CAV won the contract on the strength of a referral, and immediately carried out a survey on a 60m x 25m enclosure that hosts international show jumping events on the 90-acre site. Previously the Centre had hired in its audio (interfacing with a less than adequate 100V line installed system, fed from a CD) and clearly needed to upgrade.
The company demoed a Martin Blackline system with the option of additional AS118 horn-loaded subs - and the Centre purchased the full package. "We were told to fill the room with sound," says CAV's Hans Beier, "so we opted for a central loudspeaker system and delays."
The central cluster comprises six Martin Audio F15 enclosures mounted in their own flying assemblies, with two additional F12s used as underhungs. Also in the roof are the pair of AS118 stadium subs. CAV produced their own flying frames and the Centre itself reinforced the roof joists by providing additional cross-braced steels.
"To maintain the facility at international standard we needed to provide a handheld radio mic and programmable IR remote to enable the riders to change the track order and sound sources while on horseback," Beier continued.
Aware that tiered seating can be introduced into the top third of the enclosure it was felt prudent to add a pair of F12s on delays, over the audience, with the EQ and delay taps programmed into an Allen & Heath iDR8 system controller. Also mounted high up on the back wall are the Crown amp racks.
Despite the barn-like room acoustics Beier says that the clay floor proved to be a great absorber of unwanted reflections. "The sound radiates out nicely from the central cluster while the down-fills provide more directional sound," he says.
(Lee Baldock)
