Waveburg AVL goes custom for Galleria40
Published: MEA
EGYPT: Waveburg AVL has recently completed a large-scale custom design project at Galleria40 in Cairo. The unique challenges of the layout and materials used in the construction led to the decision to build a bespoke system for the space.
Waveburg AVL chief designer Mohamed Gabr was faced with several challenges, particularly with the indoor expo area, and the galley’s entrance. The expo area was designed to accommodate medium-sized events with playback or live music. This particular area is lined with marble and surrounded by the glass window displays of the surrounding shops. The decision was made to use the shortest possible projection distances between the speakers and the listening positions, with the least possible power output and the highest possible correction control.
The solution saw 18 12-inch coaxial boxes loaded with Eighteen Sound drivers and hung from the concrete structure above the false ceiling. Providing low end are eight 18-inch subwoofers that were tuned to go down only to 55Hz. The speakers have been tri-amped with WCAD amplifiers, and are processed through an XTA DP448 speaker management system.
A further challenge came in the entrance area. Here the Waveburg AVL team built specially angled speaker boxes looking down on the large passage. The driver of choice was the Eighteen Sound 8-inch coaxial and passive crossovers called on capacitors from Solen and Wima.
The 8-inch coaxial driver was a popular choice throughout the project. It was used for 32 wall-mount cabinets, 28 in-ceiling speakers units 48 in-wall speakers. Power for the various parts of the system is via 18 WCAD DJ-600 units, a pair of WCAD H-1400s and a further pair of Nox Audio i-8150 amps. Control is via an Allen & Heath IDR-8 and 2,000m of Sommer Cable has been used.
The end result is one Waveburg AVL is clearly proud of. ‘The key for the design was to do the minimum to excite the environment and keep the sound comfortable and warm,’ said Waveburg AVL’s Mohamed Ghanem. ‘It’s an installation that fulfilled its purpose and exceeded its target.’