Tone Proper has completed the installation of a PK Sound T8 Robotic line array and T18 subwoofers, with additional Tx26 point-source loudspeakers, in a ‘transformative audio upgrade’ at the US Pacific Northwest’s historic Crystal Ballroom.
Noted for its history, architecture and floating dance floor, the Crystal Ballroom has hosted the likes of Little Richard and James Brown, Billie Eilish and Katy Perry. The historic interior is filled with reflective surfaces, including floor-to-ceiling windows and a combination of lath and plaster construction. While contributing to the charm of the historic venue, these same attributes create a challenging acoustic environment.
‘The space wasn’t designed for amplified sound and certainly not for the modern events they host now – but that’s exactly why PK’s T8 was the right choice,’ says Tone Proper proprietor, Nick Moon. ‘It’s the only solution we found that gives us the precision and flexibility to contain the sound where we want it and keep it away from where we don’t.’
To address Crystal Ballroom’s wide range of uses – from intimate corporate events to full-scale concerts – Moon installed a complete system that included two T8 robotic line arrays comprised of eight boxes per side, 12 T18 subwoofers and a pair of Tx26 loudspeakers for front fill on the balcony. ‘You can put the array up flat and, using PK’s integrated .dynamics software, shape the waveguide coverage after it’s in the air,’ says Moon. ‘That means you don’t have to pull the system down to make changes. You can literally tune the room from the ground during soundcheck – that’s game changing.’
For Moon, the audio quality of the PK Sound system is as impressive as this mechanical flexibility: ‘I’ve spent half my career in the studio world, making Top 100 records,’ he says. ‘During that time, I found that a lot of speaker systems are great in one area but lack in others. Either they sound good but don’t have the tech, or they’re gimmicky and don’t deliver. PK Sound checks both boxes – it sounds good and does what the company says it does. In fact, the front of house engineer who mixes regional acts for the venue called the new system ‘groundbreaking’ in terms of power and clarity, remarking that he no longer has to push into the red to achieve impactful sound.’
The design of the T8 also addresses another common issue in live sound environments — low-frequency buildup behind the array. ‘Most boxes dump tons of low mids off the back,’ Moon explains. ‘But, with the T8, I can walk behind the array and have a normal conversation. That’s a big deal, especially in houses of worship and small stages where you’re fighting against microphone feedback.’
While the Crystal Ballroom installation is a fixed system, Moon was so impressed with the PK Sound set-up that he has added a second full rig to Tone Proper’s rental inventory, making the technology available for touring acts and mobile productions. ‘It’s flexible enough to be used on the fly, you don’t have to have everything figured out in advance,’ he says. ‘That’s a huge advantage for when time is tight, and a venue throws a curveball.’
ACT Entertainment played a key role in supporting this installation. ‘ACT only carries premium brands and that really simplifies things for us,’ Moon says. ‘When I order parts or need any logistical help, they respond right away. ACT and PK both make you feel like part of the family.’