Prestigious DAPZ choses Linex

The Hague, January 2007 

After an extensive, difficult and time consuming “demo” process looking for the best sound system available for their 2000 seat main concert hall, the prestigious Dr. Anton Philpszaal (DAPZ) opted for a Sound Projects Linex sound reinforcement system.

The DAPZ, located in the centre of The Hague, is one of the most famous venues in the Netherlands. The modern concert hall, known for its very distinct architecture, also serves as home-base for the just celebrated 100 year old, Residential Orchestra. Most of the DAPZ’s programme was classical music.

When the DAPZ management decided to broaden the musical horizon, the venue’s acoustic characteristics resulted in rather poor sound quality, once reinforced, and met with criticism from the audience. This created the urge to search for a sophisticated sound system that can cater to the wide range of events that the theater is open to.

It was in-house sound engineer Erik Schurman who was assigned to solve the problem and to put together a tailor made configuration for the DAPZ, reforming the classical concert venue into a dry sounding ‘rock temple’ without substantial adaptation or renovation of the building.

With this in mind, Schurman organised a number of listening sessions, rehearsals and try outs with a wide range of sound amplification systems – eventually, Schurman compared seven of the most respected brands and after thorough testing, decided for a Sound Projects Linex FOH system. “Initially I didn’t have Linex on my shortlist,” admits Schurman, “But it were my colleagues sound engineers from other venues that persuaded me to host a demo session in the DAPZ. I wanted to avoid any favouritism or “preset problems” and took the time to get accustomed to each of the sound systems. All the systems were left in the theatre, rigged, hung, tested for several days by Schurman without time pressure, disturbance, etc. Most of the configurations offered excellent dispersion of the sound, two brands excelled in terms of stability and sound reproduction. It were the live sessions with the individual sets that made me decide in favour of the compact Sound Project Linex line array system.”

The final DAPZ’s FOH system consists of six flown Sound Projects Linex SP-20 array loudspeaker modules and two Linex Sub SP2-15 bass systems on each side of the venue, powered by 14 SP 2600 amplifiers. Two SP 4-15 subs and two SP4 Diamond speakers are used as optional front fills.

DAPZ has just another premiere. It is the first venue to take delivery of 8 brand new SOUND PROJECTS Gluon™ multi-purpose cabinets. Eric Schurman: “the Gluons are very functional, smooth sounding and are mostly used as spot-fill to brighten up the sound in the first rows. I find them a perfect match with the main FOH system

According to Schurman, “There are a lot of misrepresentations nowadays regarding the quality and performance of sound systems. But, I believe that there are only a `very special few’ out there that can `walk their talk’. Having a Sound Projects system in our theatre is testimony enough of their inclusion into that `very special few’. A stand out! ”

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