Uruguay. The Legislative Palace in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, is an imposing Greco-Roman building built in the early 20th century. It is the seat of the General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of Uruguay, which is made up of the Chamber of Senators and the House of Representatives.
Sonipro, a professional audio specialist, also based in Montevideo, won the tender to design, supply and install a new audio system in the Session Room of the House of Representatives. Sonipro opted for a sleek KV2 audio system backed by a PreSonus digital mixing console.
"The biggest challenge was to achieve the superior sound quality and intelligibility required by the project without affecting the aesthetics of the room," recalls Sonipro director Victor Barsamian. "We were not allowed to change any of the suspension points because we were working in a listed building and the installation had to be as discreet as possible. KV2 was an obvious choice for me given the brand's superior sound quality, and I chose the ESD36 for its sky-high performance, especially in the vocal range, and for its sleek, understated aesthetic."
Barsamian opted for four KV2 ESD36 full-range, three-way speaker systems powered by KV2's ESP2000D amplifier that can be configured via the front panel or remotely using the KV2 control and diagnostic tool. A PreSonus StudioLive Series III 32SC digital mixer and stage box completed the upgrade for the House of Representatives. Sonipro added a second mixer and a smaller stage for the parliamentary TV channel to ensure the same quality and performance.
"Initially, the specification was for six loudspeakers, but the quality, detail and coverage achieved by just four ESD36s already far exceeded their expectations," says Barsamian. "We achieved a smooth and homogeneous sound throughout the auditorium despite it being a place with difficult acoustic characteristics due to the high vaulted ceiling, marble facades and the generally cavernous nature of the hall. They couldn't believe we could achieve such high-quality sound and even coverage with just four snares! Everyone is delighted with the results."
The head of AV of the House of Representatives, Oscar Suárez, agrees wholeheartedly: "From the first tests during the installation, I could appreciate the high performance and sound quality obtained with the new equipment."
"Once the installation and EQ adjustments were complete, the clarity and brightness of the sound at every point in the room was immediately apparent. The new system easily met the predictions of the acoustic simulation. I would also like to highlight the professionalism with which Sonipro's technicians replaced the existing equipment and the special care taken to maintain the aesthetics of the venue with the new facility," he concluded.
