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| Community R.25-94TZ two-way all-weather systems were installed in the outside areas |
Built in 1893 and located 650 meters above the bay of Jounieh in Lebanon, Bkerké is the See of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate. Like many ancient religious buildings the architecture is beautiful and the acoustics challenging. For its new sound system the Church commissioned Lebanon-based pro audio specialists, Technosound, to provide a solution that would give the highest quality audio with the minimum aesthetic intrusion. A combined system was required to provide sound for both the interior of the main church and also for selected areas outside the building.
“For the main area inside the church we chose Community’s ENTASYS three-way, full-range column line-array loudspeaker systems,” said Pierre Fahed of Technosound. “Their wide horizontal and very narrow vertical dispersion gives excellent coverage with minimal overspill to the reflective surfaces of the room. The ENTASYS also provides the highest intelligibility from a very slim column, which merges well aesthetically. To minimise intrusion we painted the units locally, to match the building’s stone interior.”
For the outside areas at the front entrance and the courtyard, Technosound utilised Community R.25-94TZ two-way, full-range, all-weather systems, with a 90 x 40 degree coverage pattern. “For sound quality combined with long-term outdoor reliability, Community’s R-Series are unequalled,” said Fahed. “Their compact size and discreet colouring were again a big advantage in minimizing visual impact.”
To ensure high quality voice for the system, Technosound supplied a range of AKG microphones, including two AKG WMS450-P wireless, four AKG CGN521E goosenecks, four AKG C5 condensers and one AKG D5S vocal mic. These are mixed via an Allen & Heath ZED22FX with an ART MX225 distribution mixer for zone control. Processing is handled by a DBX DriveRack PA+ and the loudspeakers are driven by QSC PLX3602 amplifiers. Two QSC K10 active loudspeakers provide foldback for the choir and the system is complete for recording and playback with a TEAC CDP650 CD Player and a TEAC CDRW890 CD Recorder.
“Community really did have the ideal solutions for this installation, inside and out,” concluded Fahed, “visually discreet with excellent sound quality, ideal coverage patterns and assured reliability. Most importantly, the Church is very impressed and completely satisfied with the new system.”
