In April, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, owned by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, opened its new 2,600-seat entertainment venue, the Yaamava’ Theater, topping off the property’s four-year, $760 million expansion. Meaning “spring” in Serrano, the Band’s native language, Yaamava’ is located in the L.A. exurb of Highland, an area already loaded with entertainment options. With that in mind, the Band sought to distinguish its new theater—part of one of the largest casino properties on the West Coast with eight restaurants and eight bars, plus an onsite hotel opened last December—from the competition.
That mission was accomplished with the installation of an L-Acoustics K Series sound system designed by L-Acoustics Senior Applications Engineer for Installations André Pichette and integrated by the Escondido office of Sound Image. “Clarity, coverage, and sound quality were the keys to what the clients were looking to accomplish with the theater’s sound,” says Scott Coyle, Business Development Manager for Sound Image’s contracting division. “K Series components met all of those criteria, and more.”
The new L-Acoustics system in the Yaamava’ Theater, which opened with a VIP command performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is substantial, underscoring the venue’s scale. The main PA system comprises a dozen K2 flown per side, each backed by four flown K1-SB subs, and complemented by four stage-stacked KS28 subs per side. Nine coaxial X8 are used to provide stage-lip front-fill, plus two more as out-fills, while nine A15i enclosures—a mix of Wide and Focus models—are paired with six KS21i subs that serve as balcony delays. Nine VIP suites on the theater’s second level are each fitted with their own pair of X8, while stage monitoring is achieved via eight X12, two X15 HiQ, and two KS21 subs. A dozen LA12X and eight LA4X amplified controllers power and process the entire loudspeaker setup.
The new PA completes an engaging entertainment environment that also boasts three large video walls, a broadcast-quality video control room with Panasonic cameras, and two large catwalks extending into the house for great lighting and video production adaptability that will bring fans closer to their favorite artists. “The idea was to make this a first-class, first-choice venue for touring shows,” says Coyle. “K Series gives us the power and sonic quality we need, with the X8 and A15i nicely providing fill coverage in the front and balcony areas. But there’s also plenty of low-frequency energy in the room, supplied by all of those flown K1-SB and stage-stacked KS28 subs. When the Peppers performed, the kick drum sounded simply awesome.”
Sound Image also recently installed L-Acoustics systems in four other areas on the property—Rock n Brews (a Kara II/SB18/KS28 system), Tukut Lounge (Kara II/A15/SB18), Bar Bar (X8/SB15), and Aces Bar (Syva/Syva Low/KS21)—and Coyle reports that those sites sound no less spectacular.
“They’re little rooms, but with a lot of PA, even if it didn’t take a lot of boxes to make that happen—just the right ones,” he says, noting that the Kara II in Rock n Brews are ideal for the room’s steady stream of high-energy tribute and cover bands, while the SB18 subs in the Tukut Lounge are just what the EDM and Latin artists that perform there like to hear. “Everyone is excited about the sound quality across the entire site, and especially in the new theater, of course,” says Coyle. “They love having a world-class, rider-ready system in there.”
Carlos Morales, the Audio Lead and FOH mixer for the theater, agrees that the K2-based system has been a perfect match for Yaamava’s main performance space. And he’s also found that the use of L-Acoustics sound systems throughout the various venues creates a pleasantly consistent sonic signature for the property. “The continuity from one part of the property to the next is pretty amazing,” he says.
In the theater, though, is where the nuanced sound especially shines, even at very high volumes. “I was here for the Red Hot Chili Peppers show and it was loud, but the system didn’t break a sweat,” he says. “There was plenty of headroom, the four double KS28 on the floor weren’t being pushed hard at all, and we still had plenty of low end.”
In fact, the system’s and theater’s actual commissioning show, a performance by hip-hop artist The Kid LAROI for the benefit of the San Manuel Tribal Youth Committee, hit the meters at 108 dBA. “But it wasn’t at all harsh, so you never would have known it,” says Morales. “K2 is totally the right rig for this venue. There are going to be a lot of touring artists coming through here who will be happy to leave their gear on the trucks because this is all the sound system that they’ll ever need.”
For more details on the new Yaamava’ Theater at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, please visit www.yaamava.com. Sound Image can be found online at www.sound-image.com.
