TOA supplies new audio system to Aden stadium
Published: MEA
YEMEN: As part of a major refurbishment project, TOA has supplied a completely new PA/VA system to the 22 May Stadium in the city of Aden. It was refurbished for the 2010 Gulf Cup football tournament –the first to be staged in Yemen.
The system comprises 96 of the company’s SR-A12 loudspeakers, arranged into 16 towers positioned evenly around the field of play. These are driven by DA series amplifiers, and the D-2000 audio matrix mixer controls the sound. A VX-2000 system has also been installed for use in emergency announcements.
TOA’s Mr K Tanaka explained why the company was involved with the project. ‘Temperatures in Aden can reach 50-degrees Celsius with humidity of more than 80 per cent, so any audio system belonging to a commercial facility has to be capable of withstanding those extremes.’ He continued, ‘In this respect, TOA’s reputation for providing reliable products, together with the “Made in Japan” motif that implies durability, proved very important in determining the shape of the project.’
The bidding process for the project was competitive, with rival technical concepts being suggested by other manufacturers. ‘The decision was between our 100V line system and a competitor’s proposal for a de-centralised system using powered speakers,’ Mr Tanaka recalled. ‘We convinced the client that our 100V line solution would result in easier installation and maintenance, greater security, and smoother integration with other electronic systems in the facility.’
The final system design was sold to the customer via Atlas Trading Store, TOA’s sole distributor in Yemen. Atlas Trading carried out final testing and commissioning in conjunction with TOA Japan. The refurbished 22 May Stadium was formally opened earlier this year. The arena is also used for athletics, sports and live music concerts, when its capacity can rise to 30,000.