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Speaker arrangement recommendations for old sanctuary
Steve Gorg:
Hello everyone, been a long-time reader of the forums but this is my first post. I've learned a lot over the years reading, really appreciate this resource!
We're planning for a permanent speaker install in our sanctuary, and I was hoping for some input. The space is approximately 30 ft wide by 67 ft long (with a balcony at the back extending to 82 ft). I've attached a couple of pictures of the space. The vertical portions of the walls are 16 ft high, bottom of the trusses are 23 ft, and ceiling is 27 ft. Capacity is just over 200 people, application is music and speech. Music is typically a small band (2x vox, guitar, keys, bass, small drum set), decently loud for the room but nothing crazy (90-95 dB?).
I was originally looking at a single JBL CBT 70J or 1000 mounted on the first truss from the front of the room, which is about 17 ft from the front wall (along with 18" sub on the stage). However, we've since decided to remove the front portion of the stage for additional seating, so now I'll need coverage pretty close to directly under the first truss, and tilting the JBL down that aggressively isn't an option.
Coverage-wise I could probably get away with the JBL on the front wall up high, but I'm assuming locating the speaker behind the stage mics would be a terrible idea?
Otherwise, thinking either wall mounted (one pair just in front of the stage, one pair halfway back), or maybe one center speaker up high on the first truss and one on the third? Other concepts?
Budget is around $5k for speakers, subs, and amps, could probably stretch a little for the right system. Looking for value-for-money on this one, not top-end performance. Thanks in advance for any help!
Lee Douglas:
Is any of that truss work rated to have any sort of load suspended from them?
Mike Caldwell:
For a reference have you already set up a PA of some type in that room with the band playing?
Your idea of some delay fill speakers is good to help even out the sound coverage. How to deploy the system is the next question.
The $5000 ish budget is really short to do this even with cutting a corner or two. You mentioned a JBL CBT1000 those are decent sounding speakers, just put some in an install but they sell for about $2500.
John Schalk:
--- Quote from: Steve Gorg on January 30, 2023, 08:50:47 PM ---We're planning for a permanent speaker install in our sanctuary, and I was hoping for some input. The space is approximately 30 ft wide by 67 ft long (with a balcony at the back extending to 82 ft). I've attached a couple of pictures of the space. The vertical portions of the walls are 16 ft high, bottom of the trusses are 23 ft, and ceiling is 27 ft.
--- End quote ---
Steve,
Is the carpeted "stage" area included in your total room length on the main floor? Can you tell us how deep the stage area is so we can have a better idea of the depth of the "audience" area in your sanctuary? Also, are you open to purchasing used equipment? In my area, a number of churches are replacing older "center cluster" designs with vertical or horizontal, powered, array systems. The speakers that they are retiring are from high quality vendors such as EAW. Depending on your final solution, you may be able to get more bang for your limited budget if you can find some used speakers that meet your needs.
Steve Gorg:
--- Quote from: Mike Caldwell on January 31, 2023, 06:27:41 AM ---For a reference have you already set up a PA of some type in that room with the band playing?
Your idea of some delay fill speakers is good to help even out the sound coverage. How to deploy the system is the next question.
The $5000 ish budget is really short to do this even with cutting a corner or two. You mentioned a JBL CBT1000 those are decent sounding speakers, just put some in an install but they sell for about $2500.
--- End quote ---
Existing setup is two EV ZLX-15BT's (powered) on ~6ft portable stands, one in each front corner of the stage area. Main complaints are muddy sound (I assume primarily due to low speaker height relative to audience), volume differential front-to-back, and volunteer effort in setting up and tearing down the speakers each week.
The EV's are overpowered for our needs. Typically run the integrated amps at -12 dB gain to achieve reasonable gains at the board and the volume we're looking for. If it made sense, I suppose we could incorporate them into our new setup, though I don't love the idea of permanently installing powered speakers up high in case the amps ever need repair/replacement.
Regarding $5k budget, seemed doable when we were thinking one JBL CBT, one sub, and one amp to power both. Understood that can't do much more than that. $10k isn't out of the question to do it right, $20k is, if that helps.
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