LUBBOCK, TX — “High levels of intelligibility” isn’t the first phrase that comes to mind when you envision a gymnasium full of middle-schoolers. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what the Laura Bush Middle School (LBMS) has achieved with the installation of Tannoy’s high-performance VQ Series and V-Series loudspeakers in their gymnasium in August 2011.
More details from Tannoy (www.tcgroup-americas.com):
Primarily, the system is used for reinforcement of speech and music for assemblies, pep rallies, volleyball and basketball games, but one of the first uses of the audio system was an address by former First Lady Laura Bush, who attended the LBMS Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in October.
“It’s a brand new school and an incredible system,” says Swade Moyers, Vice President of Lubbock, TX-based A/V firm, Moyers Group, who oversaw the installation. “The Tannoy boxes are very directional and offered the right coverage and output to overcome crowd noise. Being a middle school, it can get pretty noisy. The biggest challenge was not to excite the reverb in the room.”
To meet that challenge, the system – designed by Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams, Inc. – incorporates six Tannoy VQ 85DFs, six VS 15DR (direct radiating subwoofer devices, designed to integrate with full range VQ cabinets) and two V12s. The VQ 85s and VS 15s are flown in pairs – each VS 15DR mounted flush to a VQ 85DF and flown using Tannoy”s proprietary VQ flying hardware.
“It was the first time I’d seen the VQs,” explains Tom Falgien, WJHW senior consultant and designer of the system. “In particular the asymmetrical VQ 85DFs seemed perfect for this application. Typically, in gyms, we have background noise to overcome, but the VQ can easily overcome the background noise level, so we didn’t have to worry about that. Hearing it and walking the room I was really pleased with the fidelity and clarity.”
Three clusters of loudspeakers are spaced 24-feet apart provide reinforcement for the visitor and home team bleachers. The two V12s – mounted end-court and mid-court – cover the playing area. The system also incorporates Crown amplifiers, BSS DSP and a dedicated wall panel that allows users to configure the system quickly and easily for any application.
Ensuring the system was easy to use was of particular importance for Scott Smith, Special Events Technical Director at Lubbock-Cooper ISD. “Part of my job is making sure the equipment keeps running,” Smith says. “If I don’t get calls once a week because they can’t turn it on, or it’s making a weird noise, I know it’s a good system. When they turn it on it sounds clear every time.”
Smith, having used Tannoy previously, doesn’t mince words in his praise of the company’s products. “We have a bunch of V12s at the high school and it’s amazing how versatile they are. We use them as wedges, surround fills and in our black box theatre as mains. We have other speakers, but the V12s are just better. Every time I have an excuse to pull them out, I will.”
Still, Smith admits he was concerned before the install about how intelligible the sound in the gym would ultimately be. While some fabric panels were installed, he explains, overall the amount of acoustic treatment was minimal. “When they first finished the gymnasium, the decay was so long I was worried, but the Tannoy do an excellent job of placing the sound where you need it.”
Like Smith, Moyers was very familiar with Tannoy, having regularly specified their products for Moyers Group’s own designs. That said, this was also his first experience with Tannoy’s VQ Series, but it will not be his last, he says. “We do a ton of schools. The VQ is a great sounding box. I’m definitely using them again in the future.”
