ACE wins sound reinforcement contract for Sha Tin racecourse
Published: ASIA
CHINA: Harman distributor Advanced Communications Equipment (ACE) has been awarded the contract to supply a new outdoor sound reinforcement system for Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse, the island’s largest horse-racing venue. The installation is due to commence in 2011.
Built in 1978 on reclaimed land, Sha Tin Racecourse is the larger of the two tracks in Hong Kong and is home to 474 races each season including the Silver Jubilee Cup and the Sprint Trophy. With a circumference measuring 1,900m, the track boasts two grandstands which can accommodate 85,000 spectators who listen to race commentaries broadcast by the soon-to-be upgraded PA systems.
Several suppliers were asked to offer demonstrations of replacement PA systems during non-race days, with track operator the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) specifying system performance and intelligibility as the most important criteria alongside substantial weatherproofing. Also cited as important was controlled coverage – audio spilling out onto the racetrack could upset participating horses.
In response, ACE has created a design based on 14 ceiling-suspended clusters comprising 5-6 JBL VerTec VT4887A line array cabinets. A newly-built eighth floor amplifier room has also been included, hosting 14 Crown IT5000 HD and 14 Crown IT12000 HD rack-mounted amplifiers to supply power to the 78 passive JBL speakers. ACE is reportedly equipping the room in advance of the loudspeaker deployment, which is set to take place in late July during the racing off-season.
The infrastructure will consist of analogue, digital and CobraNet cabling, with the digital install used as the main system and the analogue cables offering redundancy. Three sets of BSS London BLU 120 and 800 processors will be added to the three equipment racks to allow analogue, digital and CobraNet connection rather than providing DSP. The speakers will also be waterproofed and covered in Perspex to protect against dust, rain, humidity and bird’s nests.
ACE’s projects assistant GM Ben Lui explained why the JBL speakers were chosen by the HKJC committee. ‘They wanted a passive system that would project intelligible announcements and musical quality up to the trackside, which is 70m away. Our demonstration of the JBL VT4887A speakers showed we could give them that,’ he reasoned. ‘Meanwhile spillage onto the track is minimal and within tolerance. Using EASE modelling software, the angling of the VerTec speakers has allowed us to decrease the number of clusters down from 16 to14. In addition, the Jockey Club also wanted to have a system that could be used for other events outside race days such as concerts and VerTec gives them that.’