Rybnik's Cultural Centre is reinforced with d&b.
Like the neighbouring conurbations of Ostrava and Havirov across the border in the Czech Republic, Rybnik identifies its cultural heritage as much as Silesian before being Polish. For many years Silesia was the coal-producing powerhouse for the Soviet Block and the inhabitants of Rybnik enjoyed little of their own local culture. Today the town may still be dominated by the enormous cooling towers of the coal fired power station and the traditions of a heavily industrialised society, but now they are able to celebrate their own culture as they wish.
A d&b system was the first choice for Konsbud-Audio of Warsaw when they were awarded the contract to install a new audio system in the Cultural Centre in Rybnik. The building itself was originally opened some forty six years ago but its present remit is resolutely contemporary; Konsbud knew that the chosen specification for the Show Hall of the Cultural Centre would have to be flexible enough to accommodate large concerts from popular recognised artists, through to theatrical performances from developing amateur groups, and everything in between.
The main theatre space had proved quite a challenge; the Show Hall is irregular in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Konsbud resolved to select specific loudspeaker cabinets from Qi-Series in varying numbers to address this difficulty: Qi1 loudspeakers for the main arrays, left and right of the stage, with flown low frequency Qi subwoofers. Together they provide coverage for the balcony and the parterre below. Additional coverage to the first rows in the auditorium is provided by E0 loudspeakers, while extra low frequency bass comes from Q subwoofers at floor level. The entire system is driven by D6 and D12 amplifiers, a remote wireless system control via Tablet PC is available via the d&b R70 remote interface. With the specific configuration of the loudspeakers, the team from Konsbud-Audio were able to overcome all the acoustic difficulties of this asymmetrical venue.
The development of the Cultural Centre has enabled the town to offer superb, modern and flexible technical facilities to local performers who have previously made do with unheated churches or draughty spaces at the Town Hall, a point appreciated by anyone who has experienced the depths of a Polish winter! But, perhaps more importantly, 'Rybnickie Centrum Kultury' and its enhanced amenities is attracting high profile musical and theatrical performers, artists who might not otherwise have been tempted to visit the area, raising the profile of the whole region. The investment in a quality sound reinforcement system from d&b is playing its part in Rybnik's rediscovery of itself as a confident Silesian (and Polish) beacon of independent cultural heritage.
