dampb installed in South Korean arts centre
Published: ASIA
KOREA: A new multi-auditorium arts facility based in An Dong, South Korea, has been fitted with d&b audiotechnik sound reinforcement to meet the broad array of musical styles hosted in its two auditoriums.
The An Dong Arts Centre is already host to a highly popular annual folk festival, while its 1,300-seat main hall and 400-capacity studio theatre both regularly feature an extremely varied programme of events and artists. Both spaces boast d&b systems supplied and installed by d&b audiotechnik Korea, following listening trials that began in 2008 prior to the venue’s construction. J-Series loudspeakers form the cornerstone of the main hall’s system, while Q-Series enclosures have been used in the smaller theatre, with both systems having been initially conceived by.
‘Although there was some good competition – An Dong City Council invited most major manufacturers – the d&b systems won because of a comprehensive response to tender,’ explained the Centre’s head of sound Sang Ho Kim. ‘Good price and a complete system design were matched by the sound; I have been working as a live engineer for 30 years and I've never before heard such wonderful performance.’
Stefan Goertz of d&b's application support department was also involved in the installation, having been invited to participate by Hak Kwon Kim, head of d&b audiotechnik Korea.
‘Essentially the main room is a concert hall with a proscenium stage,’ Mr Goertz explained. ‘The large wooden reflector above the stage is suspended from electric hoists and can be moved. The walls are panelled in wood but Kim took great care in choosing system placement (to within a millimetre to achieve uniform coverage) to avoid reflections from the balcony front or the walls. The hall has an orchestra pit, but there is also a stage thrust above and here Mr Kim specified d&b Ci80s built into the downstage edge for front fills. Ci80s are also used for under-balcony delays, although they are generally only required for a slight lift to the high end for increased intelligibility; in fact elements of the main J system are visible from every seat beneath the balcony, so no audience members are shaded from the main PA.’
Mr Goertz added that ‘users familiar with d&b systems might find Ci80s an unusual choice for these applications, but especially regarding the front fills, the added headroom in the low end is welcome when needed, which is often for performances such as the recent folk festival where some traditional instruments produce some extremely soft but deep resonances.’
According to d&b audiotechnik Korea, the installation has also prompted a new sales channel for the brand in the shape of Sang Ho Kim. ‘He has almost become my leading d&b salesman for the province,’ joked Hak Kwon Kim. ‘He can't stop telling people about it.’