DAVOS, Switzerland – A key goal for the new sound system in historic Vaillant Arena, home of the Spengler Cup, was for minimal visual impact. And the installation/design team had to be encouraged when venue's owners showed up for an on-site inspection. The owners asked for a timetable projecting when the speakers would be installed. As it turned out, the gear – 42 EAW JFL210 compact line array speakers set in 12 decentralized clusters – was already in place.
The clusters of EAW JFL210s ranged from two elements in the corners to six elements in the big stand at the arena's north end, and the internal array hardware and fly-points helped speed the installation while keeping costs in check.
The design and install team included Samuel Wild from Dr. W.A. Günther AudioSystems AG (distributor for the amplifiers and DSPs); Harry Horlacher from Swiss EAW representative GoWild AG; and Phil Benesch, owner of Phil's Concert & Showtechnique.
Of course, the ultimate test for the new system's coverage and sound quality weren't evident until the speakers were fired up and tested. But after a few room corrections and level settings, the measurements and ears verified the even distribution and sonic qualities of the EAW speakers.
The system proved its capabilities further during the 2010-11 hockey season and Spengler Cup competition, when the stadium's home team, HC Davos, won its 30th national title.
For more information, please visit www.eaw.com.
