During this restructuring phase in the Aula Magna, a design goal was to eliminate the central structures blocking the view of the room, in particular a system with outdated line array hangs. “We opted for a distributed system, mounting the elements on the columns of the nave," describes consultant Alberto Vandini of LG Integrated Service.
In a classic example of modern technology making its home in an ancient environment, the new NEXO ID84 column loudspeakers have been installed in the historic Aula Magna of the University of Bologna, in northern Italy, the oldest university in the world to be in continuous operation.
The Aula Magna of Santa Lucia was a 13th century church, and it has seen many uses over the centuries. After renovation in the late 1980s, it became the Aula Magna (or Great Hall) of the University of Bologna, and is now used for institutional meetings, cultural shows, and ceremonies to confer honorary degrees upon some of the most important people in the world.
In previous years, the Aula Magna handled its sound reinforcement requirements with two hangs of NEXO’s compact GEO S8 line arrays. When it was time to upgrade the system, the client returned to the NEXO brand and, on the advice of installation specialists LG Integrated Service srl, looked at the high-performance ID84 column speaker launched just weeks before.
Standing one meter high, the ID84 modules are paired with ID84L LF extension cabinets, an arrangement that is especially suitable for long-throw applications.
“During this restructuring phase in the Aula Magna, the client wanted to eliminate the central structures that were blocking the view of the room, in particular the line array hangs,” explains Alberto Vandini from LG Integrated Service. “We opted for a distributed system, mounting the elements on the columns of the nave. The choice of the ID84 loudspeaker seemed to us to be the most logical for this space, which is approximately 80 by 40 meters, accommodating about 1,000 people.”
Ten speaker positions now surround the nave of the Aula Magna, each with a single column formed by coupling an ID84 column speaker with its companion low-frequency extension module, an ID84L.
The amplification system comprises 2x NEXO NXAMP4X2MK2 and 1x DTDAMP4X1.3 + DTD-TN processor, all running Dante.
The ID84 is a performance loudspeaker that offers an outstanding Peak SPL output of 135dB, and a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz, delivering a smooth and musical sonic signature that is equally competent at speech and music reinforcement. Inside the two-way passive box are eight of NEXO’s powerful 4-inch-long excursion Neodymium LF drivers, and eight 1-inch HF drivers in a unique arrangement which maximizes the units' efficiency.
By doubling the line length, the vertical directivity of the assembly is increased in the low frequencies, leaving horizontal directivity unchanged.
Standing one meter high, the ID84 modules are paired with ID84L LF extension cabinets, an arrangement that is especially suitable for long-throw applications. This powerful extension cabinet has almost exactly the same footprint as the ID84, and contains eight 4-inch LF components. By doubling the line length, the vertical directivity of the assembly is increased in the low frequencies, leaving horizontal directivity unchanged.
The amplification system comprises 2x NEXO NXAMP4X2MK2 and 1x DTDAMP4X1.3 + DTD-TN processor, all running Dante. Magnelisâ side covers and a front grille complete the sleek contemporary aesthetic of the cabinets, which are presented in white to match the installation environment at Aula Magna.
“When the speaker modules were installed, even before we turned the system on, we received so many compliments on the beauty and elegance of the product,” says Vandini. “Having such an aesthetic makes an important difference in an environment of historical interest.”
