Sennheiser’s SpeechLine Digital Wireless (SLDW) microphone system selected by the prestigious All Souls College at the University of Oxford in England for one of its oldest, most unique meeting rooms.

Founded in 1430 by Henry VI, the college saw SLDW as the means to future-proof one of Britain’s top academic research institutions. Paul Blaxill – Director of IT at All Souls College – explains that the primary issue revolved around the building’s extraordinary architecture, with many rooms boasting vaulted, intricately carved stone ceilings. ‘Using these beautiful, ancient rooms for modern purposes required adaptation, which prompted us to reach out to local hire company CAV Oxford.’

CAV provides tailored support to many of Oxford’s most prestigious venues. When All Souls College asked for help, the team knew that SLDW was the right solution. The primary driving factors were the system’s user-friendliness for easy operatation for non-technical personnel, and its range of built-in features that eliminate the need for additional outboard equipment.

A Sennheiser distributor since 1990, Leisuretec was chosen to deliver the system because of its long-standing relationship with the global audio manufacturer.

Knowing that technical support would not always be readily available in the college’s meeting room, Leisuretec understood the installation needed to be perfect and remain consistent over time.

Accordingly, Obed Mashayamombe, Glenn Smith and Clover Richards – all part of Leisuretec’s sales team – took CAV Director, Sam Haney, for a training day at Sennheiser UK. There, they met with the company’s Business Development Manager, Kevin Gwyther-Brown, Gareth Peters, Inside Sales Support and Channel Sales Manager Eddie Lane, who ensured that both CAV and Leisuretec were inducted into the finer details of SLDW.

‘Leisuretec enjoys a great relationship with Sennheiser,’ Mashayamombe says. ‘The team are always on hand and ready to help us with technical questions, sales queries and even with our marketing assets. Any member of our team knows they can contact Sennheiser and receive high-quality support.

Gwyther-Brown notes how close relationships like these endure, and what the team at Sennheiser do to support its clients. ‘Leisuretec is a well established UK distributor for Sennheiser, and we enjoyed a long-standing relationship. We know the support we give Leisuretec will be really beneficial, not just to them but to their clients. This is what keeps them coming back to us, and it’s not just the business development team, but all the help from Sennheiser’s associate staff, like tech support, training, and account management. Supporting our distributors allows us to have better relationships with our end users, and that’s what Sennheiser is all about.’

Sennheiser SLDW was developed with the end-user in mind and designed for university and corporate use. A streamlined user experience is improved by integrated DSP, providing EQ and automatic audio level management. This means that fellows can concentrate on their discussions without distraction.

The SLDW system works with simple single-button operation. Additionally, docking stations for charging have been mounted in a glass-fronted rack unit, with loudspeakers blending into the room with a custom paint finish. The easily accessible charging stations mean equipment is always ready for use and can last all day thanks to a 15-hour battery life.

The team at All Souls College are satisfied with the results of the installation – a beautiful but previously unusable room has now become an inspiring place to meet and discuss. It has been an instant success, as Haney confirms. ‘The quality that Sennheiser SpeechLine Digital Wireless has provided has been met with delight,’ he says. ‘That’s why Sennheiser and Leisuretec are CAV’s preferred suppliers for audio installations.’

‘The overall audio quality was a massive leap forward,’Blaxhill agrees. ‘CAV Oxford understood the brief and designed a system that exceeded our requirements. They were incredibly professional, and the rack containing all the equipment was beautifully presented; it’s a work of art.’

Relationships are more important than ever in the pro audio industry, and Sennheiser understands this, especially with longstanding partners like Leisuretec. ‘We always try to go above and beyond for our clients,’ concludes Gwyther-Brown. ‘We love to meet the teams and share knowledge. The successful collaboration between all concerned highlights the importance of understanding client needs and utilising innovative solutions in audio technology. We’re here to engage with our clients and our distributors. Support is a massive part of our remit.’