HK Audio’s SI Series P10j column loudspeakers have been installed at the Church of San Francisco de Asís, one of Chile’s most significant national monuments, in the City of Valparaíso.
The system was installed by Audio Integra in collaboration with HK Audio at the historic church. The installation is designed to deliver intelligibility whilst meeting the acoustic and heritage requirements of the landmark space. The P10j is a passive installation column speaker featuring ten 3in drivers.
First constructed in 1845, the church has suffered three major fires in 1983, 2010 and 2013. The building has now been fully restored, with the recent renovation marking a new chapter for the site.
Audio Integra and HK Audio worked on acoustic simulations to determine the loudspeaker solution for the church’s two main areas. The main challenge at San Francisco de Asís was excessive reverberation impacting speech intelligibility. The P10j is designed to provide focused coverage whilst maintaining a natural listening experience.
Alfonso Verdugo, media manager at ProSound Chile, said: “Two major factors influenced the decision. The church needed a solution that was elegant and compact enough for a protected heritage building, while still delivering consistently high audio performance. After three fires in 20 years, it also required a system with a robust security rating for clear emergency warnings.”
Verdugo added: “The acoustic simulations from HK Audio were extremely accurate. They precisely predicted the final results and according to three independent studies, this system is considered the best tested among Catholic churches in Chile to date.”
The SI Series P10j meets IP55 environmental standards and is certified to EN 54-24:2008, making it suitable for both humid conditions and emergency-use scenarios. The model is also available in white, allowing it to integrate with the church’s interior.
