Located in the Affoltern district of Zurich, Switzerland, the acoustically challenging sanctuary of the Church of St. Katharina acoustically was recently equipped with a new main sound reinforcement system utilizing Dante-enabled Iconyx Compact digitally steered arrays from Renkus-Heinz.
Working with AV distributor Chris Steiger, CEO of promedias AG, church leaders set out to address the nearly 100-year-old room’s acoustic challenges that include a polygonal floor plan, wooden pews and irregular projections and wall recesses. “With an asymmetrical shape and the reflective surfaces common in brutalist-designed houses of worship, such as the sanctuary at St. Katharina, we knew the true challenge was going to be the loudspeaker selection,” Steiger says. “The ICC36/3-RD1 arrays from Renkus-Heinz were the solution the church needed for sound quality, coverage, and the high intelligibility. Plus, the minimal footprint and custom paint match of the speakers fit the aesthetic of the church very well.”
In addition, Steiger assured leadership that the new system would bring the performance and directivity of multiple loudspeakers with just two Dante audio-over-IP arrays. With ICC36/3-RD1 loudspeaker, a 36-channel digital amplifier powers the array’s 36, three-inch full-range, high-sensitivity drivers. With an amplifier and DSP channel for each driver, the asymmetrical beam of output can be tailored to the needs of the specific space.
“Installing the two ICC36/3-RD1 speakers enables St. Katharina to have intelligible spoken word during services and engaging live musical performances from the band for the nearly 500-person congregation,” notes Michal Poplawski, European technical sales manager for Renkus-Heinz. “The beam steering technology within the ICC36/3-RD1 arrays provide St. Katharina the sound solution for putting audio directly on the worshipers and away from the irregular and reflective architecture.”
