One of the highest appellate courts in China, the Higher People’s Court of Guangdong Province typically sits in judgement over disputes in excess of RMB300m. As well as Chinese cases, the court presides over cases from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau – most famously the Apple and Shenzhen Proview iPad trademark dispute.
This is not a setting where misunderstanding through the inaudibility of those speaking is acceptable: ‘When the authorities determined the court’s PA system required renovation they set higher definition and intelligibility as immutable goals,’ says Long Po of system integrator, Acejet (Group) Technology, the company called in to manage the project.
As the floor and walls of the courtroom are marble clad, the reverberation is high. Multiple gooseneck microphones with high input gain invite feedback, and in deference to the importance of the cases heard here an extremely discrete audio system was required.
‘One that could deliver high SPLs,’ Long Po qualifies. ‘Fortunately, we have more than ten years’ experience using the d&b audiotechnik product range in prestige installations such as Nanjing University Theatre and the Headquarters of the China Development Bank. We are accustomed to dealing with the more difficult acoustic environments such venues can present.
‘The sheer variety of systems available from d&b, all with consistent quality performance and remarkably accurate pattern control, gives us a toolbox with which to address any problem,’ he continues. ‘We contacted William Xue at d&b China’s head office and arranged for the court room to be Ease modelled. Then, in consultation with Mr Xue, determined a system design using elements of the d&b E-Series – E12 and E15X-Sub for main left and right and a number of 8S loudspeakers from the d&b White installation range that are embedded in the walls of the audience area for local fill without exciting the fragile reverberation environment.’
The installation is powered by d&b D6 amplifiers throughout.
More: www.acejet.com.cn
More: www.dbaudio.com
