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A New P.A. for the Incredible Hult Center
from MIX 557 - May 2023
by publications
Choosing a new P.A. is never a simple process. Some venues might have a shootout, while others might try a system for a few events to see how it all works together. In the case of Eugene, Oregon’s Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, the process took, well, nearly eight years of regularly renting a Meyer Sound Leopard compact line array system. The rental system was provided by locally based George Relles Sound, Inc., and Relles returned earlier this year to install the now-permanent Leopard boxes in the 2,447-seat venue. The installed system comprises main left and right hangs of 14-each Leopard compact line array loudspeakers, one more than with the typical rental system. A trio of Ultra-X40 compact loudspeakers are installed as balcony delays.
“For most shows, the delays aren’t critical because the Leopards cover the balcony very well,” noted Relles, “but if there’s a lot of level coming off the stage from a loud band, and it’s exciting the room, the delays will help boost the clarity up there.”
The top 12 Leopard loudspeakers are the M80 variant, with the narrower 80-degree horizontal pattern limiting reflections off the side walls. The bottom two loudspeakers employ the standard 110-degree waveguide. Front fills are six Ultra-X20 compact wide coverage loudspeakers, and deep bass is propelled by three-perside gradient cardioid arrays of 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements.
“Everything is going great with our new system,” said Hult Center general manager Jeff Weinkauf, “but of course, that is hardly a surprise. I’ve heard it many times over the years, and I’m always blown away by the clarity, depth and consistency. George [Relles] said several times—somewhat jokingly—that we might as well buy one of our own. Finally, we were able to make that happen.” n
