Among the most significant National Monuments in Chile’s V Region, the Church of San Francisco de Asís has reopened following a complete sound upgrade featuring HK Audio’s SI Series P10j column loudspeakers. Installed by Audio Integra in collaboration with HK Audio, the system matches high intelligibility with a discreet aesthetic – exactly as required by the heritage and requirements of the landmark space.
Constructed in 1845, the church has long been an emblem of the city of Valparaíso and was used as a visual reference point by sailors when approaching the city, earning the building the nickname of El Pancho. After suffering three major fires in 1983, 2010 and 2013, the building has now been fully restored, with the 2024 renovation marking a new chapter for the historic site.
For this latest restoration, Audio Integra and HK Audio worked together on detailed acoustic simulations to determine the most suitable loudspeaker solution for the church’s two main areas. According to ProSound Chile Media Manager Alfonso Verdugo, the SI Series P10j – a passive installation column loudspeaker using ten 3-inch drivers – proved the optimum choice: ‘Two major factors influenced the decision,’ he says. ‘The church needed a solution that was elegant and compact enough for a protected heritage building, while still delivering consistently high audio performance. After three fires in 20 years, it also required a system with a robust security rating for clear emergency warnings.’
‘The acoustic simulations from were extremely accurate,’ Verdugo says. ‘They precisely predicted the final results and according to three independent studies, this system is considered the best tested among Catholic churches in Chile to date.’
Like many large, historic churches, the main challenge at San Francisco de Asís was the excessive reverberation of the space, which compromised speech intelligibility. The new P10j provides focused coverage and exceptional clarity while maintaining a natural listening experience throughout the space.
Beyond performance, durability and safety were essential. The SI Series P10j meets IP55 environmental standards, and is certified to EN 54-24:2008, ensuring suitability for both humid conditions and emergency-use scenarios. The model is also available in white, allowing it to fit cleanly into the church’s interior.
Since reopening, the system has enjoyed an enthusiastic welcome: ‘Being part of something this meaningful for the city of Valparaíso is truly special,’ Verdugo reports. ‘Users love the sound and the look of the speakers – it’s rare to find a solution that is both elegant and acoustically impressive at the same time. It perfectly reflects the level of respect required for a renovation like this.’