Porsche Arena, Stuttgart quietly installs a powerful new d&b sound system.
Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena is every bit the modern, multipurpose hall. At approximately 2,000 square meters - or twice the size of an Olympic pool – and with a standing capacity of 6,500, this busy city venue hosts everything from basketball to ice hockey to corporate events and concerts.
In need of a new audio system, and with such a varied program to support, the arena was meticulous in specifying its audio objectives. Consulting on the project was local event technology supplier, C2 Fachplaner GmbH. “We were tasked with designing a suitable audio solution,” explains Christian Hanewacker, Managing Director at C2 Fachplaner. “The brief was necessarily extensive. The new system needed to be rider friendly to reduce production costs and make the arena an attractive location for touring concerts. The stands needed to be covered with clear, even sound that would be localized to activity on the pitch, as the previous system’s arrays were positioned in such a way as to cause a disconnect for guests in the lower rows of the stands. A delay line was also specified; one that could easily be applied to ensure comprehensive sound coverage should any touring productions choose to use their own PA. And, finally, the venue also wanted the manufacturer of the new sound system to guarantee a long term supply of available spare parts, as the old sound system couldn’t be maintained once parts stopped being produced.”
Following a number of in situ demonstrations, d&b was named manufacturer of choice, having convinced economically as well as sonically. For a sporting arena that contends with high flying balls and lighting equipment, the relatively short length of the V-Series arrays proved a deciding factor for protecting sightlines.
The system design features ten Vi12 three-way line arrays to cover the stands. Two Vi12 arrays, flown downstage near the center of the pitch, provide the requested delay system.
To deliver consistent quality sound, as well as homogeneous level distribution to all grandstand seats, the line arrays attached to the girders spanning the hall are operated with d&b ArrayProcessing. “As a special feature in the Porsche Arena, the opposite array positions on the long sides can be powered collectively thanks to the symmetrical design of the system,” explains Jonas ‘Jones’ Wagner, Head of Central Event and Technical Support at d&b.
“Because the system in the Porsche Arena is fed with a mono signal for its sport events, we are able to drive pairs of loudspeakers in the arrays opposite each other with one amplifier channel rather than two as would be the norm when wanting to apply ArrayProcessing. This way the needed amplifier channels could be kept to a minimum, keeping costs down for the venue.”
In terms of operation, the system easily adapts to the venue’s various content changes at the touch of a button.
As well as providing an optimum sound experience for the crowd, a pitch system ensures the players get to enjoy the audience-fuelled atmosphere while still being able to hear the referee and score announcements which are delivered via a so called ‘shower’ system. Twelve 24S two-way full range systems - distributed over the entire playing field area - radiate vertically downwards and are turned towards the center to provide perfect coverage while meeting all necessary safety requirements.
“The installation was completed in a short period of time; it was a quiet construction phase but with a powerful sounding outcome! The cooperation between the installation company, Gierss, and d&b was fruitful and mutually appreciative - a great collaboration.”
