Reading University’s Great Hall, located on the University’s original London Road campus, has solved its intelligibility issues with an audio system centred around Renkus-Heinz Iconyx digitally steered array loudspeakers.
Reading University ranks among the top 1% of universities worldwide and its Great Hall hosts a wide variety of events and ceremonies. The hall has an 80ft curved ceiling and highly reflective acoustics, however its protected historic status limited the options for improving clarity.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor consulted with UK audio distributors POLARaudio to find a solution to the problem. Integrators Snelling Business Systems were brought in to create the Renkus-Heinz system. The Iconyx technology creates tightly focused beams of sound directing them at the audience and away from walls, ceilings, and other reflective surfaces.
The new sound system comprises just two Iconyx IC24-II-R steered array columns, with a Mackie VLZ4 1202 analogue console for inputs and a Biamp Nexia SP providing system processing. Snelling Business Services MD Toby Wise observed: “There is no doubt whatsoever that the beam steering capability of the Iconyx loudspeakers has completely transformed the sound in the Great Hall.”
The low profile design of the Iconyx systems also addressed the University’s concerns regarding the Great Hall’s historic architecture, with Renkus-Heinz delivering the units custom painted to blend with the décor.
As Reading University’s senior IT technician Mark Taylor, commented: “Graduation ceremonies had always been something of a major headache in terms of sound, but this year everyone involved was full of praise for the clarity and audibility throughout the hall. The Iconyx system designed by POLARaudio has improved the functionality of the hall literally beyond recognition.”
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