LEA Professional provided an audio upgrade recently to two planetariums in Hawaii and Canada. The improvements to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Centre in Hawaii were part of a $750,000 upgrade funded by NASA. Meanwhile, the sound upgrades to the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium in Canada were part of a major modernisation programme for the country’s first ever planetarium.
A part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, ʻImiloa is a science education centre that opened its doors in February 2006. The $28 million, 40,000sqft exhibition and planetarium complex showcases the connections between the rich traditions of Hawaiʻi and current scientific research.
ʻImiloa’s 120-seat planetarium features a full-dome video projection system that assists in the sharing of Hawaiian wayfinding and other sciences. Recently, NASA funded a $720,000 upgrade for the planetarium, including a 10K-resolution system using ten laser-illuminated projectors, superior graphic performances, and superior audio to match the new visuals.
The planetarium wanted to continue using the existing three-way loudspeakers. So, SSIA Technologies, which designed the new systems for both Hawaii and Canada, used a different amplifier to power the high-, mid- and low-frequency drivers on each.
One LEA Connect Series 168D 8-channel amplifier was used exclusively for the high-frequency drivers. In contrast, two Connect Series 704D amplifiers powered the mid-frequency drivers, and four Connect Series 1504D amplifiers powered the low-frequency drivers and four separate 18-inch subwoofers. All three amplifier models include 96 kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options.
The IoT-enabled 8-channel 168D provides 160 watts per channel. Conversely, each 4-channel 704D delivers 700 watts per channel, while the high-power 4-channel 1504D provides 1,500 watts per channel. All models support high-Z (70V or 100V) and low-Z selectable by channel and feature two Smart Power Bridge channels. The Smart Power Bridge capability appealed to SSIA Technologies because it allowed them to bridge one channel on each CS1504D to power the subwoofers without sacrificing channel count. The remaining channels were used to power the low-frequency drivers without requiring them to buy more hardware.
George Barnett, co-founder and technical director of SSIA Technologies said: “The LEA amplifiers has good power, a small chassis, lots of features, and a very clean design. When the planetariums allowed us to spec each system, I said, ‘I’m definitely going to use LEA. It’s the best way to go.”
Meanwhile, the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium is the first of its kind in Canada. From 1960 and 1983, it informed the youth of the Edmonton area about astronomy. The stars were generated by passing light through several “star plates,” with holes drilled to reproduce their placement on the planetarium’s dome accurately.
The facility closed at the end of 1983, superseded by the adjacent Edmonton Space Sciences Centre (now the TELUS World of Science – Edmonton). The planetarium fell into a poor state of repair, receiving little care or attention for the next 35 years.
To revitalise part of the city’s history, Edmonton City Council granted the planetarium heritage status in 2017 and began plans to modernise the building. The 60-year-old building required many changes and staff felt it appropriate to update the audio.
SSIA Technologies installed two Connect Series 354D amplifiers to power the immersive audio experience. With 96 kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, the IoT-enabled 4-channel 354D provides 350 watts per channel, supports high-Z (70V or 100V) and low-Z selectable by channel, and features two Smart Power Bridge channels.
Barnett said: “Most of our planetarium systems are 5.1 or 7.1. The beauty of these amplifiers was that we were able to use five channels and then bridge one channel from each amplifier to drive subwoofers. So we get double the output, which is really nice.”
