MILWAUKEE, WI — Sven Pro Sound incorporated components from K-Array’s installation product offerings for The Plaza Hotel. The goal was to enhance the audio quality of the historic hotel while minimizing the impact to the historic building’s aesthetics.
More details from Sven Pro Sound (www.svenprosound.com):
Brady Garrison, chief systems integrator at Sven Pro Sound was tasked to find a sound system that nearly or fully disappeared in the architecture of the building. The sound system needed to be suitable for not only background but foreground music.
Surface-mounted speakers were the only option as the ceiling and walls were both made of solid concrete. Other competitor bids were of more standard rectangle-sized surface mount speakers that were large or planter speakers with plants. These options were unacceptable for the hotel as they desired a solution that was elegant and sleek when seen.
“K-Array was the only brand that made a product small enough to hide in the hidden crevices of the architecture but also have the ability to output higher sound pressure levels if needed. Wiring and distribution was easier because their products also have an option to use a 32 ohm rating per speaker, which eliminated the need for a 70v system.”, Brady explains.
Sixteen small KT2 speakers were chosen in white and were hidden in vents and corners throughout all the public spaces of the hotel. As for the KT2 speakers that are not hidden out of sight in vents, they look elegant and sleek. A KU36 subwoofer was added for the cafe which was an area with consistently bass-heavy music. The entire K-Array system is powered off of two KA10-10 four-channel amplifiers, allowing room for the addition of KU36 subwoofers in every zone, not just the cafe.
Additional components of the sound system are four Tannoy DI6DC speakers powered by a IPD2400 amplifier for an outdoor courtyard that hosts live music as well as wedding parties. The hotel has the ability to broadcast the live music from the courtyard to the entire hotel using an Allen & Heath AB168 digital snake connected via cat5e to an Allen & Heath QU-PAC. The QU-PAC provides wireless mixing, zoning and source control for the entire hotel. A Sennheiser XSW35 wireless microphone system is also available for use in the courtyard for announcements.
For more information on K-array, go to www.k-array.com.
