An independent music venue in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, The Forum stages an eclectic mix of music, from rock and punk bands to singer-songwriters and hip-hop. To mark 30 years of keeping music well and truly alive, the venue recently upgraded its sound system with help from sound designer Dan Roncoroni and British loudspeaker manufacturer EM Acoustics.
‘I became involved with The Forum around 18 months ago, through a project at the nearby Assembly Hall Theatre,’ Roncoroni says. ‘Impressed with the results, the Assembly Hall recommended my services to The Forum, which eventually led to the system PA upgrade project.’
On hearing the The Forum’s previous PA system, which was largely as old as the venue itself, Roncoroni had proposed the upgrade: ‘We set up a demo of the EM Acoustics system to showcase the entire product line-up to The Forum team,’ recalls Roncoroni. ‘They were impressed by the power and slim form factor of the boxes and decided to invest in a couple of EMS-81Xs as small front fill for the existing PA before committing to a full EM system.’
In preparation for the venue’s anniversary, The Forum team were still looking to modernise, and EM Acoustics loaned a demo system for a month to assist with plans for the upgrade. ‘Over the years, EM Acoustics has proven to be a reliable and high-performance option, but more recently has risen to the top of the list for me in terms of quality, value and customer support’ Roncoroni says . ‘Further, the company ethos aligns perfectly with The Forum’s values of minimal waste and efficiency, so I had no hesitation in recommending a Reference Series solution.’
R10 loudspeakers, with their slim form factor, play a crucial role in navigating the challenges presented by the venue’s unique space, which was once a public facilities building before being renovated.
‘The R10s are rigged horizontally against the ceiling, one unit per side, and provide generous headroom for the heavier rock and metal acts that play at The Forum,’ says Roncoroni. ‘These are supplemented by EMS61s, which match the tonality of the R10s perfectly, plus EMS-81s as delays and an S-218 subwoofer, which is installed beneath the stage.’
‘Opting for an EM system was an easy choice,’ says The Forum Production Manager, James Wilson. ‘The Reference Series combined with the S-218 sub is an incredibly powerful combination within a small footprint. The ease of rigging, lightweight design of the boxes and interchangeable waveguides made installation and tuning easy, something that we managed entirely in-house.’
UK live music fans appreciate small venues like The Forum, and Roncoroni and the venue’s in-house team praise EM Acoustics for their collaboration in helping this small venue stage big performances. ‘The new system represents a huge step forward for The Forum in ensuring we can cater for the highest level of artists and events for a long time to come,’ Wilson says. ‘The value and customer service from EM is second to none, and they have supported us every step of the way from initial consultation to installation.’
More: www.emacoustics.co.uk
