Tannoy and Labgruppen solution for Menlo Park Presbyterian Church
Published: WORSHIP
US: As part of a complete renovation project, California’s Menlo Park Presbyterian Church has been equipped with a sound system solution comprised of products from Tannoy and Lab.gruppen.
Responding to a brief stipulating that a ‘concert-level line array and an electronic variable acoustic system’ was required to support the services and music performed at the church, a team comprising Paul Wonsek Associates (PWA) and Michael Garrison Associates (MGA) planned the A/V installation. Vivid Illumination completed the lighting design for the facility.
‘We were familiar with Tannoy’s VQ Series of loudspeakers, so we were confident it would work well in this room, and it did,’ explained MGA project manager Daniel Durst. ‘The VQ Series was the ideal solution,’ he stated.
‘Because of the high efficiency of the VQ loudspeakers, we were able to achieve substantially greater sound levels within the constraints of the existing available electrical power and equipment rack space,’ said Michael Garrison, founder and owner of MGA. ‘This would not have been the case with a typical line array system, and resulted in significant cost savings for the project.’
The centre cluster includes a VQ 60 full range, three-way loudspeaker, a VQ MB double 12-inch high power low/mid frequency module, a VQ 85DF two way down-firing mid/high loudspeaker, a VS 215HL subwoofer and two VS 218DR dual 18-inch direct radiating subwoofers. Two stereo clusters, located to the left and right of the main cluster, consist of a VQ 60 and a VS 15DR for additional low frequency response. Stage front-fill coverage is provided by a pair of V6 boxes mounted at the front corners of the new stage. Tannoy worked with MGA to come up with a modified horn, now named VQ 95MH, with a targeted coverage pattern to best serve the transept seating areas.
MGA had structural support added to the ceiling, close to the arch so that the VQ 95MH could be hung closely to the ceiling, avoiding aesthetic and sightline problems. A Panasonic TH-58PF12UK 58-inch professional plasma flat panel monitor was mounted below each VQ 95MH on both sides to provide additional visual support to these seating areas.
The side seating areas have a low ceiling that require delay speaker coverage, for which MGA selected Tannoy V8 boxes – three per side are bracket mounted to the ceiling close to the columns. Flat screen video monitors were also required to provide visual supplementation to the transept and side seating areas. MGA installed Sharp LC-32LE700UN 32-inch Led flat screen monitors directly below each V8 loudspeaker to handle this requirement. Meanwhile, five Di5T ceiling speakers from Tannoy were distributed throughout the lobby area for additional sound reinforcement for those outside of the worship area.
MGA and the church agreed to use the existing amp racks with Lab.gruppen C Series amplifiers, including three C:16:4s, two C:68:4s and C:88:4s models. MGA also supplied an Avid Venue D-Show system with ProTools HD and a total of 96 inputs and 16 outputs. Two BSS Soundweb London processors, rack mounted in the amp room, provide all signal processing for the loudspeaker systems. Paul Wonsek from PWA worked closely with MGA to create an effective wall panel layout, opting for wall-mounted acoustical ‘BAD’ panels from RPG Diffusor Systems.
‘We’ve had positive comments across the board,’ stated Ron Fulton, facilities manager for Menlo Park Presbyterian. ‘Using the Tannoy system provided the performance that we required, yet with considerable savings on the cost of the project. It allowed us to invest in larger video screens – which people really love – and to do some other things we wouldn’t have been able to, had we spent more on a line array. It has been a good renovation for us.’
‘It is particularly rewarding to be able to work with a church and provide them with the systems they need at a price point that they can afford,’ adds Mr Garrison.
David Garrison’s role in the project was as CAD manager and acoustic/loudspeaker modeller, whilst Steve Shewlakow acted as senior A/V installer, with Salvador Mora as A/V installer.