The 80-year-old, dome-shaped Angelus Temple in Echo Park, Calif., recently wrapped up a $7 million renovation project, part of which included the installation of a full L-Acoustics loudspeaker system. Designed by McKay Conant Brook Inc. (MCB) of Westlake Village, Calif., the systems were integrated by Santa Clarita-based contractor AMT Systems Inc.
To create a high direct-to-reverberant ratio of sound, left/right line source arrays were deployed using components supplied by 28 L-Acoustics’ dV-DOSC small-format array elements, 10 dV-SUB enclosures and eight SB218 subwoofer cabinets.
According to AMT’s Tim Carlson, “The rig went up just as we predicted. With the digital inclinometer showing exactly the angle predicted to provide the required vertical coverage, we used a laser placed on the array to verify the aim points and upper edges of the coverage pattern at ear-height in the back row.”
According to the MCB plan, each left/right array incorporates 14 dV-DOSC enclosures as mid-high elements flown in a classic line array arc at the side of the stage, along with adjacent arrays of flown dV-SUBs numbering five apiece on each side. For LF punch, the SB218 subs were relegated to groundstacks of four on either side, making the frequency response of the system 28 Hz to 18 kHz (+3 dB).
“When you think of line array technology, traditionally long, deep throws come to mind,” said MCB’s Randy Willis. “But in this facility, we were facing relatively short, wide throws. All that considered, we still needed a high degree of control to maintain the tight coverage patterns required. Our acoustics group did all they could to minimize the sonic anomalies inherent within the space, but we were still concerned about throwing unnecessary energy onto the walls and into the dome, because there was certainly a limitation to the amount of corrective measures the project could afford both aesthetically and financially. By necessity, then, we had to find line array technology that would allow us to maintain the control coverage and provide the SPL we needed, but still get the width. Based upon their tight response and high-energy, low-frequency impact, the small-format L-Acoustics product was ultimately chosen.”
“We are more than pleased with the capabilities of the new audio system,” said executive associate pastor David Hanley, who presides over the house of worship’s musical ministry. “It’s perfect for the room, and I really couldn’t ask for more. I’m especially impressed with the coverage. Vocals are crystal clear, and it doesn’t have that ‘honk’ characteristic of conventional horn-loaded systems. Bottom line, the sound is transparent and goes a long way in covering a multitude of problems we’d have experienced in this room otherwise.”
For more, visit www.l-acoustics-us.com.
