The Royal Albert Hall in London has upgraded its in-house sound system by installing cardioid technology from d&b audiotechnik, another step-change in the audio experience at the famous London venue.
Its updated system, based around the company’s SL and CL-Series elements, has been designed to deliver the highest quality audio experience yet at the historic venue, for current and future generations to enjoy.
The successful ongoing collaboration between d&b and the
Hall began in 2018, when the venue underwent a major sound upgrade. A distributed system of over 400 d&b loudspeakers, designed by the supplier with input from acoustic consultancy Sandy Brown, expanded the sound quality and service on offer to visiting
productions. This has seen nearly every event in the Hall since then make use of the house system.
The 2018 upgrade was hugely successful in addressing the Hall’s previous acoustic challenges, significantly improving the hall’s operational landscape. Before, it had no full-time
sound personnel, but since the house sound team has grown to eight full-time staff, with access to around 30 freelance crew as needed.
Following a market comparison looking at alternative manufacturers’ systems, the chosen d&b concept – as required by the
brief for the Grade I listed building – retained most of the 2018 positions and infrastructure, adding new equipment only where it improved coverage and capability. The system sees KSL, XSL and CCL arrays, with their inherent cardioid characteristics, improve controlled directivity
and clarity across the 5,272-capacity auditorium.
In total, the new installation draws on more than 140 new loudspeaker elements. The main left and right hangs, 12 deep, are KSL, while XSL arrays are used for out-fills and choir positions, as well
as for two entirely new central hangs intended to enhance Soundscape use. To increase capability, additional low end is provided via a reconfigured central hang of SL-SUBs and new XSL-SUBs on the ground.
CCL arrays serve as circle delays, while 42S speakers
have been added as discrete front-fills, particularly for orchestral shows, replacing the 16C column speakers employed previously. Meanwhile, the boxes and gallery speakers remained largely unchanged – with 4S speakers adding delays and a degree of ‘depth’ to the previously isolated
boxes. The entire system is driven via new 40D install amplifiers running Left, Centre, Right and Soundscape hangs. New D90 amplifiers are installed for flown subs, while the rest of the system utilises pre-existing D80, 30D, 10D and 5D amplifiers.
image: Jordan McLachlan