Each evening during the summer months, Hamburg’s Planten un Blomen puts on a spectacular Wasserlichtkonzerte (water light concert), with its fountains illuminated in changing colours while they perform a choreographed display set to music.

With the sound system for their famous attraction seriously showing its age, the city authorities wanted a state-of-the-art system, with high quality audio reproduction in keeping with the status of the attraction. Rüdiger Peter of Ingenieurbüro Peter was awarded the contract for the implementation of a new system and Mediasystem was commissioned to handle the installation.

The challenge in designing the new sound system was that the loudspeakers are mounted in the lake, so they have to withstand wind, water, and year-round Hamburg weather. Additionally, being accessible in a public park the system had to be protected from vandalism and theft. Community W Series loudspeakers were chosen for their audio quality combined with robust construction and class-leading, all-weather capability.

Five sets of W Series W2-228 loudspeakers with W2-112 subwoofers are positioned just above the surface of the water on frames mounted on the lakebed. A further ring of W2-218 loudspeakers are mounted in the park on a delay line, ensuring even coverage for all spectators.

The Community loudspeakers are driven by a Biamp AudiaFusion with AM-600 modules, with all Community and Biamp products supplied and supported by prodyTel Distribution, the distributor for both brands.  The system is controlled from a Crestron touchpanel, programmed by Mediasystem to be clear and self-explanatory so that it can be used by non-technical staff. The system is backed up with automated and manual safety systems against theft. In addition, the Crestron controller notes any system defect with a message on the touch panel and notifies engineers by email.

‘We are pleased to have equipped Planten un Blomen with such a high quality, reliable, sound system that provides visitors with a first-class audio experience,’ says Mediasystem Manager, Finn Melf Pergande. ‘The Community loudspeakers are perfectly suited for operation in Hamburg’s most extreme weather and the system is also well protected from theft or damage by the latest technology.’