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PROFESSIONAL AND PRO MEDIA LEVERAGE ADAPTABLE TECHNOLOGY OF
PD5000 SERIES Lewitz and
Associates specifies complete refit of sound gear and A/V systems,
along with nearly the whole interior, for top-to-bottom, |
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| NORTHRIDGE, CA, September 22, 2004 — Highlighting its ability to provide advanced, adaptable loudspeaker technology for any application, JBL Professional announced that it had assisted Lewitz and Associates in devising a sound system based on JBL PD5000 and AE Series loudspeakers for the complete renovation of Maples Arena. As the gutted interior design of the arena began to shift over time, the JBL speakers had to adapt to the changing acoustic environment. “Working with Lewitz and Associates and Pro Media, we were able to pinpoint the exact technology that would work for them in that environment and it was our PD Series,” said Ted Leamy, Director of Engineered Sound Marketing, JBL Professional. “The cost-effective nature of the product along with its adaptability due to the rotatable horns, made it the ideal selection.” The new Maples Arena boasts a 4-sided, state-of-the-art, center-hung scoreboard with video display, a plaza concourse which encompasses 29,000 square feet around the exterior of the seating area, elevators, upgraded concession stands, upgraded restroom facilities with speaker systems, new seats in place of the bleachers at floor level, an expanded weight room, athletic training facilities along with upgraded locker rooms and student-athlete lounges for home and visiting teams. All areas required delivery of sound and video. The original concept called for hanging a cluster of loudspeakers from the center scoreboard, but to accommodate volleyball, the scoreboard was raised too high for that to be effective and a new speaker configuration was required. Robert Lester, the designer from Lewitz and Associates realized the size of the enclosures would be more limited as they would need to be deployed in an expanded circular array in a distributed sound system of two speakers in each cluster around the arena. These would then be augmented by a delay ring. “Our main goals,” said Lester, “were better intelligibility, better sound level, better coverage and frequency response consistency and extension. We also had to overcome high mechanical noise levels, part of which was accomplished with added absorption, less reverb and fewer late reflections.” On the loudspeaker side of the equation Lester specified JBL after evaluating speakers and examining measurements concerning directivity. Lester felt the situation called for a three-way system that was compact and easily adaptable, and the PD5000’s rotatable horn proved to be a valuable asset for the distributed main system. The delay ring called for the AE Series to be used due to its clarity and compact design since they would be mounted in the upper reaches of the arena. “For the main system in that design,” said Lester, “the size, shape and three-way configuration of the PD5000s was what we wanted for the middle and low frequencies. After I listened to them, I knew the quality was there and the rotatable horns allowed me to orient the boxes to get the coverage we needed while paying heed to space considerations.” The distributed sound system is controlled by a BSS Soundweb DSP system over CAT5 to three locations: the sound booth, in the catwalk and in the video production room. Crown CTs 2000 and 3000 amps drive the cabinets. ABOUT JBL PROFESSIONAL ### |
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Copyright © 2004 JBL Professional. |
