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1. Community Professional // The I Series.
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11. QSC Audio // KLA Series.
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12. TANNOY // The VX Series.
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5. JBL // JBL Professional’s new Intellivox HP-DS370. 6. Martin Audio // Martin Audio’s OmniLine micro line array
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9. PreSonus // PreSonus’ line of StudioLive AI-series loudspeakers.
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10. Renkus-Heinz // Iconyx loudspeakers.
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3. RCF // RCF's VSA2050. 4. EAW // The QX Series.
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7. Meyer Sound // Meyer’s self-powered CAL column array loudspeaker. 8. Nexo // The Geo M6 range of loudspeakers.
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High-energy worship is a priority at The Refuge, and the sound system designed and installed by Charlotte-based WAVE is geared to deliver just that. The system features loudspeakers from Fulcrum Acoustics, QSC power and DSP, and a Midas Pro2 mixing console.
They say there's an app for everything, and when it comes to church audio, there's a loudspeaker for everything as well. With congregations gathering in traditional liturgical worship spaces to converted warehouses, manufacturers are driven to propose solutions that address the needs and challenges each unique space presents.
The result: churches have plenty of loudspeakers to choose from.
Networked audio & configuration
One of the major trends affecting loudspeaker technology these days is the growth of networked audio, notes Joe Rimstidt, systems design engineer at Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems Inc. This requires churches to make some decisions before arriving at a loudspeaker solution; first and foremost, which network standard to adopt. “From our position, several years ago Ethersound was probably the most common standard that we were dealing with, but I think Dante has definitely displaced that—at least with our customers,” he says.
Network configuration is also a big choice: do you want to integrate your audio network with the other networks in your facility? “My experience has been that Dante can be mixed with other traffic, but it does add an element where you may have problems—and the larger the network is, the more complex it is, and the more likely you are to encounter something that you need to troubleshoot and isolate,” Rimstidt notes. For this reason, even if the networks are integrated, there may be an advantage to transmitting audio traffic on its own V-LAN, separate from Internet traffic.
At Yamaha, the loudspeaker products that churches most commonly opt for are the manufacturer’s Installation Series (IS), as well as its Nexo Geo S12 line arrays and Nexo PS Series. Rimstidt explains that the IS Series is an affordable product line that emphasizes phase compatibility throughout, while the Nexo Geo S12 Series features considerable output capability for its size, with different rigging options for a cleaner appearance. The asymmetrical horn pattern featured in the Nexo PS Series is an option for churches that need to cover rectangular seating areas with a single cabinet. Yamaha also recently introduced the Nexo M6 Line Array Series, comprised of compact, lightweight models featuring a clean design.
Multisites & multi-shapes
For multisite churches, consistency is important, notes David Prince, manager of sales engineering at Bose Professional Systems. “Churches are doing multisites within the same city, just neighborhoods away, and they’re using all types of buildings to do that,” he says. “For us, as an audio provider, one of the key things that we can do for them is give them something that’s reliable and consistent in all of those applications.” This not only ensures that services will sound good no matter the location, it also makes life easier for technicians who travel from site to site—if the church uses the same manufacturer across all campuses, they only have to learn one system.”
Prince points out that Bose’s RoomMatch Series addresses seating areas of all shapes and sizes. “We’ve got a large-format waveguide in the middle, which allows us to do vertical and horizontal pattern control within the array, and that allows us to truly tailor the coverage to the seating area,” he explains. He also notes that the Bose Panaray MA 12 and MA 12EX Modular Line Arrays continue to be popular among churches—especially those with highly reverberant sanctuaries.
Digitally steered array technology is Renkus-Heinz’s answer to the diverse configuration of today’s worship spaces, explains Rik Kirby, vice president of sales and marketing at the manufacturer. The Iconyx Digitally Controlled Column loudspeaker systems pushes sound where it’s needed—the seating area—and away from walls and other reflective surfaces, and software-controlled DSP allows for beams of sound to be directed independently. The Renkus-Heinz IC² loudspeaker delivers up to four independently controllable sonic beams, and can be used as an individual, standalone loudspeaker, or combined in small arrays in ground-stacked or flown configurations.
Community Professional Loudspeakers also focuses on variety to meet the different needs of churches, depending on worship style and the make-up of the facility. Community’s Entasys addresses medium to large, highly reverberant spaces, while the Entasys 200 is suited for smaller reverberant spaces ranging from 50 to 350 seats.
Community's I SERIES addresses both architectural and acoustical issues within houses of worship, which can be scaled to provide uniform coverage over any room geometry without compromising aesthetics.
"One of the major trends in loudspeaker technology these days is the growth of networked audio."
Joe Rimstidt
Systems Design Engineer, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems Inc., Austin, TX.
The V Series was designed as a cost-effective solution for rooms up to about 400 seats, while the C Series and D Series include ceiling, surface-mount and pendant models that address speech clarity. The company’s VLF subwoofers offer extended low-frequency support in a compact form factor. “Worship venues vary widely from small, rural churches to larger metropolitan cathedrals and temples, to very large, theatrical-style megachurches,” says Chris Barrow, director of product marketing at Community, “[and] Community believes that the variety of worship styles and venues will continue to increase.”
1. Community Professional
The I Series gives designers a choice of compact point-source, high-directivity loudspeakers with available floor-monitor and subwoofer models in multiple performance levels. The I Series offers an attractive, but discreet, appearance to meet system design goals while minimizing the impact on facility aesthetics.
2. D&B Audiotechnik
d&b’s new Y-Series includes both point source (Yi7P and Yi10P) and line array (Yi8 and Yi12) loudspeakers each feature two eight-inch drivers with neodymium magnets mounted in a dipolar arrangement, around a 1.4-inch compression driver.
3. RCF
RCF's VSA2050 is designed for high intelligibility with a wide frequency response, providing directivity and control of voice reproduction, while featuring high dynamics for musicality— two major concerns for church applications.
4. EAW
The QX Series by EAW is designed for the “hostile acoustic environments often found in churches” through broadband pattern control. The speakers are equipped with a constant directivity horn, and Phase Aligned 12-inch low frequency transducers in vertical and horizontal pairs for extended control into the lower frequencies.
5. JBL
JBL Professional’s new Intellivox HP-DS370 is an update to its Intellivox DS1608 beam-shaping loudspeaker array. Measuring 3.7 meters in height with an output capability of 105 dB at 30 meters, the HTP-DS370 utilizes Intellivox’s beam-shaping capability, which applies room mapping to provide complex directivity patterns.
6. Martin Audio
Martin Audio’s OmniLine micro line array offers a compact form combined with full-range coverage. The newer MLA Compact and MLA Mini feature the manufacturer’s multi-cellular technology, and are well suited for larger churches and faith-based facilities that host modern praise bands.
7. Meyer Sound
Meyer’s self-powered CAL column array loudspeaker is designed to produce vocal clarity, even in the most reverberant environments. Digitally steerable, CAL’s vertical beam can be angled up or down in one-degree increments up to 30 degrees. CAL is available in three models.
8. Nexo
The Geo M6 range of loudspeakers is designed for full-range sound in a wide variety of fixed installations and mobile applications. A comprehensive range of mounting accessories complements the compact design, elegant internal rigging system and custom color options. Systems can be flown, ground-stacked or pole-mounted on subs.
9.PreSonus
PreSonus’ line of StudioLive AI-series loudspeakers incorporate Active Integration Technology, which combines wireless and wired networking with DSP to create a unified environment. SL Room Control software connects to the loudspeaker management processor onboard each speaker, and an optional Dante card is available.
10. Renkus-Heinz
Designed for problematic acoustical spaces, Iconyx loudspeakers use powerful software-controlled digital signal processing to create a steerable coverage pattern. The slim, low-profile design makes them a popular choice for architecturally sensitive environments.
11. QSC Audio
Suitable for installed and portable applications, QSC’s KLA Series is an active line array system with a “Lift, Click, and Play” design for quick and easy deployment. The series features the company’s Deep DSP algorithm for extended bass response, and GuardRail circuitry protection to prevent the amp module from clipping.
12. TANNOY
The VX Series from Tannoy comes in a 24 different powered and unpowered versions. With dual-concentric loudspeaker technology, each loudspeaker is designed for optimal time-alignment.
