Northview Christian Center, Dothan, Ala.
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Small Line Arrays: The Right Fit For Your Church?
The suitability of this particular loudspeaker technology hinges on a host of factors.
To the larger question of "Are small line arrays right for our church?" the correct answer would be, "Well, that depends." The suitability of this particular loudspeaker technology hinges on the shape of your room, acoustical characteristics, location and depth of balconies, trim height relative to room size, worship music style, overall budget, and subjective aesthetics.
However, to the more specific question of "Is our church too small for line arrays?" the answer is, "Almost certainly not!" In many ways, the proliferation of smaller-sized line arrays has been a game-changer in church sound system design. Worship spaces seating only a few hundred people now can take advantage of the inherent advantages of line arrays-albeit only when room dimensions and acoustics deem them appropriate. Also, in larger rooms, small line arrays are increasingly taking the place of point-source loudspeakers for center fill, outfill and delay systems.
If your church is looking at small line arrays, you now have plentiful options. In fact, you have so many options that there simply isn't room here to give meaningful information about all of them. At least 24 manufacturers with North American distribution currently offer products in our (somewhat arbitrary) category with woofers of 8.5 inches or less. In fact, several makers have two or three qualifying cabinets. So rather than try to squeeze in a few random specifications on each, we will instead look at the generic benefits of all small line arrays, as well as some features and technologies that differentiate various products. Along the way, we'll include insights and guidance from three veteran systems designers who together have specified small line arrays in dozens of churches-while preferring other options in dozens more.
Why Small Arrays?
First, to clarify, here we are discussing modular line array systems, meaning loudspeaker arrays configured from multiple cabinets assembled vertically with facilities for varying splay angle between cabinets. Single box line-source columns, though based on the same acoustical principles, will be covered in a future issue as they offer distinctive features for specific applications.
So, why use compact line arrays? First, of course, we have the basic acoustical advantage of the technology. Thanks to the acoustical coupling of the cabinets, line arrays can throw powerful, coherent sound significantly further than comparable point-source cabinets. Line array cabinets are also designed for a uniformly wide horizontal dispersion, usually between 90 and 120 degrees. Vertical coverage is variable, contingent on both the number of cabinets in the array and the splay angles between cabinets.
At this juncture, it's important to note that-compared to their larger brethren-compact line arrays can provide smoother and more uniform coverage in many circumstances. It's a simple matter of physics. With smaller woofers, the acoustical centers are closer together for better coupling, and that advantage is further enhanced when the array has to be opened up for greater vertical coverage. With smaller cabinets, you can fit more of them in the same trim height, which means the splay angle between cabinets can be reduced. The result is less "fingering" in the frequency response, producing a more consistent sound from row to row in the seating area.
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Bruce Borgerson networks around the industry via Wavelength Communications while monitoring technologies at the First United Methodist Church of Ashland, Ore.
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