Chicago, IL (March 7, 2023)—If a theater will get described as “cavernous,” it’s often as a result of the place is large. In the case of Chicago’s Harris Theater, it’s extra more likely to be referred to as cavernous as a result of it’s seven tales underground. To be honest, the positioning—correctly referred to as The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance—is massive, too, with 1,500-capacity seating and a 30 ft. excessive and 45 ft extensive proscenium. Covering all that house is a not too long ago put in d&b audiotechnik KSL-Series system.
Opened in 2003 in Millennium Park, the Harris Theater exists underground beneath the Pritzker Pavilion, a sizeable outside venue which homes a d&b GSL system to be used throughout the summer time months. Success with that system in flip led to an identical alternative for the theater downstairs when it got here time for an audio replace.
“The current loudspeaker system had grow to be very drained,” mentioned Don Gamsjager, founder/lead designer of Connecticut-based, DNR Laboratories. “We specified and put in a brand new d&b audiotechnik KSL-Series because the system alternative.” After listening to a demo of the KSL on the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, DNR and d&b introduced in a system for a full day demo on the Harris Theater again in December 2021, receiving a purchase order order inside weeks.
“One of the challenges of the room are that the acoustics of the house don’t serve effectively to loudspeakers which have loads of results off the again,” Gamsjager mentioned. “Lori Dimun, President and CEO of the Harris, and the theater workforce needed system flexibility and broadband directivity…. With all kinds of occasions, from rock and roll and symphonic, to bop and spoken phrase, the KSL was the precise PA to serve all; it checked all of the containers. Size-wise, it matches the house completely…. They can shut the balcony off when not wanted. ArrayProcessing supplies nice SPL protection if the pit is in use and could be diminished from the balcony if the seats aren’t in use.”
The fundamental system consists of 16 KSLi-8 (8 per aspect) and 4 KSLi-12 (2 per aspect) with a middle A-Series augmented array. “A whole lot of exhibits require the assist of a hidden heart cluster of A-Series in a vertical array, and it performs very effectively,” notes Gamsjager.
Bolstering which can be 4 KSLi-SUBs, positioned two per aspect underneath the concrete deck to supply further low finish as wanted. The system is powered by 14 40D amplifiers. Meanwhile, a half-dozen 44S loudspeakers are used for entrance fills, higher balcony delays are 44S, and there’s additionally a full d&b monitor bundle with fourE12 loudspeakers.
