A 1 SOUND multichannel audio system has been installed at Boston’s Old South Meeting House to support Ruckus!, an experiential exhibit from Revolutionary Spaces combining multichannel sound, lighting and projected animations throughout the historic museum and church building in the Massachusetts city. The system was designed by Electrosonic in collaboration with 1 SOUND to provide clear, consistent coverage without competing visually with the building’s architecture.
The main system uses 1 SOUND Tower LCC84 cardioid line array columns, with Tower LCC44 loudspeakers providing side fills. Flush-mounted Level L35 loudspeakers are deployed as surround fills throughout the room and towards the back, while C4 loudspeakers provide additional coverage for the balcony. SUB28 subwoofers are positioned at the front left and right of the space for low-frequency reinforcement.
Matthew Wilding, senior director of interpretation and future projects at Revolutionary Spaces, said: “Solving sound for a space like ours – a space that needs to maintain its architectural and historical integrity, and that is not designed for modern sound – is a tall order. 1 SOUND worked with us to craft a state-of-the-art, multi-channel system that sounds absolutely incredible and is practically invisible. With our old system, there were parts of the building where you’d struggle to hear someone speaking clearly because of the reverberation. Now, every seat is a good seat.”
Because the building is itself part of the visitor experience, loudspeaker appearance was an important consideration. Through the 1 SOUND Custom Shop, the company worked with Electrosonic and the client to identify an exact colour match for the space, allowing the loudspeakers to blend into the historic surroundings while maintaining the required performance.
The distributed multichannel design is intended to maintain consistency from the main floor through the surrounding seating areas and balconies, supporting the experience throughout the space.
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