A recent upgrade to the sound system used by the Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama, for its sanctuary and live events saw commercial A/V integrator Verta Technologies install four EAW Anna three-way, full-range ADAPTive array modules, two MKD1064 two-way, full-range loudspeakers, two SB825 dual drive subwoofers and a UXA4410 Greybox-enabled amplifier.
Southwood Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary was originally designed for spoken word, a choir and a pipe organ, making great play of natural reverberation: ‘The result was a beautiful 50ft vaulted ceiling with an untreated tongue-and-groove wood finish,’ says Verta Technologies Managing Partner, Christian Tuttle. ‘Over the past 20 years, Southwood’s service has evolved to include a live band, and while the sanctuary was acoustically treated to reduce the natural reverberation, the live audio system was not updated to fit this new worship style.’
As part of the audio design, Tuttle and the Verta team had to ensure the audio system didn’t spoil the sight line to a large stained-glass window that is located high above centre stage. ‘It was also crucial that the acoustic energy was steered away from the vaulted wood ceiling,’ adds Tuttle ‘We chose EAW’s ADAPTive System, and specifically the Anna array, to solve these challenges. With its ability to steer the vertical coverage, the Anna cabinets were hung high enough to avoid blocking the stain glass window while still covering every seat.’
The team also had to be certain that the new system respected the weight restrictions of the wooden beams in the sanctuary. Working closely with Fuqua and Partners Architects, an engineering firm specialising in wood beam design, and the beams’ manufacturer, the group engineered an accurate loading capacity.
‘The Anna cabinets, which require fewer boxes than a traditional line-array, made the overall hang lighter and easier to manage,’ says Tuttle. ‘In collaboration with EAW, we worked together to create a solution that solved the space’s challenges while also meeting all the client requests. EAW was perfect for this project; the results exceed our expectations.’
‘Following installation, the feedback from parishioners has been overwhelmingly positive, and much of this positive response has come from people who would not typically notice acoustical nuance,’ says Southwood Presbyterian Church Music Director, James Parker. ‘That speaks to the magnitude of the change that the Anna system has brought to our services.
‘Our audio is dramatically improved. The coverage is consistent across the room and the problem frequencies have been managed extremely well. The most consistent complements we’ve received have pointed out the dramatic difference in clarity. People can hear a much more accurate snapshot of what is happening on stage. We could not be happier with the upgrade and the hands-on service we received from EAW and Verta Technologies.’
