St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown Manhattan, which has been an iconic landmark for more than 130 years and is one of the most visited churches in the U.S., has been equipped with an audio system upgrade utilizing K-array Kobra-KK102 column array loudspeakers.
The upgrade is part of a multi-year renovation of the historic facility that began in 2015 and includes extensive interior and exterior structural restorations, with the audio system needing an overhaul as well. The system needed to have a minimal visual profile while providing high intelligibility in a very reverberant environment.
Ben Bausher, Senior Consultant at Jaffe Holden, was brought in for system design specification and implemented 54 Kobra-KK102 elements in white throughout the cathedral, powered by 31 Kommander class D power amplifiers. The loudspeakers amplify spoken voice and the occasional musical accompaniment that originates from the altar.
“Kobra was chosen because it does not stand out and for other good reasons, including the extraordinary performance/size ratio and mounting hardware,” Bausher explains. “The KK102s have adapted perfectly to the width of the grooves in the columns, with a total natural finish effect.”
