AURORA, IL – The Philips Park Zoo has installed an audio system to deliver news, exhibit information and background music to its 200,000 annual visitors.
Chicago-based AST (Advanced Systems & Technologies) installed a 70-volt system with eight Technomad loudspeakers to provide intelligible voice and musical reproduction throughout the zoo's seven acres.
Seven Technomad Vernal loudspeakers are used to the cover the grounds, providing the exhibit information to guests. One Technomad Vienna loudspeaker provides long-distance audio projection to patrons at the main entrance gate and visitor center.
Mounted on various building eves, light poles and fences, the Vernal and Vienna loudspeakers are IP56 weatherproof, two-way, full-range loudspeakers built to withstand the elements.
"We needed a more efficient way to communicate with out visitors, especially in the event of a storm or if an animal were to escape," stated Randy Johnson, manager of Philips Park Zoo. "The weatherproof aspect drew me to Technomad, and the sound quality of the loudspeakers has exceeded our expectations. I recorded some .wav files and have short zoo ads randomly playing in between the music segments, and everything sounds great."
"The Vernal and Vienna loudspeakers were chosen for their weatherproof construction, and their throw distances perfectly matched our needs," said Terry McCarthy, partner and design engineer at AST.
McCarthy strategically placed the loudspeakers outside the animal enclosures and above the reach of visitors. He used Technomad's yoke mount anchoring system and four runs of 12-gauge audio cable to provide the 70-volt power distribution to all of the loudspeaker locations.
"We hid the cables at Randy's request so they weren't visible to the public," said Johnson. "This took extra time but it resulted in a great payoff for the zoo. The loudspeakers blend perfectly into the surrounding environment, and the audio sounds great. Once you install them, you never have to worry about them."
For more information, visit: www.technomad.com.
