Located in Koice, the 8400 capacity Steel Arena is the second largest ice hockey venue in the country. As well as ice-based sports it hosts equestrian events, motor sport, basketball, football, exhibitions, dance, theatrical spectaculars and live music. It will also be a venue for the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championship
Specified and installed by Humenné-based Citylight, the project entailed removing the existing audio installation and installing a new sound system. This was complemented by adding acoustic treatment to the walls and ceiling.
"I've worked in the arena as an front of house engineer several times and had real problems with the acoustics," says Citylight's Igor Horváth. "When I heard the Funktion One AX88 for the first time in London, I knew that it was the solution for venues like the Steel Arena. And, of course, if you use the best speakers in the world, you have to use the best equipment throughout the audio chain - and there is nobody better than XTA."
The new system comprises 19 AX88 and 10 F118 subs flown in five clusters 23m above the floor along the hall's centreline. Powered by three E45, four E25 and one E15 MC² Audio E Series amplifiers, all system control is via XTA DP448s.
"The system is used for announcements, so its intelligibility was critical," says Horváth. "By installing both a great new audio system, it made the sound much better. But, to improve it further, I suggested installing the acoustic treatment as well."
Comprising 3800 acoustic panels hung beneath the roof and around 1000m2 of acoustic insulation on the walls, the combination of the new audio system and acoustic treatment has transformed the Steel Arena's sound.
"As well as announcements, the system is also used for fills and delays at live gigs. Eight output channels are split across the five clusters, each delayed separately," says Horváth. "The front of house engineer sets it up using XTA's AudioCore software and it sounds amazing."
(Jim Evans)
