WorxAudio increases coverage for Parkers Free Will Baptist church
Published: WORSHIP
WORLD: Hi-Tech Electronics, a design and build firm with a focus on the installation market and a concentration on houses of worship, has been tasked with handling the deployment of Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist church’s new sound system. The company chose to install a WorxAudio Technologies sound system, comprised of an X1i-P loudspeaker cluster, in an effort to improve the audio quality in its sanctuary as a means of making all services more meaningful.
Hi-Tech company owner David Williams discussed the project and the factors that led to the selection of the WorxAudio loudspeakers.
‘The Parkers Chapel sanctuary measures 100ft long by 90ft wide,’ Mr Williams explained. ‘The space has exposed wood beams as part of its cathedral type A frame ceiling. Acoustics are generally quite good, but as the room is nearly as wide as it is long, gaining consistent sound coverage throughout the area was a challenge. The sound system faces into the length of the room and there is fixed seating for close to 550 people. Services are traditional in nature and music plays a vital role in their services. They regularly have a good-sized choir and an accompanying instrumental ensemble perform in support of the services. As a result, having a sound reinforcement system capable of providing a high level of speech intelligibility and strong music reproduction characteristics was deemed critical.’
To address these concerns, Mr Williams and his crew deployed a seven-element WorxAudio X1i-P loudspeaker cluster. The new system is centrally positioned over the front edge of the stage/pulpit area facing into the length of the room. The WorxAudio X1i-P is a self-powered, 2-way, high efficiency, ultra compact loudspeaker system that incorporates a 1-inch exit high frequency compression driver and dual 8-inch cone transducers for the low frequencies. The cluster was suspended using WorxAudio’s TrueAim Grid.
When asked about those characteristics that made the WorxAudio X1i-P the right choice for this project, Mr Williams offered the following, ‘The WorxAudio X1i has a very broad, 160-degree horizontal dispersion pattern and this was precisely what was required in order for the sound to cover the extreme sides of the sanctuary. The previous sound system lacked this ability and, as a result, many people simply couldn’t hear clearly.’
Mounted at the rear of the centre loudspeaker cluster, Mr Williams installed another X1i passive loudspeaker. This enclosure is not visible from the congregation’s perspective. Instead, the loudspeaker is angled down at the area where the choir is located and serves as the monitor system. This loudspeaker is powered by WorxAudio’s PXD8080 power amplifier, which provides 800x800W.
In addition to the performance attributes of the WorxAudio TrueLine loudspeaker systems, Mr Williams also pointed to WorxAudio’s customer support services as being another reason for deploying the loudspeakers.
‘When I install WorxAudio loudspeakers,’ stated Mr Williams, ‘I know the company will have my back should I encounter any technical issues. The company has always been very responsive and routinely assists with items such as loudspeaker modelling and other technical issues that might arise.’
Since the installation was completed, church personnel have been extremely complimentary. ‘Wow! We were all blown away with the WorxAudio system,’ said Rev Sam Harris, the church’s minister of music. ‘The new system has a totally transparent sound. I have been in church music ministry since 1988 and this is the best system I have ever heard – not only in a church, but anywhere. The ability to cover every seat in the auditorium – including the balcony – with one centre array is amazing.’