Dynacord brings power to Berlin Olympiastadion
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Long known as one of the best-sounding stadiums in Germany, the historic location was outfitted in 2004 with an Electro-Voice system in time for the 2006 World Cup final. After 12 years of faithful service, that system has been upgraded to benefit from the power, energy-saving and networking flexibility of the Dynacord IPX range of amplifiers.
In addition, the stadium’s existing 171 Electro-Voice XLC loudspeakers have been upgraded to the DVX version for more powerful sound and increased intelligibility.
With an overall ambition of reducing the total cost of system ownership, the new solution had to feature IP connectivity, Dante audio and green credentials as well as deliver the best possible sound with headroom to spare. “If you can’t clearly understand what is coming from the loudspeakers, not only is it a safety risk, it’s not particularly satisfying for fans in the venue,” argues, Christoph Meyer, director of events & communications at Olympiastadion.
Fulfilling these requirements are 64 Dynacord IPX10:4 Class-D, multi-channel amplifiers with up to 10,000 watts per amp, providing ample headroom while handling all DSP processing. Two Electro-Voice N8000 NetMax controllers handle audio distribution and interface with the emergency evacuation system.
“Dynacord IPX series DSP amplifiers were the ideal choice for the Berlin Olympiastadion, not only because they sound fantastic, but for their flexibility and unique green credentials,” says Frank Neubauer, head of technical at Olympiastadion. “The IPX amplifiers pack more power while using significantly less rack space and consuming a lot less energy, while full IP networking means the stadium is ready for any challenges.
“Also, the use of the new IRIS-Net 4.0 software release with IPX allows the constant supervision and control of every parameter across the entire sound system – all with fully customised graphical user interfaces and adjustable user access privileges.”
To round out the audio package, the Electro-Voice XLC line arrays have been given an upgrade. “Rather than replacing a very effective solution, it was decided to upgrade the existing speakers,” continues Neubauer. “So all 171 XLC enclosures from Electro-Voice have been upgraded to the DVX versions. Previously, the system worked in bi-amp mode using a passive crossover for mid and high frequencies; now the line arrays are driven fully active in tri-amp mode.”
(Jim Evans)
