A new 2,600-seat entertainment venue at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, CA is outfitted with a sound reinforcement system headed by L-Acoustics K2 arrays and K1-SB subwoofers in a design by André Pichette, the company’s senior applications engineer for installations, and integrated by the Escondido office of Sound Image.
“Clarity, coverage, and sound quality were the keys to what the clients were looking to accomplish with the theater’s sound,” says Scott Coyle, business development manager for Sound Image’s contracting division. “K Series components met all of those criteria, and more.”
The main PA in the theater, which opened with a VIP command performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, comprises a dozen K2 flown per side, each backed by four flown K1-SB subs, and complemented by four stage-stacked KS28 subs per side. Nine coaxial X8 are used to provide stage-lip front-fill, plus two more as out-fills, while nine A15i enclosures—a mix of Wide and Focus models—are paired with six KS21i subs that serve as balcony delays.
Further, nine VIP suites on the theater’s second level are each fitted with their own pair of X8, while stage monitoring is achieved via eight X12, two X15 HiQ, and two KS21 subs. A dozen LA12X and eight LA4X amplified controllers power and process all loudspeakers.
The new PA completes an entertainment environment that also include three large video walls, a broadcast-quality video control room with Panasonic cameras, and two large catwalks extending into the house for high-quality lighting and video production adaptability intended to bring audiences closer to performances.
“The idea was to make this a first-class, first-choice venue for touring shows,” says Coyle. “K Series gives us the power and sonic quality we need, with the X8 and A15i nicely providing fill coverage in the front and balcony areas. But there’s also plenty of low-frequency energy in the room, supplied by all of those flown K1-SB and stage-stacked KS28 subs. When the Peppers performed, the kick drum sounded simply awesome.”
Sound Image also recently installed L-Acoustics systems in four other areas on the property, including Rock n Brews (a Kara II/SB18/KS28 system), Tukut Lounge (Kara II/A15/SB18), Bar Bar (X8/SB15), and Aces Bar (Syva/Syva Low/KS21).
“They’re little rooms, but with a lot of PA, even if it didn’t take a lot of boxes to make that happen, just the right ones,” he says. “Everyone is excited about the sound quality across the entire site, and especially in the new theater, of course. They love having a world-class, rider-ready system in there.”
Carlos Morales, the audio lead and front of house mixer for the theater has found that the use of L-Acoustics sound systems throughout the various venues creates a consistent sonic signature for the property. “The continuity from one part of the property to the next is pretty amazing,” he says, adding, “I was here for the Red Hot Chili Peppers show and it was loud, but the system didn’t break a sweat,” he says. “There was plenty of headroom, the four double KS28 on the floor weren’t being pushed hard at all, and we still had plenty of low end.”
