CLEVELAND, OH – Working with AV integrator AVI/SPL, system designer Westlake Reed Leskosky upgraded the loudspeaker system used for the main exhibit halls at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (RRHOF) with 14 K-array KK50vbs.
Housing the most comprehensive collection of rock music exhibits and artifacts in the world, the RRHOF gets more than 400,000 visitors per year. The design team chose the K-array loudspeakers based upon audio intelligibility, sound dispersion characteristics and their diminutive footprint.
The museum, which has seven floors and over 150,000 square feet of exhibition space, explores the history of the Rock ‘n' Roll genre through the eyes and ears of the musicians, producers and engineers who made it all possible.
One of the primary installation locations is an exhibit called City and Sounds, which takes visitors through different locations and time periods that were instrumental in the evolution of rock music. In addition to artifacts and displays, the exhibit contains plenty of music and interviews to lend first person perspective and insight.
Physically, the City and Sounds exhibit environment is a semi-circle, with roughly 20 displays encasements on both sides in addition to seven audio/video exhibits.
"Before installing the K-arrays, we had a lot of unintelligible sound coming from rather important audio sources, as well as a lot of bleed over between the casework," said Westlake Reed Leskosky's Raymond Kent. "The previous loudspeakers were pointed out in the space at a rather high SPL and a 90-degree dispersion, effectively throwing sound everywhere. We wanted to provide more focused sound dispersion within each exhibit, while providing greater control over audio bleed into adjacent exhibits."
Westlake Reed Leskosky and AVI/SPL introduced the K-array KK50vb as a prospective solution, and set up a mock environment that included two other speaker brands. "We put up all three speakers and did sort of a 'blind taste test' – not just for ourselves and the museum staff, but also for the visitors," Kent recalled. "Based on the impressions of everyone that listened to them, the K-array was clearly the right choice."
After passing the preliminary evaluation, the team installed a total of 14 K-array KK50vbs, along with seven K-array KA10 four channel power amplifiers. The elevation in audio quality was noticeable.
"Since installing the K-arrays, we have had a more focused sound, and we've been better able to direct and control the audio," said Rob Weil, director of production at RRHOF. "The KK50vb also has an extremely small footprint so it works well in a museum with casework where you want the audio to be heard, but not seen. In fact, we were able to discreetly mount the KK50vb directly on the case; this would not have been possible with a more traditional speaker."
While the small footprint of the KK50vb as a key factor, Kent audio quality as the most important factor. "We had great intelligibility and a very focused sound dispersion," he says. "Everything sounded much clearer with the K-arrays — this difference was audible to everyone." Moving forward, the RRHOF has already specified K-array for its Rolling Stones and Beatles exhibits, and was expected to complete installation of the new K-array units by this month.
For more information, please visit www.k-array.com.
