Wanhe Grand Theatre takes audio in-house

CHINA: Powersoft amplifiers have been installed at Wanhe Grand Theatre to power the venue’s new in-house EAW audio system. Housed within the Wanhe Shopping Mall in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, the 1,500 sq-m venue can accommodate approximately 500 people and offers ‘advanced performance facilities’ capable of supporting concerts, fashion shows, new product releases, art performances and conferences. The client’s requirement was that the entire audio system must be ascetically pleasing with a small footprint and ‘Hi-Fi’ sound quality. The project’s equipment was supplied by local Powersoft distributor, Shenzhen EZPro Sound & Light Technology Co Ltd.

The unique layout of the theatre provided several challenges for the sound system design. It features nine 6m x 5m concave ceilings and a huge glass lighting fixture in the centre, creating coverage issues and unwanted reflections. ‘The concave surface directs the sound reflection to a specific area, making it louder here and there and almost impossible to achieve consistent coverage,’ explained technical manager, Lian Xuejun.

Having modelled the space with EAW Resolution and EASE 4.0 software, Mr Xuejun specified an EAW KF720 three-way line array system, configured in left/right hangs positioned on either side of the stage and each comprising six KF720 modules. To fulfil the theatre’s aesthetic requirements, six EAW NTS250 subwoofers were installed and hidden within the walls, three on each side installed in the splayed walls. Four further EAW MK8126iU enclosures were discretely installed on the proscenium wall, alongside four EAW VFM129 full range loudspeakers acting as mobile stage monitors.

‘The nominal coverage angle of KF720 line array speakers is 110-degrees (H) x 12-degrees (V), which perfectly avoids the concave ceiling and minimises interference, which effectively helps to improve the speech intelligibility,’ confirmed Mr Xuejun.

To cater for other function needs, the theatre also installed eight EAW CR72z two-way, passive full range loudspeakers on the side and back walls of the audience area to provide a surround experience. Additionally, a 40-channel digital mixing system comprising Allen & Heath’s GLD112 control interface, AR2412 and AR0804 audioracks handles control and mixing. All of the PA systems are optimised via an EAW UX8800 digital signal processor and powered by Powersoft M series digital amplifiers – three M28Q and four M50Q.

According to Mr Xuejun, the main reasons for choosing the Italian manufacturer's amps were power efficiency and the saving of rack space. ‘Powersoft was chosen mainly because of its outstanding high efficiency,’ he confirmed. ‘With patented PFC technology, Powersoft amplifiers can adapt to a wide range of voltages and will not reduce the output even in very low voltage levels, ensuring maximum output in any circumstance. Besides, Powersoft M series amplifiers only take up a single rack space unit, which leaves a very small footprint and allows for rapid heat dissipation, ensuring a safe operation at all times.’

www.allen-heath.com
www.eaw.com
www.ezprointl.com
www.powersoft-audio.com