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Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Brings New Tradition To Old St. Louis Cathedral

Digitally steerable column arrays solve intelligibility issues at historic venue built in 1834

Consecrated in October of 1834, the Old St. Louis Cathedral was built in the Roman Catholic tradition of grand, highly reverberant worship spaces, with the archdiocese recently engaging St. Louis-based Tech Electronics to address the sanctuary’s ongoing audio issues in implementing Iconyx digitally steerable column arrays from Renkus-Heinz.

Known formally as the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, it was the first cathedral built west of the Mississippi River, and today it stands in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. The audio upgrade is part of a major renovation of the facility and was primarily undertaken to significantly improve spoken word intelligibility.

“The cathedral has been known as acoustic nightmare for many years,” explains Tony Badamo of Tech Electronics. “When we heard they wanted to upgrade their audio system, I knew immediately that Renkus-Heinz Iconyx was the right solution for the space.”

Iconyx digitally steerable arrays are designed to precisely focus full-range audio content, providing consistent coverage where it’s needed while avoiding the unwanted reflections that make speech difficult to understand. “The natural reverberation that makes the organ and choir sound so amazing, also makes the human voice difficult to understand,” explains Badamo. “Iconyx digital beam steering enables us to overcome that conflict without a lot of visual distraction.”

The entire sanctuary is covered by two IC24-R-II columns, mounted beside two structural columns on the wall behind the altar. With its low profile design, Iconyx integrates with the church’s classic architecture, and the columns’ custom paint job helps them virtually disappear in plain sight. “Any other solution involves hanging large, boxy speakers in the sanctuary, usually with acoustical treatment in the room,” Baldamo says. “In most cases, it creates a visual distraction without really addressing the intelligibility issues.”

The two Iconyx columns are aimed in crossfire fashion to the opposite corners of the sanctuary. Using the system’s RHAON software, Badamo created a series of audio beams to provide focused direct coverage throughout the room, while avoiding unwanted reflections off walls, balcony facings, windows, and the classic vaulted ceiling.

“Iconyx enables us to create a custom coverage pattern that is amazingly even in every seat,” reports Badamo. “You can actually sit in a pew directly behind one of the huge structural columns and understand every word perfectly.”

The church’s audio makeover also includes a pair of Renkus-Heinz ICX7-II steered array columns to deliver full-range sound to the altar without the visual distraction of floor wedge monitors. To provide a direct monitor feed to the balcony choir loft, Badamo selected full-range, 2-way Renkus-Heinz TRX81 loudspeakers.

For Tech Electronics, solving the audio issues of this historical landmark is a source of pride. “Based on our experience in traditional churches, Iconyx steerable arrays are our go-to solution,” Baldamo concludes. “They just work.”

Renkus-Heinz
Tech Electronics

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dBTechnologies is an Italian-based speaker manufacturer, leading in the Touring & Live sound market by providing innovative audio solutions. Their flagship ViO series is made up of an entirely active/self-powered series of loudspeakers. The dBT lineup also includes passive loudspeakers, software, and amplifiers, all delivering uncompromising performance. dBTechnologies speakers headline some of the largest festivals and concerts worldwide, setting standards in both Live and Installation markets.