PHILADELPHIA – Saint Joseph's University students have been playing competitive basketball in the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse since 1949. A multi-million dollar expansion and renovation for the home of the Hawks has resulted in a new name – the Michael J. Hagan Arena – and a new sound system anchored by Community Professional Loudspeakers.
RJC Designs designed the new system for the 4,200-capacity arena that includes 52 of Community's Solutions-Series SLS920 horn-loaded systems, arrayed in a distributed cluster configuration, with 28 VLF212 dual 12-inch subwoofers providing low-frequency punch. Six Community iBOX i2W8 systems, meanwhile, are used for near-field coverage. The system is powered by QSC amplification, with a pair of Rane RPM88 processors providing system DSP.
"The distributed audio clusters were all engineered within a zoned approach," noted RJC Designs' Rich Coluzzi. "Utilizing digital signal processing allowed for complete control of all aspects of the system – the upper and lower portions of the clusters, the subs for each cluster, over-the-court loudspeakers, and the loudspeakers covering the upper end-zone bleacher seating. This flexibility in equalization, delay and output levels enabled us to configure the system to provide even coverage to every seat, while presenting a central audio focus toward the court."
Fans and faculty have noticed the difference. Interviewed after the Hawks' first game in the new arena, coach Phil Martelli said, "Whoever did the sound system should be applauded. That sound system is extraordinary."
For more information, please visit www.communitypro.com .
