"Our existing sound system didn't offer the quality of playback that we need for guests using our landmark ballroom on 42nd Street in the heart of Manhattan," says Matt Adams, the hotel's VP and managing director."
The Empire Ballroom comprises six interlinked areas that together can host events for between 100 and 1,700 patrons. The larger ballrooms B, C and D are laid out in a row with dividing air walls, while ballrooms A and E plus the West Ballroom serve as satellite areas with interconnected AV systems. "Previously, Grand Hyatt has brought in music-playback and AV systems to cover a wide range of events," says John Bangs from AV/COM Integrators, the Severn, MD-based firm that was contracted by Dyami Architecture as a member of the Empire Ballroom design team. Later, AV Com completed the installation of new sound and video-system components for Structure Tone, the general contractor.
"The hotel management wanted to reduce load-in time and hide all the ugly wiring by adding a permanent, state-of-the-art system. For the larger B, C and D ballrooms, we first considered down-firing ceiling speakers, but soon realized that glass and lighting in the elegant ceiling would cause refraction and reflection problems. So we decided on Tannoy's self-powered QFlex speakers and subwoofers that we ordered in custom colours to fully blend in with the décor." For ballrooms A and E and the West Ballroom, which are smaller and have less elaborate ceilings, AV/COM opted for Tannoy CMS 601BM ceiling-mounted speakers.
"We also needed to provide a background-music and paging system in the foyer hallway that runs alongside ballrooms B thru D and which connects into the other areas," Bangs continues. "Here, we specified Meyer Sound MM-4 speakers powered by Lab.gruppen C Series amplifiers; an additional C Series amp also powers the 24 CMS 601 ceiling speakers we specified for ballrooms A and E."
"The QFlex 32 is an outstanding, fully-programmable product," Bangs says. "QFlex uses full-range beam steering that offers an outstanding performance for both vocal and musical applications. Clients love them for the intelligibility and musical fidelity they offer in the most acoustically challenging spaces."
The first eight-channel C Series 20:8X amplifier powers eight foyer speakers via 8-ohm connections, while the second handles the remaining MM-4s and the Tannoy ceiling speakers. "These Lab.gruppen C Series amplifiers are amazing," Bangs states. "With the 20:8X you get eight, 250W channels in a 2U chassis that weights just 20 pounds; eight amps pack into a half rack - it's an amazingly efficient, very green package."
(Jim Evans)
