With events ranging from tea dances and sporting events to rock and punk festivals, the UK’s Spa Bridlington required a sound reinforcement system with equally broad capabilities. In addition, the Art Deco Royal Hall ballroom and Edwardian spa theatre have recently been painstakingly restored, and any installation work needed to be sympathetic to the classic decor.
To fit the bill, Adlib Audio supplied an L-Acoustics dV-Dosc modular WST line source FOH system for the 3,800-capacity Royal Hall venue.
As the venue already owned some L-Acoustics equipment, the dV-Dosc system was the first choice for both Technical Manager Emrys Jones and Adlib’s installations director Roger Kirby. A high speech intelligibility factor was crucial, and Adlib was up to the task as a result of past experience with dV-Dosc in installation and touring applications.
Alternative system configurations were modelled using L-Acoustics’ SoundVision 3D prediction software, with the final system solution being split into four zones. The main system comprises left and right hangs of eight dV-Dosc cabinets underneath a dV-Sub, flown from the front of the existing stage PA truss. Adlib used six of the venue’s existing L-Acoustics 8XT compact coaxials, augmented with six 108P active coaxials for stage lip fill. A further six existing 8XTs have been re-used as balcony fills, while six 108P speakers serve as fills for the seated area at the front of the stage. Four SB28 subs, supplied with custom feet to minimise vibration and unwanted resonance to the venue’s sprung dancefloor, are installed at stage level.
The installation allows the venue to optimise coverage across the hall, retaining intelligibility and allowing even sound distribution throughout the room. Once Adlib’s accredited L-Acoustics engineers had commissioned the system, tests showed a major improvement in definition and speech intelligibility across all areas of the Royal Hall. ‘We have received plaudits from customers and clients about the quality of sound in what is a difficult space to work with,’ says Jones. ‘Adlib’s support throughout the project and their aftercare has been second to none.’
The Spa’s technical staff have been trained to operate the new equipment, backed with full technical support from Adlib Solutions. ‘Adlib Audio and L-Acoustics should be commended for the quality of workmanship and giving full consideration to maintaining the operation of the complex and protecting the building fabric/décor, while professionally assisting the client and main contractor to incorporate the works in an efficient, sympathetic and visually pleasing manner,’ says Glenn Rawding, from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which commissioned the project.
More: www.adlibsolutions.co.uk
More: www.L-Acoustics.com
