Once a livery stable, the Sellersville Theater presently counts itself one of the US East Coast’s premier listening rooms. To keep pace with the changing demands of diverse live acts, it has recently upgraded its sound system.
‘At first we thought we’d book mostly acoustic artists, like bluegrass bands and singer-songwriters,’ says Technical Director Daniel Faga. ‘But then the shows gradually became more diverse, including hard rock and reggae. At a certain volume, the old system just ran out of gas.’
The recent move to a Meyer Sound system sees it equipped with four JM-1P arrayable loudspeakers, which have quickly earned the 300-capacity venue accolades from audiences and raised its reputation as a tour-stop for artists representing everything from ethnic roots, classic rock, hard blues, and jazz to New Age acoustic.
Designed and installed by DBS Audio Systems, the new system comprises dual 500-HP subwoofers and twin clusters of two-each JM-1P loudspeakers, each with a UPJ-1P VariO loudspeaker for down fill. A Galileo loudspeaker management system and a Galileo 616 processor supplies drive and optimisation.
‘The Meyer system was a major investment, but it was a smart business move,’ says co-owner, William Quigley. ‘In the short-term, we have great sound for our patrons, and over the long run we’re building a reputation as a must-play venue for top-tier acts.’
The playbill at the venue is eclectic and has so far included Buckwheat Zydeco, Wishbone Ash, Jimmy Thackery and The Drivers, Larry Coryell, Ottmar Liebert, and more. ‘Our patrons have noticed the change. I hear comments like ‘It just sounds like a million bucks in here now,’’ says Faga.
‘I just got off the phone with the tour manager for a top bluegrass group. When I told him about our new Meyer Sound system, he said “That’s great, we’re happy, no more questions”. I could almost see him smiling over the phone.’
More: www.meyersound.com
