Modern audio technology at the university

LD Systems CURV 500 in the lecture hall at HFT Stuttgart

Whether it’s an info event, a panel discussion, a public lecture or an exam – the event hall at HFT Stuttgart (University of Applied Sciences) is used throughout the year for a wide variety of events. Consequently, the demands placed on the sound system in the approximately 240 m² hall, which can accommodate around 350 people across two levels, are correspondingly high. As the existing equipment was becoming increasingly outdated, HFT Stuttgart decided to modernise its media technology in stages. For the new sound system, the integrator responsible, PPM Stuttgart, opted for a discreet yet flexible system based on the compact LD Systems CURV 500 array system.

The situation at HFT is similar to that found in many multi-purpose event and lecture halls in educational institutions: the existing technical equipment works, but it is outdated and becoming increasingly unreliable in day-to-day use. “There were repeated complaints that speakers were sometimes not being heard properly,” explains Carina Peters, Deputy Head of the Technical Department at HFT Stuttgart. “It became clear quite quickly that we needed to address the technical issues here.”

A balanced sound with depth

With the new LD Systems CURV 500 system, the sound now covers all seats in the auditorium much more evenly. A total of four arrays – one stereo pair each for the lower and upper tiers – comprising CURV 500 D SAT duplex satellites and CURV 500 S2 array satellites ensure that sound is directed more precisely to the rear sections of the room than with the conventional loudspeakers previously installed. The flown arrays are supplemented by several near-field loudspeakers at the stage edge to precisely cover the front rows of seats as well. Furthermore, two STINGER Sub 15 G3 passive 15” bass-reflex subwoofers were installed beneath the stage floor to provide a solid foundation for music and media playback. “The sound quality has improved dramatically,” confirms Simon Arkuszewski, project manager at PPM Stuttgart. “You can now hear everything from every seat.”

In addition to audio quality, discreet visual integration also played a key role. The old, large-format loudspeakers were a highly visible feature of the room. The new system therefore needed to be not only more powerful, but also sleeker and more modern in appearance. The compact CURV 500 arrays made it possible to meet this requirement without altering the character of the auditorium or obstructing sightlines. “You can simply see and hear that you’re getting more performance from the equipment without taking up much space,” confirms Carina Peters.

“There were repeated complaints that speakers were sometimes not being heard properly. It became clear quite quickly that we needed to address the technical issues here.”
Carina Peters, HFT Stuttgart

Flexible operation for different use cases

The modernisation of the audio technology has not only brought the sound quality and appearance up to date, but has also simplified operation. This means that, in future, many standard events in the hall should be able to be held without the need for full-time technical support. To this end, a touch panel has been installed on the lectern on stage, allowing basic functions such as source selection, volume, microphone level, mute functions and stage monitoring to be controlled directly. “For most events, that’s perfectly adequate,” explains Carina Peters. “Switch on, unmute, get started – that’s exactly what we wanted.”

Step-by-step upgrades

The new sound system is part of a larger technical refurbishment of the auditorium. The first step involved digitising the media systems, including the installation of modern connectivity options for modern playback devices. This was followed by the installation of wireless microphones (LD Systems U505 HHC 2 with two handheld transmitters) and stage monitoring (LD Systems MON G3 series), and finally the new CURV 500 main sound system. One of the reasons for choosing the LD Systems U500 wireless series was that the existing antenna and splitter infrastructure could be reused. This allowed the system to be expanded efficiently without having to replace the entire installation.

“We’ve been an Adam Hall customer for years and are familiar with the products from numerous projects. Once again, everything went perfectly – from the system design right through to the implementation.”
Simon Arkuszewski, PPM Stuttgart

From left to right: Simon Arkuszewski (PPM Stuttgart), Carina Peters (HFT Stuttgart), Otto Pfeiffer (Adam Hall Group)

The choice of PPM Stuttgart was based on the integrator’s excellent reputation. Working alongside HFT, the team developed a concept that balanced technical performance, ease of use and budget constraints. The support team at Adam Hall Integrated Systems also contributed to the project by providing test setups and conducting an on-site shootout. “It was a superb collaboration,” concludes Simon Arkuszewski. “We’ve been an Adam Hall customer for years and are familiar with the products from numerous projects. Once again, everything went perfectly – from the system design right through to the implementation.”