Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, the Pioneer Memorial Church lies on the Andrews University campus, serving spiritual and social life of more than 3,000 students, nearly 1,000 of which are in seminary.

Andrews University itself is the flagship institution in the expansive Seventh-day Adventist school system. Here, solutions provider New Era Technology (Mishawaka-branch) recently revitalised the sound reinforcement with Danley Sound Labs SBH10 and SBH20 column loudspeakers, TH212 tapped-horn subwoofers and DNA amplifiers with integrated DSP using Danley model presets.

New Era found Pioneer’s old system to be lacking evenness and comprehensive coverage of the church sanctuary: ‘It was a cluster of units placed 50ft up in the air, at the top of the sanctuary’s large A-frame ceiling,’ explains Account Executive, Paul Black. ‘Not everyone could clearly hear what was going on, and the system lacked overall intelligibility. The frequency response was limited.’

What the church required was a new loudspeaker system that could address  an expanse of pews capable of accommodating approximately 1,000 people, as well as a loft section at the back of the sanctuary and further pews beneath.

‘When we saw that Pioneer Memorial Church had requested an RFP for Danley Sound Labs, we knew they had done their homework,’ Black says.

‘Every aspect of a Danley box and the service that backs it up is well thought-out,’ he continues. ‘It’s clear that the company really cares about delivering great audio, not just about making a buck. Danley loudspeakers and subs sound great and detailed when operating at lower SPL levels and, when you turn the volume up, the just get louder but not harsh or grating; the system remains pleasant and detailed.’

Pioneer Memorial Church’s new system employs three pairs of Danley SBH-series columnar loudspeakers. SBH10 boxes on each side of the stage cover the first half of the sanctuary, and a delayed pair halfway back cover the remainder, including under the loft. A pair of SBH20s cover the loft, and two TH212 subwoofers ably fill out the low end. A pair of four-channel DNA 10k4 Pro amplifiers deliver 20kW to power the system. New Era Technology ordered the DNA amplifiers with optional Dante connectivity to connect with the church’s existing mixing console.

There were some concerns about how the new loudspeakers would look – the old system was way up at the top of the ceiling, and the proposed system was lower and in view. New Era Technology worked with the church to on aesthetic concerns, producing 3D models of the space, showing the client exactly what the system would look like. ‘The column form of the new loudspeaker system is attractive, and they have been professionally painted to blend in with their surroundings,’ Black says. ‘The church is very happy with the look, and they’re thrilled with the clarity, evenness and intelligibility of the new system.’