Boosting Graduation Events and Beyond: The Impact of Powerful Speaker Systems
Located just a stone's throw from downtown Dallas, Texas, the Curtis Culwell Center is a multi-purpose behemoth spanning an impressive 190,000 square feet. Featuring a 7,000-seat arena and a conference center, this Badass venue has been pumping up the volume since its opening in 2005, owned by the Garland Independent School District.
The venue, once reserved for community and school functions like graduation ceremonies, now plays host to a stunning variety of events. However, after 20 years of rocking it out, some of the original audio gear was starting to show its age. Individual devices were replaced, but the school district knew a bigger upgrade was necessary to ensure top-notch public address functionality during crucial events.
When it came to recommendations for system upgrades, the staff turned to their trusted audio companion, Ron Stanley, Proprietor of NX A/V. Stanley, being a cunning audio cat, recommended they take a gander at LEA Professional's amplifiers.
"I was tossing up what amp would be my go-to choice in the future, so I brought in a few for a showdown. LEA took the crown, not just for the sound quality but the killer feature set as well," Stanley admitted.
Stanley and his team went on to install five Connect Series 354, four Connect Series 704, and four Connect Series 1504 amplifiers to power the venue's public address system.
Now, let's get technical:
- The CS354 is a 4-channel beast delivering 350 watts per channel.
- The CS704 is a more powerful 4-channel giant, kicking out 700 watts per channel.
- And finally, the CS1504 is an absolute baller, boasting 1500 watts per channel across its 4 channels.
All these amplifiers are professional-grade, IoT-enabled smart amplifiers that can handle both Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z loads selectable by channel. They come with Smart Power Bridge technology for optimization, and they're ready to party with the built-in Wi-Fi access point, the venue's Wi-Fi, or the local area network via Cat5 or Cat6 cable.
The Connect Series features free LEA Cloud connectivity, giving AV teams the ability to remotely control and monitor the amplifiers at any time, from any location. This cloud connection also allows for proactive fault notifications, keeping everyone in the loop about potential issues before they become a problem.
By embracing the smaller form factor of the LEA amplifiers, Stanley was able to consolidate five racks into two, freeing up some much-needed real estate without sacrificing functionality. He also found the built-in speaker tunings and impedance monitoring to be incredibly useful for this application.
"With the upcoming graduations, the system has to be as dependable and rock-solid as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and the LEA amps would not let me down," Stanley noted.
Sources:[1] "Curtis Culwell Center Chooses LEA Professional Amplifiers for Audio Upgrade," (2021). Lexicon AV.[2] "LEA Professional Takes Over Curtis Culwell Center with Connect Series," (2021). Pro Sound Web.[3] "IoT-Enabled Connected Amplification," LEA Professional.[4] "Smart Power Bridge Technology," LEA Professional.[5] "LEA Cloud Connectivity & Remote Monitoring," LEA Professional.
The Curtis Culwell Center, following an audio upgrade, now utilizes a variety of smart-home devices and gadgets, including LEA Professional's Connect Series 354, 704, and 1504 amplifiers. These IoT-enabled amplifiers, featuring free LEA Cloud connectivity, allow for remote control and monitoring of the public address system, and offer proactive fault notifications for top-notch functionality during feature-rich events.
