Bolton's Octagon Theatre, renowned for its captivating performances and immersive experiences, has recently undergone a significant upgrade to its audio system. The theatre's in-house team, in collaboration with audio experts dBS Solutions, has installed a state-of-the-art KV2 Audio PA system to enhance the overall audio quality and reliability for its audiences. This upgrade was a strategic decision to address the limitations of the existing sound system, which had served the theatre well but was showing signs of age and unreliability.
The Octagon Theatre's Head of Production, Chris Whitwood, explains, "As part of our long-term strategy, we identify potential issues before equipment fails. The old system lacked sufficient coverage and clarity, especially in the balcony area, which was crucial for the scale and ambition of our productions. Its increasing unreliability prompted us to invest in a new system that would ensure consistent, high-quality audio for years to come."
The theatre's auditorium is designed for flexibility, accommodating in-the-round, thrust, and end-on stage setups to create truly immersive experiences. Therefore, the new system had to be adaptable and reliable, requiring minimal equalization and re-rigging. dBS Solutions, a trusted audio partner, was invited to design a PA system tailored to the theatre's unique stage setup.
Chris Bogg, Director of dBS Solutions, highlights the theatre's need for a system with "clear, detailed coverage across all audience spaces, including the balcony, for excellent intelligibility and a cohesive sound image." Bogg's previous experience with KV2's EX and ESD series loudspeakers, known for their exceptional clarity and consistent coverage, made KV2 the obvious choice for the upgrade.
Working closely with the Octagon Theatre's in-house engineer, Gerry Marsden, Bogg and his team selected KV2's passive ESD series loudspeakers. They deployed a central cluster of five ESD10 loudspeakers to provide even coverage across the entire audience area when used in-the-round, while maintaining flexibility for other stage configurations. Additionally, they integrated KV2's linear ESP amplifier series outside the main auditorium to minimize ambient noise.
By combining the new KV2 system with the theatre's existing delay loudspeakers, the collaboration between dBS Solutions and the Octagon Theatre's team resulted in an improved audio solution. This solution maximizes the immersive audience experience and supports performances across all genres, ensuring pristine audio reaches every seat.
Bogg remarks, "KV2's reputation in the UK theatre market has instilled strong creative confidence in the new system. Visiting sound engineers and composers will be delighted with its quality and coverage."
Whitwood concludes, "Our goal was to deliver the highest sound quality with even coverage throughout the auditorium, ensuring every audience member experiences the same clarity and impact. The KV2 system has exceeded our expectations, providing exceptional coverage, quality, and intelligibility for all our productions."
For more information, visit www.kv2audio.com.
