Renkus-Heinz UBX series loudspeakers are at the heart of a new speech reinforcement system at Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Bayswater, West London. The installation, which includes Powersoft amplification, replaces a system that had long struggled to deliver intelligibility across the cathedral’s highly reverberant marble interior.
Two UBX16 loudspeakers were installed as the main left and right sources, their beams aimed to cross approximately two-thirds of the way down the nave to provide primary coverage. Two UBX8 units were positioned on the left and right sides for even horizontal dispersion, with a further pair installed further down the room as delay fills to maintain clarity and level consistency towards the rear. Compact Powersoft amplification was specified to pair with the loudspeakers, with control handled via a single-button wall panel allowing preset scenes to be selected – enabling staff to focus on worship during services.
Prior to specification, distributor CUK Group carried out a 2D direct sound simulation using EASE Focus to verify coverage and delay placement across the full space.
The cathedral’s extensive marble surfaces ruled out direct drilling, requiring the installation team to reuse the previous system’s approach of wooden backings fixed into grout lines. Cable routing through the marble-clad interior presented further challenges, though the loudspeakers’ black casing helped minimise visual impact and preserve the cathedral’s aesthetic character.
Stephen Neath, sales director at integrator API Sound & Visual, said: “When I first walked into the cathedral, its beauty was immediately striking. But in a space of this scale, dominated by hard marble surfaces, sound reflects endlessly. It was imperative that the system was highly directional, focusing audio precisely where people are seated – otherwise, the spoken word would simply be lost.”
James Lawford, live sound channel manager at CUK Group, added: “The UBX’s ability to deliver wide, controlled coverage from a remarkably compact enclosure makes them an ideal choice for houses of worship.”
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