Selling out the 600-capacity Jinguan Theatre in China’s Shaanxi Province for a full season, Chu Shi Biao is adapted from the historical novel of China’s Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong describing important events of the Ming Dynasty.
The sound reinforcement was supplied to Xi’an Genius Audio & Vision Technology with system design by Zhang Xianjun from EZPro Sound & Light Technology. His task was to achieve even and intelligible coverage of all dialogue as well as the musical elements, which included play-ins from Denon and Avid Pro Tools systems. Driving an EAW QX364/SB1001 loudspeaker rig Powersoft’s integrated amplification/DSP combined with Symetrix and EAW’s dedicated UX8800 system manager for sound optimisation.
The task proved challenging, since the seating in the fan-shaped theatre is steeply raked, with the front row measuring 10m in width but the back row spanning 35m.
EZPro’s solution was to use several Powersoft systems, assigning a pair of the new X4s to drive seven QX364 full range loudspeakers and pair of SB1001 subwoofers that formed the main LCR system. In addition, two Powersoft Duecanali 3904 amps drove the four VFR159i ceiling loudspeakers for effects, while eight M-series M30D and M50QD amplifiers powered 12 EAW VFR129i (stereo effects), a pair of EAW VFR159i fixed and four VFM129i mobile monitors.
EZPro’s Wanda Cao is in no doubt why the X4 was the perfect choice to handle the main system: ‘First of all, they are suitable for single-phase, bi-phase or three-phase operation from 85V AC up to 460V AC,’ she says, ‘Second, Powersoft Green Audio Power technologies improves power conversion efficiency and minimises the carbon footprint – and therefore the operational costs./ Finally, the integrated top-grade DSP allows recall of loudspeaker data files.’
On top of this, she says, Powersoft X series provides two Dante streams, allowing digital signal transportation path, eliminating the need for a large number of bulky analogue cables. Overall, EZPro knew that the massive power output would be more than sufficient to drive EAW QX series, which were processed using Powersoft’s Armonía DSP, while the compact form factor provided considerable space saving.
