HUNTSVILLE, AL, JANUARY 26, 2021Commercial A/V integrator Verta Technologies was recently tasked with upgrading Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama with a PA system for its sanctuary and live audio needs. Christian Tuttle, CTS, managing partner, Verta Technologies and his team turned to EAW to deliver immaculate audio to the sanctuary. The audio upgrade included four Anna 3-way full-range ADAPTive array modules, two MKD1064 2-way full range loudspeakers, two SB825 dual drive subwoofers and one UXA4410 Greybox-enabled amplifier.

Southwood Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary was originally designed for spoken word, a choir and a pipe organ with natural reverberation in mind. “The result was a beautiful 50-foot vaulted ceiling with an untreated tongue-and-groove wood finish,” says Tuttle. “Over the past 20 years, Southwood’s service has evolved to include a live band, and while the sanctuary was acoustically treated to reduce the natural reverberation, the live audio system was not updated to fit this new worship style.”

As part of the audio design, the Verta team had to make sure the audio system didn’t block the large stained-glass window that is located high above center stage. “It was also crucial that the acoustic energy was steered away from the vaulted wood ceiling,” adds Tuttle “We chose EAW’s ADAPTive System, and specifically the Anna array, to solve these challenges. With its ability to steer the vertical coverage, the Anna cabinets were hung high enough to avoid blocking the stain glass window while still covering every seat.”