US church opts for Iconyx
Published: WORSHIP
US: The sanctuary at Davidson College Presbyterian Church has been fitted with a new sound system featuring Renkus-Heinz Iconyx loudspeaker systems.
High ceilings and Gothic columns in the 1,200-seat sanctuary are visually stunning, but nevertheless have traditionally created an acoustic challenge for the church. While the room’s overly live acoustics work well with the 50-year-old organ, speech intelligibility has long been an issue. ‘It's a really reverberant space, and we've always had trouble with people being able to hear spoken words clearly,’ said Rick Cardenas, the Church’s technical director.
However, while the acoustic problems with the space were clear, aesthetic concerns had long stood in the way of developing an effective solution. ‘It's a beautiful space, and the idea of putting a big speaker system in the middle of it just wasn't an option,’ explained Mr Cardenas. The solution has now been found in a pair of Renkus-Heinz’s Iconyx IC24-R digitally steerable line array loudspeakers, which have been configured to provide focused coverage to every seat.
Working around the sanctuary’s busy calendar, Mr Cardenas worked with college staff members to install the IC24-R systems into soffits on either side of the proscenium. The result is coverage of the entire floor and balcony seating area, from systems that are all but unseen behind grilles that perfectly match the walls.
‘The Iconyx system has made the worship experience more enjoyable,’ said Mr Cardenas. ‘People of all ages can actually hear the sermons. We’ll definitely be using the Iconyx in our next upgrades as well.’