Located in the northeastern Welsh town of St. Asaph, St. Asaph Cathedral is Britain’s smallest cathedral, with its structure dating back to the 15th century. Recognized as one of the oldest cathedrals in Wales, it sought to update its aging audio system to enhance sound quality for services, events, and visitors. The cathedral partnered with Richard King Systems to replace the outdated system with an end-to-end HARMAN Professional audio solution to meet the needs of its historic yet active space.
Richard King Systems, in collaboration with Sound Technology Ltd, designed and installed a comprehensive HARMAN Professional audio system, focusing on delivering excellent audio performance while minimizing the visual impact on the cathedral’s historic interior. The installation centered around JBL Professional’s CBT column loudspeakers, known for their ability to provide highly intelligible sound in reverberant spaces while maintaining a non-intrusive aesthetic. The system included:
- JBL CBT Column Speakers**: Fourteen JBL CBT 50 and four CBT 100 column speakers were installed for balanced sound coverage throughout the cathedral.
- Crown CDi Series Amplifiers**: These amplifiers were selected for their reliability in installed sound applications and to power the JBL speakers efficiently.
- BSS BLU-100 Signal Processor**: This processor optimizes system performance with advanced processing capabilities, and its companion iPad app ensures ease of use for cathedral staff with minimal technical knowledge.
- AKG WMS470 Wireless Microphones**: Nine wireless microphones were included for events and services requiring clear voice amplification.
Richard King Systems carefully designed the system to balance outstanding audio quality with subtlety in appearance. Automatic mixer control and scene selection were implemented to simplify operation for the cathedral staff, ensuring that the system is user-friendly.
St. Asaph Cathedral’s new sound system has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the cathedral team and its visitors. Canon John Liston of St. Asaph Cathedral expressed his satisfaction with the installation: “The new sound system is wonderful and we’ve been supported throughout. Richard made the entire process straightforward, and we’re now confident that when we have people visiting, the sound is just as we need it.”
Richard Hughes, Manager of Richard King Systems, praised the collaboration with HARMAN and JBL Professional for delivering a system that not only meets the cathedral’s audio needs but also provides excellent value for their financial investment. He also highlighted the invaluable support of Matt Watt and Ryan Locker from the Application Team at Sound Technology Ltd, who assisted with EASE models of the SPL coverage as part of the system proposal.
By using JBL’s CBT loudspeakers, Richard King Systems has provided St. Asaph Cathedral with a cutting-edge audio solution that enhances the worship experience, ensuring clarity and consistency throughout the space, while preserving the cathedral’s historic character.
