The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft, UK – now a newly formed Charitable Trust – has refurbished its 800-seater Edwardian auditorium, choosing German firm HK Audio’s Elements install sound system for the venue. Marina Theatre Technical Manager Karl Dunnett commented: “As part of the refurbishment process we wanted to replace our 20-year-old, wheelie bin-sized speaker cabinets. We wanted a system that not only sounded great but was small and compact enough that it would go almost unnoticed to the eye so as not to detract from the Edwardian features.” The system needed to cover both tiers of the Auditorium, plus Front Fills and Delays for the back of the Circle. Chameleon Pro Audio & Lighting supplied the HK Audio Elements install system to fulfil the requirements. Fourteen E435 enclosures were installed – six covering the main Stalls (three per side, powered by the active E210 Sub AS subs), and eight covering the Circle (four per side, powered by an EA600 digital power amp module each side). A further four E210 Sub AS subs were deployed to underpin the system, while an additional four HK Audio Installation Line IL 8.1s for Circle Delays were fitted, along with two for Front Fills (all running off pre-existing theatre amplifiers) to complete the system. Dunnett added: “I am really impressed with the HK Elements system. The installation kits made for a really quick and easy installation. The size of them meant we were able to place the speakers exactly were we needed them, plus the focus of the units themselves has eliminated some of the reflection issues we had with our old system. The system fills the space very evenly, and the tonal quality and clarity of the sound is maintained throughout the auditorium. So far, we have had very positive feedback both from the audience members and the visiting engineers who have used the system.”
