All churches share the common goal of spreading the message. Some have a greater emphasis on spoken word; others rely more on music in any variety of styles, from liturgical to flat-out rock ‘n’ roll. Yet, all houses of worship need a sound system that provides clarity, intelligibility and musicality. With that in mind, we looked at some recent install/upgrade projects.
Westside Family Church, Lenexa, KS
Founded in 1976, Westside Family Church’s growth began in earnest during the late ’90s, when expanding attendance prompted several relocations and a multi-site model with satellite campuses and an online ministry. Throughout this journey, Westside invested in technology to enhance its worship experience, most recently L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound gear with A10i loudspeakers, to provide clarity and coverage while working within the auditorium’s architectural constraints.
“The design presented challenges,” explains Marc Breda, project lead at Vantage Pro AV, the church’s integration and technology partner. “First, the main worship space has an unusually low ceiling for a room of its size. We also had to work around a centrally located catwalk that limited our usable trim height. Additionally, the church uses a large 34×14-foot projection screen for its services, so maintaining clear sight lines was crucial.”
Using L-Acoustics Soundvision 3D audio modeling software, the solution was an L-ISA design, utilizing A10i as the primary loudspeaker. A mixture of both Wide and Focus models comprise the main Scene array, buttressed by KS21 subwoofers, with everything powered by two LA7.16i amplified controllers. Breda says the A10i’s power and precision coverage gives excellent sound to every seat.
“The new system fits the room’s geometry,” he says. “It’s a moderate fan shape with stadium seating in the back, which lends itself well to an L-ISA design. There’s a little bit of extension seating out to the wings, and we had to bring the main speakers a little lower in order to shoot up under the catwalk, but ultimately, everything fit perfectly.”
Westside Family Church also wanted to enhance the audio experience, says Vantage Pro audio team lead Duke DeJong — and that meant immersive. “It’s been fun to watch their tech staff really lean into the L-ISA immersive technology. It’s taking their worship experience to another level.”
DeJong adds, “While many are excited about the enhanced mixing capabilities and immersive worship experience, there’s also a practical side here. Traditional line arrays can protrude ten feet or more from the ceiling, creating visual obstacles. Our L-ISA installations have consistently emerged as the ideal solution when churches need powerful, even coverage with clean sight lines. And the A Series let us deliver powerful sound while maintaining a minimal vertical footprint — typically within just five feet of the ceiling. This is a game-changer for churches, as they can achieve exceptional audio quality without compromising their visual aesthetics, for best of both worlds.”
On the creative side, L-ISA offers the church new capabilities that are changing the way it presents its messaging. “It has us thinking in a different way about sound and presentation,” says Derek Davis, Worship & Creative Arts Director. “We now have a variety of options that weren’t there before. For instance, we can pan any instrument or person to any part of the stage, and listeners will perceive the sound to be at that place onstage, no matter where they’re actually sitting.”
“We’re taking a methodical approach,” Davis explains. “The system offers so many creative possibilities that we’re discovering new ways to enhance our worship experience every week. The results we’ve already achieved are incredibly rewarding, and we’re excited to continue exploring L-ISA’s full potential.”
Westside Family Church
Capacity: 1,200
Key Products: L-Acoustics L-ISA, A10i
Integrator: Vantage Pro AV
Harvest Christian Fellowship Church, Riverside, CA
Last fall, Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside, CA, began an ambitious audio upgrade to enhance its outdoor amphitheater’s sound quality. After 23 years of using an older point-source system, the church aimed to create a sound experience that could support various events, from Sunday services to seasonal celebrations.
The church narrowed down options with system engineer Brian Bauer and then reached out to Evan Hamilton at E2i Design for guidance. Together, they identified the K-array Firenze KH7 column array system as the ideal solution.
The new setup includes five Firenze-KH7 speakers with electronic beam steering (EBS) and two Firenze-KS7 subwoofers with advanced bass control. Chosen for its ability to provide consistent, immersive sound across expansive outdoor spaces, the Firenze system’s precise, independent control of each array element minimizes noise pollution and ensures continuous and even coverage throughout the amphitheater. With its compact design, the system delivers instant sound projection without resonance, making it well suited to the open-air environment.
The KH7 speaker system, designed to withstand harsh outdoor elements, also proved a good fit as the permanent setup at Harvest Christian Fellowship. The administrative team was pleased with the results, especially after the system’s debut during a Sunday service.
“After using the new system for our first Sunday morning service, everyone was amazed at how good it sounded and the clarity it provided,” says church production supervisor Bryan Goode. “Our admin team was very happy with the outcome of the new system and thrilled with its performance. I am excited about the various events where we will be using this sound system,” Goode adds. “We have a wide range of activities, including Sunday Morning services, worship nights, movie screenings, our annual tree lighting, as well as Christmas and Easter celebrations. This sound system will meet all of our needs perfectly.”
Beyond delivering powerful audio for services, the new system promises to enhance the church’s many annual events. This installation is a great example of how effective K-array’s Firenze system is in addressing multipurpose acoustic environments, particularly in outdoor settings. The success of this project not only highlights the technical capabilities of the K-array products but also addresses the importance of tailored audio solutions for modern church settings.
Harvest Christian Fellowship Church Amphitheater
- Key Products: K-array Firenze KH7
- Integrator: E2i Design
Custer Road United Methodist Church, Plano, TX
Custer Road UMC faced a challenge: its sanctuary’s traditional architecture and high ceilings, while beautiful, were creating audio issues that prevented the congregation from fully connecting during services. The church’s leadership wanted a modern audio upgrade to match its sanctuary’s refreshed look and offer clear, consistent sound. “The church underwent a major renovation, and part of that effort was to ensure the technical systems were up to date,” says Shawn Slocum, account manager at Electro Acoustics. “We knew it was time to improve the audio system, and EAW’s AC6 ADAPTive system was the perfect solution.”
Custer Road discovered the capabilities of the AC6 Column Loudspeaker during a demo in the sanctuary led by Clayton Mills, sales manager at Highway Marketing. “We needed a space for an AC6 training session, and the church graciously offered its sanctuary,” shares Mills. “It turned out to be the perfect setting. After hearing the AC6 system in action, the church immediately knew it was the right fit for them.” Jim Carter, Custer Roads’ director of AV and computer services notes that “this demo was all that it took from my end to know that we had found a solution.”
With the AC6 system chosen, Electro Acoustics worked closely with Highway Marketing and EAW to implement a custom design. The solution included triple-stacked AC6 speakers on each side of the sanctuary, EAW’s MKD526 loudspeakers for under-balcony fills, and SB828P subwoofers to deliver rich, low-end, while blending seamlessly with the sanctuary’s architecture. “One of the final touches that impressed the church was the ability to custom paint the speakers to match the sanctuary’s new color scheme,” adds Mills. “It was a small detail, but it added to the overall experience.”
The AC6 system’s adaptive technology, powered by EAW’s Resolution software, provided precise tuning and exceptional sound coverage throughout the space. This solution solved acoustical challenges posed by the 43-foot-high ceiling and wraparound balcony, significantly enhancing audio clarity. According to Slocum, “the new EAW AC6 system has drastically improved the church’s audio quality. It brings the sound closer to the congregation, making it feel more intimate. Every seat in the sanctuary receives clear and consistent audio, a huge win for the church.”
Since the installation, Custer Road UMC has seen notable improvements in microphone gain before feedback and enhanced clarity for both spoken word and musical performances. “The renovation has been very successful in increasing the intelligibility of the spoken word in the room,” says Carter. “With the positive feedback we continue to receive from the congregation and staff members, we have been able to accomplish our goals. Many thanks to EAW, as its products gave us the opportunity to have that success and take us into the future at Custer Road UMC.”
Custer Road United Methodist Church
- Key Products: EAW AC6 ADAPTive columns
- Designer: Electro Acoustics
- Integrator: Highway Marketing
Church of St. Francis, Pula, Croatia
The Church and Monastery of St. Francis, a landmark of Croatian heritage nestled in the seafront city of Pula, has served as a place of worship for centuries. Recently, the church sought to elevate its acoustics and improve sound clarity. With collaboration with Renkus-Heinz, facilitated by its Croatian distributor, LAV Projekt, the church achieved an impeccable integration of state-of-the-art audio.
Dating back to the 14th century, the Church and Monastery of St. Francis comprises a central hall, elevated sanctuary and apse areas, along with a historic pipe organ. In addition to its role as a place of worship, the church frequently hosts concerts, exhibitions, and cultural gatherings, amplifying the need for high-quality audio.
“St. Francis Church’s original sound system was unable to deliver the clarity and coverage needed for both worship services and events,” explains Patricio Valenta, audio system specialist at LAV Projekt. “With the expertise of Renkus-Heinz, we envisioned a system that would respect the church’s aesthetic while addressing the complex acoustics of this sacred space.”
Stone walls and high ceilings often cause sound reflections and echoes that degrade speech intelligibility and audio clarity. For spoken word and music, the task was to deliver consistent coverage without disrupting the architecture or creating excessive reverberation.
To overcome these challenges, LAV Projekt recommended Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact ICC36/3 active digital beam-steerable speakers for the nave and sanctuary areas. The ICC36/3 speakers, known for their compact size and robust vertical directivity, provide powerful sound coverage in a form factor that blends effortlessly with the historic interiors.
“Given the unique challenges of this space, we selected the ICC36/3 for its precise digital beam-steering capabilities,” says Valenta. “This technology allowed us to focus the audio precisely on the congregation, reducing unwanted reflections and enhancing clarity.”
Two ICC36/3 units were installed between the sanctuary and nave, facing the congregation. Each speaker utilizes Renkus-Heinz’s renowned beam-steering technology, directing the sound exactly where needed, minimizing reflections from walls, ceilings and other surfaces. The integrated 36-channel amplifier enables refined control over the sound field, ensuring that every word spoken during a service or event reaches listeners with clarity.
For the sanctuary and apse areas, the team incorporated two R-H UBX4 passive directional column speakers. Mounted discreetly behind the ICC36/3 speakers, these provide additional sound coverage to the altar. “The UBX4 was ideal for delivering the required sound reinforcement without visually intruding on the space,” notes Valenta. The UBX series, utilizing UniBeam technology, achieves asymmetric vertical dispersion, maintaining consistent directivity and reducing interference from side reflections.
An additional UBX8 passive directional loudspeaker was installed in the atrium to extend clear audio coverage to the monastery courtyard. Like the UBX4, the UBX8 is designed to handle outdoor environments and integrates seamlessly into the exterior layout. “The UBX8 makes the liturgy audibly accessible in the atrium, allowing the sound to carry naturally across the courtyard,” says Valenta.
Renkus-Heinz’s Michal Poplawski adds that “the success of this project demonstrates how technology can enhance traditional spaces without compromising their essence.”
Church of St. Francis
- Key Products: Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact ICC36/3
- Integrator: LAV Projekt
The Crossing Church, Columbia, MO
Seeking to optimize church services for visitors and members, The Crossing, a 1,400-seat Christian church in Columbia, MO, updated an existing KLANG:vokal immersive in-ear monitor mixing processor with KLANG’s new :vokal+ software, while also adding a second newer unit that also features the latest software.
Paired with KLANG’s latest KOS 5.6 operating system, the :vokal+ channel boost upgrade enables the church’s audio team to immediately increase the input-channel count of its :vokals from 24 up to 64 for all of worship team’s binaural mixes. Onstage, the singers and musicians continue to each have hands-on hardware control of their own IEM mix parameters via the usual presence of a dozen KLANG:kontrollers, which were added earlier last year.
“The flexibility that KLANG’s :vokal and :kontroller bring to in-ear monitoring for large-scale worship music applications is really fantastic, and that’s only gotten better with the new :vokal+ upgrade,” says Jeremy Bagwell of Skylark Audio Video, the church’s longtime AV integration partner. Skylark had also recently installed a DiGiCo Quantum5 console and Fourier Audio transform.engine processing platform at FOH.
“KLANG’s platforms and DiGiCo consoles are easily upgradable and scalable — often without even requiring new hardware — making them incredibly versatile,” Bagwell continues. “And the workflow stays the same, so when the church brings in freelance operators, they’re already familiar with these systems, regardless of their version.”
Brad Jenkins, the church’s production director, says the upgraded KLANG:vokal+ processors, which connect to the consoles via MADI and to the individual :kontrollers with Dante, have had a particularly beneficial effect. “We previously made the transition from analog to digital with another brand for our in-ear monitoring, but there was an audible decline in audio quality,” he recalls. “We lost fidelity and spatial elements. With KLANG, we gained all that back — and then some! Our musicians and singers can hear each other better, which helps them to be more inspired.”
On a practical level, Jenkins says that the KLANG software update, which increases the processor’s input-channel count to 64, will make a huge difference when the number of performers onstage increases for Christmas, Easter, and other special events, up from the typical 10 to 12 musicians and vocalists onstage most weekends. “We also purchased six more :kontrollers when we added our second :vokal+, so we’re now able to offer 18 hardware controllers and 24 binaural mixes to accommodate additional performers. It feels kind of like an unlimited channel count, really.”
Jenkins is also a fan of the Fourier Audio transform.engine, which, as he puts it, “lets me bring the studio onstage. We come from the studio world,” he says of himself and his colleagues at the church, “so we like to be able to approach the worship sound in the same way that we approach recording music. We use the plug-ins that we love when we need them, and they sound great. We’re just slowly unlocking all that. And with our new tools from Fourier, DiGiCo, and KLANG, our worship team is sharing their talents and sounding better than ever.”
The Crossing Church
Capacity: 1,400
Key Products: KLANG:vocal+
Integrator: Skylark Audio Video
