d&b V-Series transforms Lichi Grand Theater.
When the Litchi Grand Theater in Jiangsu province, China recently renovated, it did so to high expectations. But with a first class art space, performance programs, operation and services, not to mention audio equipment, the venue more than satisfies. Originally completed in 2009, Litchi’s primary purpose was as a TV recording venue; Jiangsu Radio and Television's famous program ‘You Are the One’ has produced more than 400 episodes here. More recently, the theater’s aesthetic and audio transformation has realized the needs of a broader set of events, including theatrical performance, opera and drama, as well as amplified concerts.
“The reverberation time of the Litchi Grand Theater is about 1.4 seconds,” explains Zhou Kesheng, Director of the Jiangsu Broadcasting and Television Station at the theater. “It is a typical design standard for opera houses and multipurpose halls. This makes for a very good performance venue, both for music and speech reproduction.”
Mr. Chan Chiwai, at d&b Greater China, adds the detail. “Utilizing a centre hang of four V8s plus two V12s, arrays of V8s covering the stalls, and Y8s to cover the balcony, the system was designed with the d&b ArrayCalc simulation software to achieve the most even coverage and SPL.”
The theater features a left, centre, right design that greatly enhances speech intelligibility and source imaging throughout the venue. For the low end a mix of V-SUBs and B22-SUBs are employed; two V-SUBs are suspended at the top of each V8 hang in order to improve the evenness of the low frequency coverage. The system also uses a B22-SUB left and right; this latest omnidirectional subwoofer is characterized by its huge reserves of energy and extended frequency response. “Placing the B22 on the ground can emphasize the LF of stalls,” says Chiwai. For fills, the stalls utilize 12S-Ds each side to supplement the coverage and provide main side fill. Towards the rear, fill duties are carried out by E8s.
“The d&b system is a very easy to handle sound system for every tuner,” Chiwai adds. “It is very easy to design, install and debug. It has a high fidelity of reproduction in dealing with vocals or instruments. No need for too much external processing for correction.
“This project is a great example of the strength of d&b's solutions for sound reinforcement systems. It allows the audience to become immersed in the live music; they don’t feel the existence of the loudspeaker, the effect is really first class. Both the quality and stability of the system has been unanimously recognized by the owners, performers and audience.”
Director Zhou concludes, “The transformed Litchi Grand Theater is dominated by stage performances, primarily opera, drama, and evening concerts. It can be said that it emphasizes the characteristics of classical music and traditional theater performances and emphasizes the soft and natural sound characteristics of the hall itself. In the performance of opera and classical music, I hope that the audience doesn’t notice the presence of the loudspeakers. This solution allows for that to happen.”
