APG solution for Grand T in Nantes
- Details
Designed on the principle of an insulated staging area, Le Grand T stands out due to the short distance between the stage and the last row, creating an intimate feeling between the actors and the audience. To enhance this proximity, Le Grand T recently decided to upgrade the entire front-fill sound system. French integrator, Sonowest, trusted loudspeaker manufacturer APG and its new Uniline Compact to answer the drastic and complex technical requirements and specifications.
Patrick Morilleau, technical deputy director of Le Grand T, explains: “Our previous sound system was aging and we could hear the difference of tone between the speakers. More importantly, the sound coverage we had wasn’t homogenous, which in turn created a sensation of hotspots when subjected to strong acoustic pressure. This manifested as a lack of coverage on the tip of the stage, thus creating a major void in the centre of the pit, as well as a pressure drop towards the last rows and therefore the control room.”
The challenge with this upgrade was to obtain an even acoustic pressure for the entire audience and a more precise sound with a system capable of handling various user modes. Because Le Grand T mostly hosts theatrical performances, the aim was to find a solution able to preserve the stage frame while reducing the visibility of the speakers to a minimum.
In order to ensure those specific requirements were met, Le Grand T reached out to a number of loudspeaker manufacturers to assess the different options and techniques available.
“APG stood out from the crowd by providing the most even coverage, with an accurate and efficient acoustic pressure all the way to the last rows. The nearfield speakers coupled with the sub bass system was perfectly attuned, and allowed to map out a qualitative sound,” explains Morilleau.
He adds: “We have been pleasantly surprised by the design of this three-way loudspeaker from APG, which is able to reproduce a high bandwidth and a really dynamic sound by distributing the energy back equally to each transducer. What’s more, the Uniline Compact boasts an open and unrestrained processing which, when handled by a skilled user, provides a faithful and true sound reproduction to the audience."
The Uniline Compact uses three different acoustic modes: a "large bandwidth" mode (UC206N / UC206W speakers only) for voice and musical reproduction at moderate levels, an "extended" mode (UC206N / W coupled with a UC115B bass speaker or another APG subwoofer) for music applications, and a full mode (a combination of UC206N, UC206W, UC115B and APG subwoofer) for high power applications across the entire audio spectrum.
The extended modularity of the Uniline Compact system allows for a large number of configurations (hung or floored) and an almost unlimited number of combinations between these three speakers, so the system can adapt to the different to the specificities of each venue.
A total of 14x UC206N medium / long range loudspeakers and four UC115B bass speakers now create a stunning sound at Le Grand T. These are complimented with five UC206Ws for the middle configuration. Finally, four Uniline SB118 bass speakers situated on the floor ensure the sub frequencies.
After a dozen shows and over 50 performances, including a jazz concert, two plays and a dance performance with live musicians, everyone is delighted with the result and performance of the audio system.
Patrick Morilleau concludes: “I particularly want to thank both APG and Sonowest for their involvement: They met all our requirements, every step of the way. The relationship was friendly, constructive and discerning. As for APG, they have the refreshing behaviour of a start-up, and the experience of a long-standing French company."
(Jim Evans)
