LEA Professional amplifiers have been deployed across a 54-zone Dante audio network at the Cincinnati Open tennis complex in Ohio, US, as part of a $250m redevelopment that has more than doubled the venue’s footprint.
Systems integrator Industrial Communication & Sound (ICS) designed and installed the network, which covers 10 match courts, 21 practice courts, five new buildings, renovated facilities and communal areas.
The installation supports a range of applications, including match-court audio, background music, broadcast distribution, emergency paging and pre-recorded announcements. It also provides integration with Hawk-Eye officiating technology and enables centralised control of audio routing and volume levels across the complex.
The project uses Dante-enabled amplifiers from LEA Professional’s Connect Series, with models ranging from four-channel units delivering 80W per channel to higher-powered versions capable of delivering 1,500W per channel.
The amplifiers provide Dante and AES67 connectivity alongside onboard 96kHz digital signal processing. Support for both high-impedance 70V/100V and low-impedance loudspeaker systems allows the network to accommodate different audio requirements across the site.
ICS used LEA Professional’s SharkWare software to develop amplifier configurations before installation, enabling engineers to prepare and deploy settings across multiple devices. The platform also provides loudspeaker tuning, amplifier grouping and network monitoring capabilities.
Remote management is supported through LEA Cloud, allowing the integrator to monitor and adjust connected amplifiers without visiting the venue. The amplifiers’ compact 1U format also enabled equipment to be accommodated within existing network racks.
The completed Dante infrastructure allows audio sources to be routed independently across the venue’s 54 zones, while designated locations can connect live music sources for distribution to individual areas or throughout the complex.
ICS had approximately 60 days to develop the system design and five months to complete installation, programming, testing and commissioning ahead of the tournament.
The redevelopment has expanded the Cincinnati Open’s capacity to accommodate tournament operations, hospitality and year-round activities, with the networked audio system designed to support the venue’s evolving requirements.
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