Halo and Quilted Llama, Leeds
Dave Chapman, MD of Blaydon Communications in Newcastle has just fulfilled and achieved a cheeky challenge presented to him last year 2003 during a visit by Andy Austin-Brown of KV2 Audio.
Andy relates: I walked into Dave’s office knowing that he hates Mobile phones, pretending to be talking on it just for a wind up.
Quite excitedly he politely but firmly challenged me to ‘take it away’ and after putting it in my pocket, I immediately challenged him to find a quality demonstration, and customer to allow me to show the new KV2 Audio product.
Just a month later Dave requested a KV2 presentation for Carl Hornsby, Operations Manager of Ultimate Leisure, at The Beach, an existing unit in Sunderland; needless to say, both were duly impressed.
Carl subsequently paid a visit to the KV2 stand at Plasa and announced plans for a new venue in Leeds City Centre. Here he invited both Dave and Andy to produce a viable and cost effective audio design for what was going to be one of their flagship venues.
Both attended site in early December and Andy presented the design and specification in January 2004.
Carl liked the ideas regarding attention to sightlines, aesthetics and methods of operation, but was particularly intrigued by the coverage and SPL levels that were assured. Of particular note was that considerably less speaker units were being proposed than Carl had previously seen in his other installations. Indeed, Carl was to seriously question these details before acceptance, but once convinced instructed Blaydon Communications to commence installation in Early June.
The site, a 160 year old decommissioned C of E church, located in the immediate vicinity of Leeds University, the large open scale proportions, vaulted ceilings and monolithic stoneware presented scary if fascinating acoustical challenges as well as minor details such as location fixings cable runs and aesthetic sympathies.
The audio system is configured into five main zones, all completely controllable and addressable via the simple use of a Bi amp Audia Flex.
Consisting of the Main bar/open floor area, a dedicated Dance floor, a secluded seating area, a large open mezzanine area and a lower bar floor area under the mezzanine, they are all interactive areas that have to provide the highest sound quality at all times regardless of input or operating level.
A Bar and upper mezzanine area is provided in a separate part of the site, formally the Sunday school.
Whilst the clear intention is to attract the ready made customer base of Students both young and mature, constantly streaming up and down the Headingly Road, the site will operate fully through the whole working day, demanding a high degree of flexibility from the audio system again in performance and operation.
To provide such abilities, KV2 Audio ES1.0 and ES2.5 with ES1.8 Subwoofers all controlled from EPAK2500 Amplifiers are utilised in the main open auditorium, bar and open floor area of the church.
All other areas utilise a select and diverse mix of KV2 EX10 and EX2.2 as well as EX2.5 subwoofers, all active driven and independently controllable to their location and environment. A total of 35 KV2 Audio speakers were utilised for the installation.
Dave Chapman summarised the completion of the installation: The ease of installation and sheer dynamic performance of the KV2 system has certainly opened the minds of many critics as well as the ears of several thousand happy customers. Right now, Ultimate Leisure is drawing up plans for several new venues, expect to see and hear more of KV2!