Over a decade after installing a Martin Audio public address system at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium, Imperium Integration has returned to totally renew the PA/VA set-up with the British manufacturer’s latest tech, headed by the TORUS constant curvature arrays.
As part of a general stadium upgrade, and as a precursor to increasing the ground’s capacity as Leeds United return to the Premier League, more than 100 Martin Audio speakers have been carefully detailed to provide seamless coverage across all four stands – including the corners – as well as the TV production studios, hospitality and general ancillary areas. This reflects the growing influence and ambition of the club’s owners, 49ers Enterprises, and their desire to create a more engaging match day experience while meeting all life safety standard compliances.
“The club needed to replace the PA system because it had reached end of life,” explained Imperium Integration managing director Alan Inkster. “As a fixed curvature array [TORUS is] brilliant and absolutely kills it in a stadium this size. It’s almost like it’s designed for it. We tested it side by side with other people’s equipment and sonically and acoustically, it’s stunning as well.”
The club sanctioned Imperium’s recommendation and each stand is now equipped with TORUS T1230 (12in, 30-degree constant curvature) arrays. Inkster: “We kept uniformity with TORUS because you get a different timbre when you use different speakers. We needed more bass, and the moderate weight of TORUS allowed us to put subs in the hang configuration, without giving the structural engineers heart failure!”
The East Stand comprises six 3-box TORUS arrays, each with an SXCF118 cardioid sub, with double TORUS arrays for the top tier. The North Stand comprises six TORUS arrays (every second one with an added SXCF118). The West Stand is populated with eight TORUS arrays, every second one with a sub, and at the rear the installers have used CDD12s in view of the physical barrier presented by the press gantry. Finally, the South stand is equipped with six TORUS arrays (every alternate one with a sub).
