Bielsko-Biała, Poland, July 2022 – An extensive public address system from Electro-Voice and Dynacord has been installed at Cavatina Hall. Located in the vibrant, historic city of Bielsko-Biała, amongst the Beskidy mountains in southern Poland, the six-story building counts over 9,000 square meters of top-tier office space, a cutting-edge recording studio, a chamber music room and a majestic 1,000 capacity concert hall. The venue itself is owned by leading Polish development company Cavatina and is the first privately owned and funded concert hall in Poland.
As a large, multi-use facility Cavatina Hall required an extensive solution to cover public address across its various areas. This needed to be flexible enough to meet the differing needs of office workers and theatregoers and led to Audio Plus, the company responsible for the coordination and co-designers of the solution, turning to the extensive Electro-Voice and Dynacord portfolio.
The heart of this solution is electronics from Dynacord, with an MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine alongside an IPX10:8 power amplifier. IPX multi-channel amplifiers are dedicated for fixed installations and offer sophisticated speaker processing. IPX also features Dynacord’s unique variable load drive (VLD) technology. For each channel, the user can determine whether Low-Z or High-Z 70V/100V loudspeakers are driven without the need for an output transformer via direct drive technology. The IPX10:8 was the perfect choice for this project due to its ability to harness this technology across eight channels.
“The IPX 10:8 is at the core of the sound system – we wanted something that was technically optimal in terms of control and this amp allows each channel to be individually operated, along with analog inputs from Dante and OCA via OMNEO network inputs – it’s a highly flexible solution for us,” explains Stanisław Mielczarek, Tech Support Engineer, Audio Plus. “MXE5 was chosen as it’s a universal processor that complements other systems in Cavatina Hall – through SONICUE Sound System Software. It integrates perfectly for this kind of project – allowing us to have full control of the entire system of signal routing and signal processing for public address speakers.” adds Tomasz Ibrom, Project and Installation Engineer, Audio Plus, who was responsible for the system integration at Cavatina Hall.
The Dynacord electronics are driving a large 100V Electro-Voice loudspeaker solution combining the strengths of the EVID ceiling and surface mount ranges. “EVID speakers offer a big spectrum of models in the series and were the ideal choice because of their mounting capabilities,” Ibrom explains. “Each piece is exactly fitted for its location.
”In the main auditorium, a pair of Electro-Voice FM6.2 speakers have been hidden behind the wooden sound panels either side of the stage. These are linked to the RTS intercom system and used for addressing the performers onstage. The stage manager or event director can use the system via an Electro-Voice wireless mic to communicate with the musicians during rehearsals. “This additional system works perfectly because the speech is super-intelligible and the speakers are completely invisible,” says Ibrtom. “The team at Cavatina Hall are really happy with it.”
Staying on stage, Electro-Voice microphones have also been selected to cover a wide range of vocal and instrumental needs. This includes everything from the RE97Tx micro-headworn condensers, to ND44, ND46 and ND66 instrument mics, as well as the iconic RE20 and RE320 Variable-D models.
The Hall now boasts superior efficiency in terms of connectivity, which fits in well to the innovative aesthetic of the multi-functional building. Marcin Smolik, Producer and Managing Director at Cavatina Hall concludes: “We are at the forefront of Europe among the few venues that have such a system. Our technology is a treat for artists and for the viewer, it means quality.”
ApexPro is proud to announce its partnership with leading professional audio technology manufacturer, HH Electronics.
A Legacy Partnership
ApexPro, a leading distributor of professional audiovisual equipment for the sub-Saharan African region, has recently cemented a partnership with UK-based HH Electronics, a leading manufacturer of professional audio from within the Headstock Group, UK.
“We are extremely excited about our partnership with HH Electronics,” says ApexPro Director, Justin Acres. “The entertainment, tourism, and live events sectors in Southern Africa are poised for a much-needed comeback following the restrictions on business imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. As new venues open, and those that survived the lockdowns look to attract new patrons, the demand for high-quality, low-cost, expandable professional audio systems is on the rise. We can’t think of a better manufacturer to fill this gap than UK-based HH Electronics.”
Technical Director at ApexPro, Mark Malherbe concurs, stating that: “The iconic 1984 Concert in the Park was powered by HH Electronic power amps, a gig I remember well. HH Electronics has a much-deserved reputation, established over more than half a century, for innovation, excellence, and affordability across its product range. The systems designed and engineered by the HH Electronics team are ideal for our market, and I am confident that our clients will agree.”
More About HH Electronics
HH Electronics was established in 1968, by Mike Harrison, an electronic engineer who identified a gap in the market for solid-state amplifiers for the then rapidly expanding TV broadcast network market. Under Harrison’s leadership, HH Electronics sold its iconic TPA amplifier to nearly every TV studio across the UK as well as to many recording studios in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1970, the BBC published stringent requirements for a new amplifier, and HH Electronics responded with the AM 812 Amplifier, which became a global standard for broadcast corporations for decades to come.
At the same time, the live music industry was exploding across the world, providing greater opportunities for innovation in live sound for mega concerts. HH Electronics broadened its scope by creating solid-state guitar and bass amplifiers, and PA systems. The company was soon recognized by artists, including the incomparable Pink Floyd, for creating lightweight, low-cost, expandable systems that were every bit as good as a tailor-made rig but at a fraction of the cost.
In 1989, HH Electronics became a part of the Headstock Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of musical equipment and professional audio products in the UK and Ireland. HH Electronics is currently focused on two key areas, according to James Laney, CEO of the Headstock group. “Our emphasis today and into the future is line array and portable PA for live sound, and professional audio solutions of the installation market.”
HH Electronics Cements Its Footprint in the African Market with ApexPro
Ian Wright, International Sales Director for the Headstock Group stated: “We are extremely happy to be announcing this new relationship with ApexPro and we look forward to working closely with them as they develop the HH brand within the African market. Apex Pro has a long history in the African Pro Audio industry with an understanding of all vertical markets. They are truly a wonderful company that provides great service, support, and training, and their knowledgeable staff is equipped to handle the most challenging of projects thrown at them. We are proud to be working with them and alongside the other quality brands they represent, and we are excited about the future and all that we can achieve together. A long-term solid relationship has begun and we wish them all the very best.”
“HH Electronics, under the Headstock Group, offers high-quality, low-cost professional audio solutions that are ideally suited for installations in the sub-Saharan region. We have every confidence that bringing HH Electronics’ products to venues across the region will provide just the right balance of quality, durability, and affordability that our customer base deserves.” Justin concludes.