Built in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1914, the St James Basilica in Jamestown, North Dakota, was elevated from church status to a minor basilica in 1988. Dominated by 125ft-tall columns, it has been served by a single loudspeaker cluster at the front of the nave, prompting parishioners to complain that they were unable to hear the sermon clearly, and that worship services could not be heard at all at the ends of the pews closest to the walls.
To make good, the 42ft-high ceilings and reverberant acoustics dictated a highly targeted audio solution – a role now served by Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker systems installed by Tricorne Audio.
System designer at Tricorne Audio helped devise a new sound system capable of addressing the congregation and increasing speech intelligibility. Architectural modifications to the church were limited or not permitted due to its historic designation, which greatly reduced the options for the replacement audio system.
‘St James Basilica has amazing architecture but problematic acoustics as a result,’ Anderson says. ‘We calculated nearly four seconds of reverberation in the sanctuary, which is immense. Our only options were to either install acoustical treatments and replace the loudspeaker cluster, or install steerable arrays. Acoustic treatments weren’t allowed under the historic designation, so when steerable arrays became the only viable path forward, we immediately turned to Iconyx loudspeakers from Renkus-Heinz.’
To improve speech intelligibility and provide even coverage for the seating, a pair of Iconyx IC16-RN steerable arrays were installed in the nave while four CX-62 point-source loudspeakers were used as fill for the balcony. The fact that only two loudspeakers were able to provide adequate coverage for the entire sanctuary speaks of the power of beam steering technology.
Beam steering allows Iconyx loudspeakers to tightly control the sound and direct it at the audience while keeping it away from other surfaces that cause echoes and reverberation. This acoustic directionality greatly improves speech intelligibility and ensures every listener receives the best sound possible. Fewer loudspeakers equates to fewer architectural intrusions, which was also of great importance to the historic basilica. The church leadership and congregation have welcomed the improvements.
‘Renkus-Heinz reviewed our acoustical modelling prior to installation to ensure we had a robust audio solution,’ Anderson says. ‘I’ve always been happy with their products’ performance and commitment to customer service.’
More: www.renkus-heinz.com
