A recent sound system upgrade at the 660-seat theater at South Windsor High School (in Windsor, CT) utilizes Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers specified by KJR Engineering (audio consultant on the project) and installed by integrator DNR Laboratories.
“The previous audio system in the facility had very little directionality in the vertical plane which caused intelligibility issues,” explains Bobby Kuhl, President and Senior Audio Engineer at KJR Engineering. “If you hit a snare drum on stage it came back to you just as loud. It wasn’t pretty. Further, there was a challenging mounting environment around the stage. We really only had a few specific areas where we could install the loudspeakers.”
The installation includes two Renkus-Heinz ICLive XL modules, utilizing the company’s patented steerable array technology, positioned on both sides of the stage to cover the majority of the space. They’re joined by two Renkus-Heinz ICLX118S subwoofers in a central flown position above the stage in a cardioid end-fire arrangement that’s designed to minimize the energy of the subs on stage. In addition, three Renkus-Heinz CX62 two-way Complex Conic loudspeakers were added to deliver coverage to the front few rows of the theater.
The system also employs Audinate Dante for audio-over-IP connectivity throughout, connecting to a QSC Q-SYS Core 110F for audio distribution as well as both AV-over-IP native and third-party control over the entire system. A QSC CXD4.5Q amplifier powers the CX62 front fills.
Jereme Martineau, Director of Choral Studies and Theater Management at South Windsor High School, said the space will be used for many events ranging from meetings where speech intelligibility will be key to musical performances. “I can’t wait for students to return so we can hear actual performances in here,” he adds. “My competition-level show choir is 50 students who are singing and dancing with professional lighting and a live rock band. This system is going to bring that event to another level. I am still amazed we got this level of quality and coverage from just a few speakers.”
Kuhl notes that he has confidence the system will perform in every situation, also pointing out the hands-on support provided by the company. “Joe Fustolo from Renkus-Heinz came out to commission the system specifically for the space and when he was done the sound was just astonishing,” he says. “Everyone who hears this system is super impressed.”
Don Gamsjager, president of DNR Laboratories, concludes, “The support from Renkus-Heinz really is second to none. This isn’t like what you see with other manufacturers where they just ship you product. Renkus-Heinz is there to support you every step of the way. And the result is symphonic. I am blown away by the SPL of the PA, the coverage and the actual dynamic range. Every seat receives the same performance. It’s a rich, warm sound that is both impressive and mighty from a small cabinet. I know we will be specifying these in more projects going forward.”
