Home to AEK Larnaca FC, the 8,000-capacity AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis is a UEFA Category 4 stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. Achieving that Category 4 rating required the venue to be partially reconfigured recently, including adding box seats and upgrading the sound system. The venue contracted DSP Innovative Solutions and sister company Kalsedia Ltd to design and implement the upgrades, which included LEA Professional amplifiers.
Completed in 2016, the stadium’s stands are named after regions and villages of the Larnaca province, reflecting the club’s deep local roots. In an era where fan experience is paramount, good stadium audio plays a vital role in creating an immersive and unforgettable environment, amplifying crowd chants, national anthems, and goal celebrations, deepening emotional engagement.
DSP Innovative Solutions installed LEA Connect Series 704D amplifiers and Connect Series 168D amplifiers to power the stadium’s loudspeakers. The IoT-enabled 4-channel 704D provides 700W/channel, while the 8-channel 168D offers 160W/channel. Both models support Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z, selectable by channel, and feature Smart Power Bridge technology. The Connect Series also includes 96kHz DSP, and Dante-enabled models like the 704D and 168D include 96kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, plus Dante simplifies system installation with scalable, high-resolution audio over IP (AoIP).
‘The all-in-one amplifier plus DSP capabilities made LEA a perfect choice for the stadium,’ says DSP Innovative Solutions CEO, Solonas Nikitas. ‘LEA’s speaker tunings made it very easy for us when we swapped out the old gear.’
With LEA Cloud, DSP Innovative Solutions can remotely control and monitor the amplifiers regardless of location or time of day, with no subscription model or hidden costs.
‘Nothing quite matches the energy of a football stadium at capacity, cheering on their club,’ Nikitas says. ‘LEA amplifiers go a long way towards feeding that enthusiasm, making every match one to remember. I highly recommend LEA amplifiers to anyone in the market.’