All Saints Church in Crowborough, East Sussex (UK) recently upgraded its sanctuary sound reinforcement system with Electro-Voice EVA (expandable vertical array) loudspeakers driven by Dynacord IPX series amplifiers.
The new system, designed and installed by local supplier Ashdown Audio Visual, provides the church’s 600-member congregation and musicians with added sonic clarity during services. The church had been suffering from a common problem – an aging system that was past its best, turning to Ashdown Audio Visual to help with a solution.
After sampling several brands in the space, Electro-Voice was the choice of both system company and the church. “When the EV system went in, it sounded so natural, straight out of the box,” says Mark Willets, senior engineer for Ashdown Audio Visual. “We didn’t even have to process it at first and it just sounded fantastic.”
Two EVA 2082S-906 line array modules deliver coverage across the length of the room, joined by EVA 2151D subwoofer and ZX1i loudspeakers for both in fill and as a monitor system for the choir. The loudspeakers are driven by Dynacord IPX series amplifiers, with an IPX10:4 powering the tops and subs and an IPX5:4 for the fills and monitors. Dynacord SONICUE sound system software was used to tune the system, completing the setup.
While sound quality was the main priority, the aesthetics of the new system were also important. As such, it was decided that the white version of the EVA loudspeakers were the best choice to blend into the existing architecture. “When we look at a project like this, we take into consideration the architectural surroundings,” explains Arthur Archard, sales consultant, Electro-Voice and Dynacord. “We consider what would fit not only acoustically, but also visually.”
The church has expressed satisfaction with the final result. “I’m a preacher, and I believe that what I say has got to be heard,” concludes Steve Reece, vicar at All Saints Church. “Thanks to the new sound system, the congregation can finally hear that message. It’s made a massive difference. We want people to be able to see, and hear, really clearly – it’s fundamental to what we do every Sunday.”
