SAN JOSE, CA – Mike O'Brien, technical services manager at the HP Pavilion, formerly known as the San Jose Arena and Compaq Center, recently used the Countryman Type 10S DI to overcome the poor quality of audio originating from a laptop computer.
"I was faced with the task of getting a laptop computer's audio output to sound as good as our other broadcast quality devices, including CD players and a 360 Systems instant replay device," said O'Brien, who addresses the audio needs of events ranging from sports (two professional sports teams, plus fencing, volleyball and Sumo wrestling) plus a wide array of entertainment events.
"Prior to the Type 10S, I was using an external USB sound card and it just wasn't getting the job done. Once I patched in the Type 10S, everything that, sonically, I was previously missing was suddenly there-complete with really clear highs and a full sounding low end. With the Type 10S, I finally achieved sound quality on par with the other equipment we use. Most importantly, it provided a level of consistency to the overall sound that we simply weren't getting before."
Interfacing the Countryman Type 10S DI with the existing setup was easy, O'Brien added. After taking the laptop computer's 3.5 mm TRS stereo output and connecting the left and right channels to the corresponding inputs on the Type 10S DI, he ran two cables terminated in XLR connectors into the house console. It "couldn't have been easier," O'Brien said. "The Type 10S DI was patched in and operational in a matter of a minute or so."
When asked about the Type 10S DI's most important advantages, O'Brien said that "it's all about the sound quality. The computer plays an important role in our work here. Depending upon the nature of the sporting event, we use different sound effects and music libraries that reside on the hard drive. Prior to using the Type 10S, I was never satisfied with the way the laptop sounded, but it had all the right features for our application. Once I patched in the Type 10S, my problem was solved. It was incredibly easy."
After crediting Countryman for its customer service, O'Brien spoke about how he "jumped at the opportunity" to give the Type 10S a try after hearing others talking about it. The HP Pavilion at San Jose took delivery of their Countryman Type 10S DI in early December 2010 and, since that time, it's been smooth sailing in terms of laptop computer audio quality.
"From the moment I connected the Type 10S, all the highs and deep lows that I was missing were suddenly right there in my face," O'Brien said, adding, "It worked just as I had hoped for right away. That's a beautiful thing!"
For information, please visit www.countryman.com.
