Combined in arrays, as at Capital One Arena, Otto provides a wide variety of possibilities in low-frequency pattern control. Utilizing two high-powered 18-inch woofers paired with independent onboard amplification, processing, and networking, Otto subwoofers extend Adaptive Performance to the lowest octaves of the audible spectrum. To handle the powerful low end required in a major arena, WJHW specified four arrays of five EAW Otto Adaptive Subwoofers, with an Otto array placed behind each of the four corner Anna arrays. For concerts, you want to pull the house system up and out of the way, and we can do that easily as well.” But with the EAW system we simply recall a preset to reconfigure the system electronically to fit the seating, rather than having to re-aim mechanically, as with most systems. Of course that’s never good because ice doesn’t absorb sound it reflects it.
In more traditional systems, you aim to hit the seats at the end of the court for basketball and know that for hockey you’re putting sound on the ice for that extra 50 feet at each end. “When reconfiguring from basketball to hockey, there’s at least 50 feet more playing surface and less seating on each end. “Ideally you want to adjust loudspeaker coverage to match the seating,” Schatz explains. We liked the EAW system’s ability to quickly reconfigure because there are plenty of times, especially in the fall, where they have hockey one night and basketball the next.”Ī basketball court is considerably smaller than a hockey rink, which presents a challenge when aiming the sound. “The arena has basketball, hockey, and arena football,” Schatz notes. This ability to electronically configure is a major reason the WJHW team chose the EAW solution. Adaptive Systems loudspeakers utilize a high-resolution array of discretely powered and processed acoustical devices, in concert with software, to create optimized results without physical reconfiguration. The Anna is part of EAW’s Adaptive Systems loudspeaker line, which can assess and perfectly match the three-dimensional performance requirements of any venue.
“Clair has a great team, and their lead on the project, Jim Devenney, did a terrific job.”įor the main loudspeaker system, the WJHW team chose 54 EAW Anna 3-way full-range array modules, configured as 6 arrays of 9 Annas. “We were the designers, and Clare Solutions did the install,” Schatz details. Schatz, WJHW Associate Principal Kevin Day, and other members of the WJHW team worked closely with McCabe and the arena team to find a solution that would work for the many different types of events held at Capital One Arena.
“We wanted to modernize, and we looked at several options.” “We had areas in the arena that did not have good sound coverage and equipment that was failing that could not be repaired.” “The old system didn’t provide the capabilities that are expected at modern NBA and NHL events,” adds Stu Schatz, a consultant at Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams (WJHW ), the design and consulting firm hired by arena management company Monumental Sports & Entertainment to manage the sound system renovation.
#Capital one arena basketball court layout update#
“With changes in technology and the age of the system, we knew it was time to update the sound system,” comments Capital One Arena/JLL sound engineer Mark McCabe. The arena opened in December 1997 and recently received a major renovation, including a new sound system in the main bowl based on Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) loudspeakers. Home to the 2018 Arena Football League Champion Washington Valor, NBA Washington Wizards, NHL 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals, and Georgetown University Hoyas men’s basketball team, the Capital One Arena hosts about 220 events per year, including major concerts.
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