Germany - Fohhn Audio has supplied a range of loudspeaker systems, including its flagship Linea Focus electronically steerable line arrays, for a series of installations at the historic Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg, Germany. One of the world's oldest universities, Heidelberg celebrated its 625th Anniversary during 2011, an event that was preceded by a multi-million euro programme of renovation and refurbishment over a one-and-a-half year period.
The project has included Fohhn loudspeaker system installations in the university's Neue Aula and in two lecture theatres. The last of these installations was completed in recent months. In each case, systems have been chosen for their ability to deliver balanced coverage and excellent levels of speech intelligibility, as well as for their ability to integrate into the architectural surroundings of the historic building.
A major refurbishment of the university's Neue Aula has combined tradition with new architectural design elements and state-of-the art media technology. The hall, which also contains a newly restored organ that previously lay unused for over 20 years, is used for teaching and special events such as concerts and ceremonies, therefore requiring excellent reproduction of both speech and music. Challenging acoustics, and a requirement for AV technology to appear unobtrusive, resulted in the choice of Linea Focus LFI-220 electronically steerable active line array systems.
These have been mounted on special brackets to the left and right of an illuminated panel structure on the front wall. Each loudspeaker contains 16 integrated 4" neodymium speakers, Class D amplifiers and separate DSP channels.
In Hörsaal 13, a general-purpose 420-seater lecture theatre remarkable for its brightly coloured ceiling panels (that also have acoustic properties), two Linea Focus LFI-220 systems and an XS-30 active subwoofer have been installed. The line arrays have been wall-mounted at the front of the room, either side of a projection screen.
In a second smaller lecture theatre with less challenging acoustics, two Linea LX-150 loudspeakers have been mounted on side walls towards the front of the room, positioned to achieve optimum coverage. The LX-150 systems are powered by a Fohhn 2-channel D-2.750 DSP amplifier.
(Jim Evans)
