JERUSALEM, Israel – Harel Tabibi, the audio consultant who designed the new sound system for Gerard Bechar Center, chose Meyer Sound UltraSeries gear to support the audio needs of events ranging from community meetings and dance recitals to live theatre and rock concerts.
"The old system was barely adequate for lectures," noted Tabibi. "For most performances, they had to hire outside sound companies to bring in equipment for the show. It was a situation that was not economically viable and often involved compromises in sound quality.
"After a theater show and eight concert performances using the new system, the comments from artists and sound engineers have been overwhelmingly positive," Tabibi added. "Some have even called it one of the best systems now operating in Israel."
Six UPA-2P loudspeakers supply the primary left/right coverage of the auditorium, with four loudspeakers covering the main floor and two for the balcony. A pair of UPA-1P loudspeakers anchors the center, while eight compact UPM-1P loudspeakers serve as rear balcony delays and fills at stage front, balcony side, and floor corner. Dual 600-HP subwoofers provide the low end, optimized with a Galileo 616 processor.
The installation was not without challenges – the main floor loudspeakers needed to be housed in alcoves recessed in the brick walls at the proscenium sides. "We did not want to take up stage space or block the stairs leading up to the stage from the audience," said Tabibi. "Fortunately, the fact that the Meyer Sound speakers are self-powered was very helpful, as it saved us from installing extra amplifiers and speaker wiring."
For Israel Ben-Simon, technical director at the Gerard Bechar Center, the change was welcome-and long overdue. "It sounds great," he said. "After 20 years of working here I'm finally getting compliments on sound from the audience and performers. It's a real pleasure."
The Jerusalem Foundation provided funding for the audio renovations. Project manager on behalf of the foundation was Haim Barimboim. The Meyer Sound system was supplied and installed by Barkai Benny Brookstein, Ltd. of Ramat-Gan, Israel.
In addition to the main auditorium and a smaller, 200-seat performance space, the Gerard Bechar Center also includes art galleries and studios as well as the Jerusalem Municipality's central library. Originally known as the Beit Ha'am, the building complex housed the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann shortly after it opened in 1961. After the trial, the Bechar family donated funds to create a center for the arts, naming it in honor of their son, a victim of the Holocaust.
For more information, please visit www.meyersound.com.
