Only a brief period in 1819 – when Spain attempted to reconquer Colombia – denies the Universidad del Rosario an uninterrupted period of operation since opening in 1653. Known as ‘the Cradle of the Republic’, it counts 28 Presidents of Colombia among its past students – and a new Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Gen5 loudspeaker system in its Auditorio Mutis.
Part of the university’s main Bogotá campus (the Cloister or Claustro), the Auditorio Mutis an auditorium that hosts lectures, video conferences and musical performance among other events. ‘It is very important that speech be intelligible from the first seat to the last, and the system also has to givethe best sound quality for music,’ says John Romero of Bogotá-based Schallertech, which designed and installed the new system.
The auditorium’s previous sound system used eight small speakers to cover the entire area. ‘It was impossible to understand speech and to have a correct stereo image for musical presentations,’ Romero explains. ‘We worked with Morphosis, the architecture firm, for a couple of months to ensure the correct acoustical design. We designed the automation, wireless system, video system, lighting, and of course the audio system.’
The room is long and narrow, and keeping sound focused on the audience and off the walls, ceiling, and floor was a major challenge. In response, the Schallertech team chose a pair of Renkus-Heinz Iconyx IC16-RN digitally steerable line arrays that are managed over a Dante network.
System calibration proved straightforward: ‘The simplicity of Renkus-Heinz’ Rhaon II System Designer software helped us with the calibration,’ Romero reports. ‘The BeamWare III steering calculation and simulation program made it much easier to figure out the beam design and acoustic centres we needed.’
The IC-16-RN’s discrete design enabled the main arrays to visually blend in with the walls. ‘The aesthetics and design of the Iconyx loudspeakers made this auditorium incredible,’ Romero says.
Renkus-Heinz PN212-Sub subwoofers handle the low-end. Featuring two powerful 12-inch subwoofers with long-throw magnetic structures and dual-channel air cooling, they deliver up to 134dB SPL (peak) usingPowerNet PN-1 class-A/B amplification with loudspeaker-specific crossovers, parametric EQ, and protection.
Completing the Auditorio Mutis installation is a pair of powered Renkus-Heinz CF121M two-way Complex Conic loudspeaker systems, which serve as stage wedges.
‘The sound the Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers provide is amazing,’ says Universidad del Rosario engineer, Jorge Bravo. ‘We expected a high-quality system but the staging, the clear sound, and the aesthetics were even better than we expected. This is the sound system we’ve always wanted.’
More: www.renkus-heinz.com
