One of the most prominent buildings in the downtown core of McPherson, Kansas, the opera house is known for its acoustics and has hosted everything from Vaudeville shows and films from the golden age of cinema through to political rallies and suffrage meetings. Correspondingly, says Michael Dunn of Sounds Great Music, designer and installer on the project, "They wanted a sound system that performers would find not only adequate, but impressive" - One that would provide not only good, natural sound, but achieve a look in keeping with the buildings' roots and legacy.
The refurbishment of the 1888 opera house was virtually a complete rebuild, Dunn explains, the final phase of which was completed in December 2009 with the installation of the venue's new lighting rig, and an audio system featuring Tannoy's compact, digitally steerable QFlex arrays.
Tannoy wasn't the first solution considered, Dunn says. But after a closer look at the initial concept, one based around a conventional line array system, with the inherent bulk and significant architectural impact that such a system would bring to the space, the benefits of QFlex swiftly became apparent. "We started to look at the lines of sight and the 3D models the architect had, and we realized that more than half of the audience would not be covered by the traditional line array concept, and would have to be covered by additional under balcony-fills."
QFlex also overcame other challenges presented by the build. Specifically, in providing clear, even coverage without forcing users to resort to butt thumping levels of volume. "It's very close," says Dunn. "The front of the balcony is about 25ft from the stage. The farthest corner balcony seat is only 65ft from the centre of the stage.
Additionally, care had to be taken to ensure no damage was done either during the install, or during subsequent performances, to the venue's fragile leaded glass windows, or to the plaster and lathe fresco above the proscenium - a work originally created by artist G.N Malm in 1913, and painstakingly restored by EverGreene Painting Studios and Belle Restoration from the original 1888 stencil.
Overall, the low profile, self-powered QFlex arrays were a perfect fit for the 550-seat venue's needs. "Aesthetics were critical; equally as important as the desire for good, natural sound," Dunn continues. "In the end QFlex made for both far less visual clutter, as well as substantial gains in terms of coverage and overall clarity.
The clarity of the system is further enhanced by key recent developments in QFlex's digital connectivity. Ultimately that's a product of the install coinciding with the culmination of Tannoy's development of digital audio input cards and digital audio break in boxes for QFlex systems - The testing of which had only just been completed when the parts were shipped from Tannoy in Scotland to McPherson.
(Jim Evans)
