HUNTINGTON, WV — Newtech Systems, led by Tom Kibler, supervised the installation of a new sound system at Marshall University’s 9,100-seat Cam Henderson Center, which first opened in 1981.
The new system includes more than 60 JBL VRX932LA-1 constant curvature loudspeakers powered by Crown DSi 4000, IT5000 HD and CDi 4000 amplifiers. It also includes Soundweb London BLU-160 signal processors and other components from BSS Audio. Coffeen Fricke and Associates was the designer and acoustical consultant for the project.
The JBL VRX932LA-1 cabinets are configured in six or four loudspeaker arrays, distributed around the arena. For commencements and other non-sports gatherings, just two of the arrays are used; for sporting events, those two arrays are turned off and all the others are used.
The system is set up so the loudspeakers’ focal points and delays are automatically reconfigured at the touch of a preset, using the Soundweb London BLU-160’s control inputs and logic outputs. In addition to the main arrays, four JBL ASB6128V subwoofers located at the center of the arena provide low-frequency reinforcement.
Two full-size racks in a dedicated electronics room contain 16 Crown DSi 4000, one CDi 4000 and two IT5000HD power amps, along with the Soundweb London BLU-160 signal processor and a BLU-BOB2 output expander.
Kibler, who chose Harman gear based on sound quality, reliability and previous experience with the company’s products, noted the cost advantages of the JBL VRX932LA-1 rigging hardware, compact size and relatively light weight (46 pounds per unit).
“One feature that came in really handy was their Array Configuration Selector, a series of switches that control the output of each high-frequency section in the array. This lets you set each VRX932LA-1 to deliver more high-frequency output to a distant location or less output to seats that are closer up. This let us to quickly do high-frequency ‘shadowing’ or fine-tuning for the near- and far-throw boxes in the speaker stacks. We boosted the highs 3 dB on the top two arrays in the six-array stacks. We did the final high-frequency ‘sweetening’ with the BLU-160 during the commissioning of the system.”
Kibler also cited the ability to set up custom GUI pages and shortcuts — for example, the page that instantly switches between the stage speakers and the main venue speakers. “The university staff wanted the system to be easy to operate, and Soundweb London made this possible.”
