The YOU Sunagawa City Community Center, a 4,000-square-metre hub located in Hokkaido, Japan, has upgraded its 500-capacity large hall with a new L-Acoustics K Series professional sound system.
The multi-pirpose venue has been central to Sunagawa's cultural life, hosting a variety of events from concerts and musicals to film screenings and industry seminars. After 17 years of service, the large hall’s audio system was due for an upgrade.
Yuji Denpo, head of stage technology at the centre, explained: "We were experiencing issues with sound quality, particularly regarding clarity in the back rows and volume management in the front. We sought a solution to better meet the expectations of our diverse audiences and performances."
Denpo collaborated with K's Sound managing director, Yasutaka Shinada, to design a new sound system.
Shinada commented: "We focused on achieving uniform coverage and clarity throughout the hall. After thorough analysis and 3D modelling with Soundvision software, we determined that the Kiva II line array system would deliver the optimal sound experience for this unique space."
The design, which integrates discretely into the hall’s architecture, comprises a main L/R system of five Kiva II speakers atop two SB15m subwoofers per side, housed behind acoustically transparent mesh screens within recessed enclosures flanking the stage. Six X4i speakers along the stage lip ensure comprehensive front-fill coverage. Three LA4X and one LA2Xi amplified controllers power the entire system.
Denpo concluded: "The improvement is significant. The clarity and presence of the L-Acoustics professional sound system greatly enhances our audio capabilities. We're now able to deliver improved sound quality to our community across various events."