The Covid-19 pandemic arrived just as Flagstaff’s Orpheum Theater was preparing to showcase its new sound systems. Although closed to the public, the Arizona theatre still produced virtual events, including around 25 webcasts during 2020 from its indoor stage with its new KF810P PA system from EAW. The venue also created an outdoor space in the parking lot, which was first used for a two-day Halloween/Grateful Dead event during October.

Audio Production Manager Scotty J chose the KF810P Line Array and SB818P Single 18-inch flyable subwoofers from EAW with the help of audio, video, theatrical lighting, control system, acoustic design and integration firm Sound Image.

‘Since we are a multipurpose music venue, we really needed a versatile PA that could handle all different genres of music that encompass various different decibel levels,’ he says. ‘Ben Davis from Sound Image was instrumental in helping us find the best system for our venue. We heard the EAW rig in a few different environments and it always sounded amazing. The acts/engineers that come through the venue know EAW, which added to my confidence in the brand.’

The new PA system comprises 12 KF810P line arrays with six boxes on the left and right respectively, 12 SB818P Single 18-inch flyable subwoofers and four RSX129 two-way active loudspeakers for front fill. When specifying the system, Davis wanted to make sure the PA could generate enough SPL from the mains and didn’t want to rely too heavily on the subs. In addition, the venue is a long rectangular space with a balcony on one end, so making sure the balcony was covered was another important factor.

Although the Orpheum’s 18-year-old PA system was no longer adequate for the theatre, it wasn’t ready to be silent forever. As a result, the Orpheum donated the system, which will be shipped to Africa to be used on a tour of the continent, beginning its journey in Cameroon with the band Kemit.

See also:
Dante takes centre stage at Phoenix’ Orpheum Theatre

More: www.eaw.com