REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland’s national soccer stadium, was upgraded with renovations to the main seating area, new office facilities and a new sound system from EB Kerfi ehf using weather-protected versions of EAW's MK5300 Series Small-Format Installation System loudspeakers with rotatable horns.
EAW's Application Support Group helped design the system's speaker setup for the stadium, which now accommodates 15,000 people.
The Football Association of Iceland started with a request for a complete P.A. sound system for the stadium's west side with the option of later expansion for the remaining areas.
The final design consists of six arrays with two loudspeakers each for the stadium's main seats, and four additional speakers directed to the track area on the side of the field, for a total of 16 EAW MK5300 Series loudspeakers and an EAW DX810 Digital Matrix Mixer. EB Kerfi also chose Powersoft amplifiers and SommerCable cables for the system.
The loudspeakers' weather protection features include multi-layer grill assembly (steel mesh, synthetic foam and a stainless steel perforated grill), an enclosure constructed of exterior-grade plywood coated with styrene resin, fiberglass shell and non-hardening sealant on all hatches and bolts. All drivers and transducers are designed specifically for outdoor applications.
The system's installation got under way in the summer of 2008 and was completed soon after.
"This system sounds much better than I ever hoped for," said Páll Sævar Guojónsson, the main announcer for national soccer matches at the stadium. Stadium manager Jóhann G. Kristinsson added, "We are very satisfied with the sound system. It's very easy to use and sounds very nice."
"The result was just as we had hoped," said Einar Björnsson, EB Kerfi's general manager. "Every single seat received great coverage and rich sound, with enough power for a rock concert. We aimed for high quality, and the final result for the P.A. matches that. The client wanted the best, and I believe that we gave them the best, thanks to EAW and Powersoft!"
For more information, please visit www.eaw.com.
