L-ISA in the round at Salzburg’s Oval
- Details
Right from the start, the room’s extraordinary architecture, which features a steep atrium grandstand and a 13m-wide stage that is only 15m from the control room, posed significant challenges to conventional L-C-R sound reinforcement systems. "Thanks to L-ISA, not only was the conventional technology replaced, but a completely new, immersive listening experience was created at every seat," explains Rupert Pichler, managing director of Pansound and project manager for the L-ISA conversion in the Oval.
The sound design by Martin Rode, Head of Application Install D-A-CH, comprises a Scene system with five arrays of three A10 Wide, evenly hung above the stage and across its entire width, along with two sets of three KS21 subwoofers each, flown horizontally behind the Scene system and configured in an end-fire cardioid array.
Five 5XT placed in front of the stage serve as front-fill. Three coaxial X8 per side are placed along the walls, with a further two X8 on the rear wall, and five ceiling-mounted 5XT create surround and overhead sound. The entire system is driven by LA4X amplified controllers.
Even before the final choice of L-ISA was made, the project team played with the idea of immersive sound reinforcement. "The central requirement was, and is, the optimisation of the listening experience," says Rupert Pichler.
Pichler and Andexlinger first heard the L-ISA immersive sound technology at a demonstration in the L-Acoustics Creations headquarters in Highgate, London. Their decision to opt for L-ISA was based on the flexibility of the technology as well as the audio quality of L-Acoustics systems.
“When Rupert Pichler told me about this completely new kind of sound, I didn’t think that it was possible,” explains Andexlinger. “So we went to London to get to the bottom of this auditive 'mystery' and experience it live. It was breathtaking. Never before had I heard music from loudspeakers in such a clear way.
"The Europark shopping centre is considered the most successful mall in Austria. With the Oval, we wanted to expand the offer for our visitors to encompass both art and culture. Initially, we were met with scepticism from artists and artist agencies," says Andexlinger. "However, we didn't want an artistic fig leaf in a shopping centre, but a stage with its own personality for jazz and world music on the one hand, and a programme of cinema and cabaret on the other - and all this in a combination that makes it possible for both art lovers and newcomers to feel comfortable and be inspired.”
“L-ISA is outstanding,” concludes Pichler. “You hear what you see, and you hear it at every seat in the room. L-ISA technology has brought a completely new listening quality to the Oval."
