[ATTACH=CONFIG]199108.vB5-legacyid=10237[/ATTACH]Nashville, TN (June 2014) – The Carl R. Samuelson and Robert B. Muir pool, part of the Chandler Athletic Center at Williams College, recently upgraded their sound reinforcement system with One Systems Direct Weather loudspeakers.
The college, located in Williamstown, MA, built the natatorium in 1988 and since then has hosted several New England and NCAA Division III Championship meets in the facility.
Unfortunately, the effects of time, moisture, and chlorine related byproducts have taken their toll on the original sound system. Recently the school administrators tapped Berkshire Professional Audio, located in nearby Cummington, MA, to design a new sound reinforcement system. Sonix Pro Audio (Northhampton, MA) provided systems integration for the project.
“The big issue was intelligibility,” explains Richard Jansen, owner of Berkshire Pro Audio. “It’s a large, narrow, cavernous space that needed a system that would keep reflections off the walls to minimize reverberation.”
The facility features a 50 meter Olympic-sized swimming pool with two removable bulk heads that allow for a warm-up area, competition pool, and separate diving well. The Bob Muir Gallery offers seating for 400 fans.
Jansen specified two One Systems 112/NAT loudspeakers to cover the pool area – one to provide focus to the diving area with the other covering the longer portion of the pool. A pair of One Systems 108/NAT loudspeakers, splayed from a center array, covers the entire gallery seating area.
“The speakers in the gallery have a different control system then those covering the pool area,” says Jansen. “This allows the school to tailor the levels individually, while a ducking system cuts music when announcements are played.”
Both the 112/NAT and 108/NAT are designed for indoor pool environments and feature sealed enclosure designs. This acoustic configuration allows for simple low frequency equalization using mixer strip EQ or other shelving style filters.
What is especially notable is that One Systems NAT speakers are made using highly specialized AL6XN stainless steel in its grilles, screws, and U-Brackets. This makes the speakers significantly more resistant to the effects of chloramides. Sodium chlorides and potassium chlorides rise above splash zones of indoor pools and aggressively attack 304-grade and marine-grade stainless steels that are used in outdoor speakers. The use of AL6XN stainless ensures that NAT speakers are more protected against Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC), often found in indoor pools using typical stainless steel.
The 108/NAT and 112/NAT Series loudspeakers also offer fully rotatable and interchangeable high-frequency horns. The 108/NAT model is factory supplied with the ETS-60/40 horn which provides a 60 x 40 degree pattern. The ETS-105/60 horn, with a 105 x 60 degree coverage pattern – is included in the carton. The 112/Nat model includes the ET-60/40 horn and offers the ET-105/60 horn at no extra cost as an available option from the factory.
The 112/NAT features a 12-inch woofer and a large format high frequency driver with peak power handling of 3200 watts. The 108/NAT is loaded with an 8-inch LF woofer and a medium format compression driver with peak power handling of 800 watts. Both loudspeakers are only available in an 8-ohm configuration.
“The school was extremely pleased with the end result,” adds Jansen. “The two systems provide seamless coverage, but provide the flexibility of two different systems. Whether you are an athlete or a fan – there isn’t a bad seat in the house – even if you have water in your ears.”
Photo Cutline: The new One Systems sound reinforcement system includes two separate systems – one that covers the pool/diving area and another for the 400 seat gallery at the Carl R. Samuelson and Robert B. Muir pool at Williams College (click for hi-res photo).
[HR][/HR]
Headquartered in Nashville, TN, USA, One Systems, Inc. is a high-quality manufacturer of two brands of loudspeakers. Established in 2006, the One Systems brand of Direct Weather loudspeakers utilizes its patented Equivalent Throat Technology® and Inside/Only Voice Coil Technology® designs. The On Point Audio brand of non-weatherproof speakers utilizes its Narrow-Profile™ woofers, enabling smaller sized enclosures to be complemented with large format drivers.
onesystems.com
