According to the Italian company's Hungarian distributor, Chromasound Ltd, this 5,500 capacity multifunctional sports hall is without comparison when it comes to speech intelligibility - thanks largely to the work undertaken by their integration partner, G-Sound Ltd.
Jozsef Gricz was their system designer, working in cooperation with Laszlo Suto, and they specified 40 Acustica C5212-96 two way full range enclosures, with narrow 90° x 60° coverage pattern. These surround the sports field on all four sides in 20 clusters of two, hung from above. The speakers are faced on the upper (fixed) and lower (mobile) part of the audience area - with the underneath enclosures installed horizontally with rotated horns, on unique designed certified consoles.
Said G-Sound's Jozsef Gricz, "We've defined the distances from the seats and between the clusters, taking into account the horn opening angles, to ensure that this met our requirements."
The 20 clusters are divided into eight zones, with the upper and lower speakers managed independently. The system is optimised via two dedicated RCF DX 4008 4-in/8-out digital loudspeaker management system, feeding 16 outputs. An amplification room is stationed in each of the four corners, with each position housing five IPS 3700 amps, RCF's powerful 2-channel amplifier. The speakers are always driven from the closest amp rack to minimise cable losses (and compensate for other issues).
In addition to the installed and mobile PA for the arena, G-Sound Ltd also provided the entertainment system for the VIP areas and the multizone public address system.
Chromasound project manager Imre Makkay was supported by Andor Furjes (of aQrate Ltd), who masterminded the acoustic design of the Arena and assisted with control measurements. Explained the former, "The sound system was designed to deliver good tonality and goes sufficiently deep to fulfill the musical requirements on its own, or alternatively it can be matched with additional subwoofers, if extra low end is required."
The Speech Transmission Index (STI) target was 0.5 with the arena full. At the first test, the Index's average was measured as STIPA 0.51 in the worst conditions (all zones, but in an empty arena), and STIPA 0.68 with just one zone on (the arena still empty). "Of course, these values will improve when there is an audience," notes Jozsef Gricz, " and we are happy that we have met our target."
He added, "Our main goal was to cover all seating with the same sound quality with the sound projected only where we want it to be. In real life the specifications have been verified, and the system delivers smooth transition between the different coverage areas."
The public address system was also created from RCF loudspeakers and electronics ( ZM2100 system with UP series amplifiers, MQ80P , DP4 , HD210T , PL60 speakers) with the public concourse and corridor areas, as well as changing rooms, divided for 10 zones. Its function is to broadcast the same music programme as in the Arena, and to make some calls for team players.
The Arena sound is also fed to the VIP area, where G-Sound Ltd has installed RCF Media Series with local sources (RCF MS1033 ), mixing (RCF L-Pad series) and amplification (RCF IPS 700 series).
Feeds to the system include announcers' mics, interval music from playback devices and live music. There is a technical room where all the source selection, mixing and routing take place. This can be fed by a mobile Dante stage box from several locations on the field and in the stands when a live
The new system made its debut in November at the Women's EHF Handball Championships where Chromasound reports that everything worked perfectly.
(Jim Evans)
