The Apgujung Kwanglim Church in Seoul, South Korea has completed a new sound system install featuring d&b audiotechnik’s 10D and 30D installation amplifiers. The d&b V-Series system is augmented by E8 loudspeakers and driven by the 30D and 10D amplifiers.
“The cost always has to be one of the decisive factors when one is contemplating a sound system installation,” said Jung Hawon, chairman of the broadcasting department at the church. “The opportunity to use the brand new specialised installation amplifiers, the 10D and the 30D, from d&b audiotechnik meant that the savings, when compared to other quotations, were more than persuasive.”
During the decision-making process for the new sound system, a group of worshippers were given grading sheets so they could rate each of the systems vying for the contract.
“Before making the final decision, I researched and visited some of the churches and arts centres where d&b systems have been installed,” said Hawon. “Without exception, they were all very satisfied with the quality of the sound, the after sales service and the supportive attitude of d&b audiotechnik Korea. I felt very confident that we were making the right decision from a quality point of view and extremely fortunate that we were able to acquire the same quality as these other venues but at a lower cost due to the new amplifiers.”
The Apgujung Kwanglim Church was originally constructed in 1978 and has been designed to accommodate the sound from the large on-stage organ. The space has a number of acoustic challenges with marble pillars left and right of the stage as well as floor to ceiling stained glass windows and polished wood walls.
Hawon commented: “Our church has historically suffered from awful sound; low intelligibility and very reverberant sound due to the acoustics of the worship space which was designed for the more traditional style of Christian worship, with pipe organ accompaniment. Our Sunday services are broadcast to other countries, such as Japan and France, so it is not just three thousand eight hundred worshippers in the hall who hear us.”
To overcome the challenges of the install, Hawon turned to Kevin Kim at d&b audiotechnik Korea. “I explained that the new amplifiers can deliver ArrayProcessing to installed line array systems, so in addition to the cost saving, the church would still have access to the features available on the more familiar D20 and D80 amplifiers,” explained Kim. “The 10D is for the E8 loudspeakers and the 30D for the V-Series including the V-SUBs and J-SUBs on the specification. Between them the two models cover almost all install applications and the comprehensive DSP capabilities can accept new updates from d&b firmware making them future proof investments.”
Once the hardware was installed, d&b regional application support and education manager, Gert Sanner visited to help set the system up. “This was quite a tricky task with all the acoustic challenges. Once all the measurements were acquired we went onto setting up ArrayProcessing on the 30D amplifier – for the first time ever. I have to say it sounded pretty special. The balcony that previously used to be a little loud at the front now featured a very even coverage and we achieved tonal balance in the whole auditorium.”
Hawon concluded: “I was fortunate enough to get the chance to hear before and after applying ArrayProcessing. Even though I don’t consider myself to be an expert, I could clearly hear the difference. To me, this means that worshipping experiences can be identical regardless of seating locations. I believe d&b audiotechnik describe this as ‘democracy for listeners’.”
