoreboard, which not only freed up the real estate needed for a larger digital scoreboard, but also provided coverage for both stands and the field. It was a win-win for everyone. The new scoreboard is bigger and better, and the sound quality is far superior to the old system.”
The MTS-4153-64FWB weatherized versions selected for New Caney ISD are three-way loudspeakers with a 60 x 40-degree coverage pattern. Each unit combines four 15-inch woofers with dual coaxial mid/high compression drivers via a single waveguide, in a design focused on cohesive output with a strong bass response. The loudspeaker is stated to generate more than 151 dB peak SPL with directivity for long-throw applications. Meanwhile, low-end support is provided by three weatherized X12-128-FGB dual 18-inch subwoofers.
MTS’s combination of long, focused throw with low-frequency pattern control positioned them as a way to address the specific architectural and acoustical challenges at New Caney ISD, some of which came about as a result of new construction since the previous system was put into place, including a three-story field house. The pattern control of MTS has proved to address problems with echo and reflection and has also enabled the use of live microphones on the field.
“One of the most pleasant surprises was the coverage,” adds Brandon Harvey, AV coordinator at New Caney ISD. “We could position the loudspeakers to provide coverage exactly where it was needed. As a result, we have addressed the acoustic challenges. We used to have significant slap-back from the homestand to the community room – not anymore. It’s terrific”
The loudspeakers are powered, monitored and controlled utilizing electronics and software from Dynacord, in the form of IPX20:4 (4 x 5000 watts) DSP Class-D amplifiers, rack mounted in the press room. The IPX amps are equipped with OMNEO IP networking architecture, enabling Dante and OCA/AES70. They deliver 96 kHz audio with a stated 118 dB signal-to-noise ratio, and are outfitted with patented technologies for enhanced energy efficiency and system protection.
The previous system already utilized a Dynacord MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine along with a TPC-1 touch panel controller and SONICUE Sound system software providing a digital interface that’s easier to use than an analog mixing board. It also suits a range of user groups, from the production needs of the media director to music playback and coach announcements at football practice. The new IPX-powered system was deployed using the existing cable runs, mitigating the loss over 300 meters of cabling between the press box and scoreboard.
“When it was fully installed, Electro-Voice sent a technician to tune and EQ the system,” concludes Harvey. “That was the icing on the cake. It was hard to believe that he could make it sound better than it already did. The entire experience was terrific from start to finish.”
