Two of Coda Audio’s latest installations are in new Chinese theatres. Built in the form of a pentagon, the striking Huainan Theatre cost ¥300m (US$48m) and covers an area of 24 500 square metres. Capable of accommodating up to 1 280 people, the building’s internal design caused considerable difficulty with designing a PA system that was suitable for the variety of performances and conferences it is required to host.
After lengthy discussions with the theatre’s owners, technical installation company Zhejiang Tongbo Electronic Engineering – otherwise known as Tempo – specified a Coda Audio system.
The system is configured as an LCR arrangement and features Coda Rx35 full-range units as the main speakers, with PW418 subs, K5 compact two-way units for front fills and G512-96 two-way units for side fills. The system is driven by C5 four channel, 5000watt as the DSP amplifiers.
The left and right channels of the LCR system are used for music, with the centre channel used for speech. This has proved the most effective way of delivering high quality sound for the whole range of events that the theatre will host, with theatre staff speaking very highly of the sound quality and the performance of the Coda system.
400km south of Huainan, the open air Qi Shu Lake Performance Theatre has been built to host plays, musicals and other live performances. Facing the 9 900 square metre stage area is 3 900 square metres of covered audience bleachers. Here, Tempo specified another Coda Audio system, ensuring that the clarity and uniformity of sound were seamless throughout the audience area, which is significantly wider than it is deep. The flown line arrays cover the audience with pinpoint accuracy, while ensuring that sightlines are not compromised.
