L-Acoustics Kara(i) Elevates Sonic Experience at Sprint Center

L-Acoustics Kara(i) Elevates Sonic Experience at Sprint Center posted: 04/06/2019

Kansas City, Missouri's Sprint Center is now home to a new L-Acoustics Kara(i) system, designed and installed by local integrator DSS, Inc.

Kansas City's award-winning arena gets a powerful and versatile new PA from DSS

Widely recognized as a flexible, state-of-the-art arena located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, Sprint Center recently reached out to local integrator Digital Sound Systems, Inc. (DSS) to explore options for updating its arena sound system used for sporting events.

DSS was tasked with updating portions of the arena's control room, as well as audio and video facilities. After thorough research and consideration, DSS was able to provide Sprint Center with an entirely new front-line sound system, including new speakers, subs and amplifiers, thanks to the powerful and cost-effective solutions provided by L-Acoustics Kara(i) loudspeakers, SB18i subwoofers, and LA4X amplified controllers.

Sprint Center consistently ranks as one of the top venues in the US, so it was important for us to make sure that we were advising them on the best plan of action for years to come, says DSS CEO Jeremy Dixon. A simple amplifier upgrade would not have been sufficient. This hometown venue is one of Kansas City's crowning jewels, and we wanted to make sure that it continues to shine bright. That's why we reached out to L-Acoustics to see how we could best provide them with a truly world-class sound system.

The arena's new PA is comprised of 80 Kara(i) enclosures, 24 SB18i subs, and 28 LA4X amplified controllers

Working with L-Acoustics engineers using Soundvision 3D acoustical modeling software, DSS designers and integrators were able to create a completely new PA system for the arena. The new system is made up of eight Kara(i) arrays-four hangs of 11 Kara(i) loudspeakers covering the long sides of the court and four more hangs of nine Kara(i) for the far ends of the court. Each array is backed with three flown SB18i subwoofers, mounted on a custom bumper fabricated by DSS, that keeps the loudspeakers and subs perfectly time aligned, increasing the power of the low frequencies while assuring excellent speech intelligibility. In addition, four hangs of four Kiva II speakers each are fastened to the bottom of the center-mounted scoreboard, assuring even coverage of seats around the edges of the court. The entire system is powered and processed via 28 LA4X amplified controllers.

According to DSS Vice President of Integration Stephen Solberg, Soundvision was absolutely invaluable to the process: Thanks to the assistance of L-Acoustics engineers working with us using the program, we were able to have very detailed conversations about the design long before we got to the installation phase. Soundvision is the only design software that I know that lets you work so collaboratively with others.

Kara(i) and SB18i elements fly easily, which helped DSS meet its deadline between the load-out of a WWE event and the start of another major collegiate basketball series. And integrating the system was extremely efficient, thanks to the simplicity of the rigging and robust DSP onboard the amplifiers. It was a tremendous example of system optimization, he says.

Sprint Center's new L-Acoustics system saw some good game time at this year's NCAA Big 12 Men's March Madness basketball tournaments

The new system also helps the venue in another significant manner. Previously, the existing sound system needed to be physically moved around the venue to accommodate different types of shows and events; the new Kara(i) system covers the entire venue for every type of application. Thus, the new L-Acoustics system design means that every line array remains in place yet the system provides +/-2dB coverage of every seat in the house.

And then there's the sound: Completely coherent and consistently good everywhere, Solberg adds. It's loud yet totally intelligible. It's exactly what they wanted.

About Sprint Center

Sprint Center is Kansas City's home for live entertainment and sporting events. Anchor to more than $7 billion of reinvestment in a revitalized downtown Kansas City, the award-winning venue has welcomed more than 11 million guests. Having exceeded attendance and financial projections in each year since opening in 2007, Sprint Center is a unique public/private partnership between AEG and the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

Four of the PA hangs feature eleven Kara(i) backed by three SB18i (shown), while the other four pair nine Kara(i) with three SB18i

About L-Acoustics

Founded in 1984 near Paris, France, L-Acoustics is the market leader in professional sound reinforcement technologies. With over 400 team members worldwide and offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York, L-Acoustics is present in over 80 countries via our network of Certified Providers. Focused on solutions that elevate the audience experience, more than 20% of L-Acoustics' talent is devoted to R&D in the areas of acoustics, applications, mechanics, electronics, signal processing, and software development.

Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics continues to shape the future of the professional audio industry with L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, a multidimensional, object-based approach to designing, mixing, and processing sound that results in extremely natural and intelligible audio and a more vibrant, and authentic connection between artists and their fans.

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