Serving hundreds of families across New Jersey’s Gloucester County, the Fellowship Bible Church (FBC), hosts a busy programme of worship services, youth activities and community events at its Sewell location – now supported by a Martin Audio Torus sound system in its multi-purpose gymnasium.
The gymnasium is one of the church’s most flexible spaces, regularly hosting gatherings, youth group events, community wellness programmes and live worship.With its prior sound system no longer able to meet the demands of the room, Fellowship Bible Church to turned to local A/V integrator Starlite to design and install a modern replacement capable of delivering better clarity and coverage.
‘Large, open gymnasium spaces are known for poor acoustics,’ says Starlite’s Nick Minieri. ‘Hard surfaces, exposed structure and high ceilings create reflections that make speech hard to understand and music difficult to control.’
To achieve the consistent coverage required, Starlite specified a Martin Audio Torus constant curvature line array, taking advantage of its ability to direct sound towards the audience while minimising energy directed onto the walls and ceiling, where unwanted reflections occur.’
Acoustic treatment was also an important part of the installation. Impact-resistant absorption panels were installed along the walls, with additional acoustic hardware used to minimise reflections from the exposed steel roof structure. Practical installation considerations also influenced the final specification. ‘We wanted something that would be relatively lightweight and easy to hang, and we wanted it to be passive so we didn’t need to install new electrical boxes,’ Minieri explains.
The system comprises two flown hangs, each array comprising two Torus T1230 and a single Torus T1215 element, supplemented by an SX218 subwoofer. Four CDD15 loudspeakers serve as delays, while also allowing the space to be configured into multiple audio zones. Power is provided by iKon iK41 amplifiers.
‘The CDD paired nicely with the Torus as delay speakers as their voicing is so similar,’ says Minieri. ‘But we also used them in a divisible room configuration and a side configuration, giving the space three distinct stereo sound system options depending on how the client wants to use the space.’
The SX218 delivers the low-frequency extension required for contemporary worship services and live music performances. ‘This space is being used as a worship space with a live worship band, so the sub was a must-have to support the bass and kick drum,’ Minieri notes.
The completed installation has transformed the gymnasium into a highly capable multi-purpose venue, providing consistent, intelligible audio across a wide variety of applications. ‘Fellowship Bible Church now has a gymnasium that functions as a true multi-purpose space,’ Minieri concludes. ‘Speech is clear, music translates well, and events can shift throughout the week without technical limitations getting in the way.’