Commercial A/V integrator Verta Technologies recently delivered upgraded sound reinforcement at the sanctuary of Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL. They installed a new house audio system utilizing EAW ADAPTive array modules joined by additional components from the company.
The Problem
Southwood Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary was originally designed for spoken word, a choir and a pipe organ with natural reverberation in mind. “The result was a beautiful 50-foot vaulted ceiling with an untreated tongue-and-groove wood finish,” explains Christian Tuttle, CTS, managing partner of Verta Technologies, which is also located in Huntsville. “Over the past 20 years, Southwood’s service has evolved to include a live band, and while the sanctuary was acoustically treated to reduce the natural reverberation, the live audio system was not updated to fit this new worship style.”
The Perfect Solution
As part of the audio design, the Verta team had to ensure the audio system didn’t block the large stained-glass window located high above center stage. “It was also crucial that the acoustic energy was steered away from the vaulted wood ceiling,” adds Tuttle. “We chose EAW’s ADAPTive System, and specifically the Anna array, to solve these challenges. With its ability to steer the vertical coverage, the Anna cabinets were hung high enough to avoid blocking the stain glass window while still covering every seat.”
Specifically, the new system incorporates four Anna 3-way full-range ADAPTive array modules. It also has two MKD1064 2-way full range loudspeakers, two SB825 dual drive subwoofers and one UXA4410 Greybox-enabled amplifier.
The Verta team also had to ensure it stayed within the weight restrictions of the wooden beams in the sanctuary. They worked closely with Fuqua and Partners Architects, an engineering firm specializing in wood beam design, and the beams’ manufacturer. As a result, the group engineered an accurate loading capacity.
“The Anna cabinets, which require fewer boxes than a traditional line-array, made the overall hang lighter and easier to manage,” says Tuttle. “In collaboration with EAW, we worked together to create a solution that solved the space’s challenges while also meeting all the client requests. EAW was the perfect solution for this project; the results exceeded our expectations.”
The Response
“Following installation, the feedback from parishioners has been overwhelmingly positive, and much of this positive response has come from people who would not typically notice acoustical nuance,” says James Parker, music director, Southwood Presbyterian Church. “That speaks to the magnitude of the change that the Anna system has brought to our services. Our audio is dramatically improved. The coverage is consistent across the room and the problem frequencies have been managed extremely well. The most consistent complements we’ve received have pointed out the dramatic difference in clarity. People can hear a much more accurate snapshot of what is happening on stage. We could not be happier with the upgrade and the hands-on service we received from EAW and Verta Technologies.”
