Set in West London, Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral – also known as the Cathedral of Divine Wisdom – where an under performing sound system has been replaced by APi Sound & Visual.
Modest in its exterior appearance, only its domed roof and arched windows hint at the spectacular polychromatic marble interior – or at the difficulty congregants suffered hearing services clearly. While the loudspeaker system could deliver low-level background music for visitors during the day, it struggled when used for speech during services, producing muddy and unintelligible results.
System integrators APi Sound & Visual, who specialise in the design and installation of high-quality A/V systems for houses of worship, heritage buildings, community spaces and commercial buildings, worked with CUK Group to start from scratch to design a new, dedicated system that delivers clarity while respecting the space and its architectural constraints.
‘When I first walked into the cathedral, its beauty was immediately striking,’ recalls APi Sound & Visual Sales Director, Stephen Neath. ‘But in a space of this scale, dominated by hard marble surfaces, sound reflects endlessly. It was imperative that the system was highly directional, focusing audio precisely where people are seated; otherwise, the spoken word would simply be lost.’
To address the problem, two Renkus-Heinz UBX16 loudspeakers have been installed as the main left and right sources. Chosen for their vertical pattern control, their beams are aimed to cross approximately two-thirds of the way down the nave to provide primary coverage. To ensure even dispersion, two compact UBX8loudspeakers are positioned on the left and right sides and aimed outward. An additional pair of UBX8s is installed further down the room at the sides as delays, supporting the main system and ensuring clarity and level consistency for attendees towards the rear.
Guided by CUK Group, Powersoft amplification was specified to pair effectively with the loudspeakers, resulting in a tidy rack installation while providing greater flexibility for system tuning and overall performance. Control is handled via a single-button wall panel with a small display, allowing preset ‘scenes’ to be selected so the system is automatically configured. This ensures that, during services, staff can focus entirely on worship.
‘API approached us for design ideas in this unique space,’ says CUK Group Live Sound Channel Manager, James Lawford. ‘We carried out a 2D direct sound simulation using Ease Focus to check coverage and dispersion from the main loudspeakers. This allowed us to confirm the placement of the delays and ensure the system would cover the entire space.’