Ryukyu Golden Kings score with dampb
Published: ASIA
JAPAN: Okinawa-based basketball team the Ryukyu Golden Kings (RGK) recently purchased a d&b audiotechnik sound reinforcement system to ‘up the excitement’ for its games.
‘What is unique about the RGK is that they don't have a home arena, all 26 matches in their season are played on tour,’ explained Osamu Koki from Staging Okinawa. ‘They came to see us for ideas on how to liven up the excitement at each game, and they wanted lighting and sound but with one critical proviso: everything had to fit in a two-ton truck.’ This is due to the fact that Okinawa is surrounded by other small islands that are only accessible by ferry.
‘Their audio needs were: clear, high quality, high SPL, and very lightweight,’ he continued. ‘We approached audio specialist Audio Brains in Yokahama for advice and support.’ Audio Brains then demonstrated d&b’s Q-Series and recommended a system of Q1 loudspeakers with Q-Subs flown above, deployed at the two long sides of the court.
Mr Koki stated that the owners judged the sound to be ‘superior to other brands. In particular, the many sporting venues have difficult acoustics and the intelligibility of d&b was very important. Also they said that no other system for this size and weight had the low-end punch of the Q-Series,’ he explained.
Staging Okinawa devised a square truss system to suspend the sound and lights around the central scoreboard of each venue, and recently took the system to Ishigaki Island for a sold out game. ‘This was the first time any national sporting event had been staged on this island and it was very successful,’ said Mr Koki. ‘It was quite simple for our technicians to set the Q system to target the audience areas without putting sound energy onto the roof or end walls. Although the screaming of the fans can make it sound like an old railway station when they get really excited, the Q system delivers a clear, crisp sound and commentary to the fans. Everyone was in the direct field and it overcame the building reverberation.’
Mr Koki added that ‘the season is now coming to a close and RGK is currently top of the conference, and we like to think that this success would not have been achieved without the Q-Series.’