Leeds Conservatoire tunes in to Meyer Sound
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In addition to its role as an educator, it also hosts an eclectic year-round programme of gigs, recitals, workshops, film showcases, masterclasses and conferences in its purpose-built performance spaces. The Conservatoire’s main 350-seat auditorium, The Venue, is a flexible and inviting space designed to stage the widest possible variety of events. In keeping with the Conservatoire’s desire to maintain the very highest technical standards, its team recently chose to upgrade The Venue’s audio system, and engaged Bradford-based specialists Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to supply and install a new Meyer Sound system.
Dave Simpson, head of live event production at Leeds Conservatoire comments, “We had an ageing system at The Venue which was very much in need of replacement. Although it hadn’t necessarily been driven very hard, it had many miles on the clock and was no longer up to meeting the requirements of our diverse and ambitious programme of events. We wanted a high quality, future-proof system, and had listened to a number of systems from a variety of manufacturers in situ.
“PAS suggested we listen to some Meyer Sound boxes in our main space. We’d worked with PAS on a number of occasions in the past, having made a range of purchases including a Yamaha digital console and a variety of DPA microphones, as well as engaging with their hire department, and always found them to be highly knowledgable and very responsive.”
PAS arranged demonstrations of Meyer Sound loudspeakers, recommending that Dave Simpson and his team take close account of Meyer’s latest Ultra X-40 self-powered point source model, which they felt would meet The Venue’s requirements.
“The ULTRA-X40s were so much more transparent than the other boxes we listened to, with a power and clarity we didn’t get from the competition,” says Simpson. “Having taken account of a couple of subwoofer options we settled on the smaller 750-LFC model, as we were very impressed with the output. The compact nature of the subs also best suited their location in close proximity to our main audience and artist/performer doors.”
Brian Lumb of Pro Audio Systems oversaw the design, installation, tuning and commissioning of the Meyer Sound system, which comprises two Ultra-X40 as mains, two Ultra-X22 for delays, two UPM-2P as slip-fills, and tqo 750-LFC subwoofers. A Meyer Sound Galaxy 816 Processor completes the picture. The Ultra-X40s at Leeds Conservatoire were the first to be permanently installed in the UK, and have proved an instant hit. Dave Simpson reflects on a choice well made:
“As well as our own programme, we have a lot of external agencies coming through our doors for events and conferencing. These include local and national television stations, touring companies, big corporate names, and a wide range of local business and government groups. A top-quality audio system is therefore of the utmost importance, and that’s exactly what we now have.
Brian Lumb, managing director at PAS adds: “The Meyer Sound Ultra-X40 was perfectly suited to The Venue and we’re proud to have been responsible for what was the first UK installation of these exceptional products. We enjoy an excellent relationship with the team at Leeds Conservatoire and worked closely with them to ensure that their choice of a new system aligned exactly with their needs.”
