Technomad PA Systems Gain Traction In Washington

AVX Northwest, an AV equipment dealer, consultant and installer based
in Centralia, Washington, has completed two Technomad Turnkey PA school
installations in the Pacific Northwest. The Technomad installations, at
Saint Martin’s University of Lacey, Washington and Kalama High School
of Kamala, Washington, provide substantial athletic sound system
upgrades on the campuses indoors as well as outdoors.

“The reliability and durability of Technomad loudspeakers outdoors is
renowned because of their weatherproof design, and the voice projection
and musical quality is also very much appreciated in this industry,”
said Mark Abbott, Founder of AVX Northwest. “That audio quality and
reliability translates phenomenally indoors, especially in gymnasiums
for live sports, concerts and other events. Indoors, we typically hang
the loudspeakers on ceiling rafters and direct the loudspeakers so that
there is an even pattern coverage across 360 degrees. The handoff from
one loudspeaker to the next is virtually unnoticeable.”

Technomad Turnkey PA Systems typically include between two and four
Technomad weatherproof loudspeakers, a 6RU signal processing rack
featuring an amplifier, mixer and CD player, a dynamic microphone, and
all associated cables and connectors to form a complete PA solution.
Both campuses received Technomad Turnkey PA systems for various outdoor
and indoor venues. Saint Martin’s University is sharing the signal
processing rack between three venues, transporting it between a
baseball field and fast-pitch softball field.

Abbott installed seven Technomad Paris 616 loudspeakers between the two
fields: four for baseball, and three for fast-pitch softball. He
installed the loudspeakers behind the backstops and along the first and
third base lines to ensure clear coverage to all areas. Technomad’s new
loudspeaker yokes were used to hang and support the loudspeakers,
providing plenty of flexibility to shield the loudspeakers from line
drives and position them for the best possible audio directivity.
Abbott ran wiring to a lockable, vandal-proof box by the scorekeeping
booth, where an operator can plug in and turn on the system for
immediate operation.

Kalama High School purchased two fixed Turnkey PA systems for its
multi-purpose outdoor stadium and gymnasium, where basketball and
volleyball games and school concerts are held. According to Abbott, the
multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, soccer and track previously
relied on a horn system that provided poor sound quality and fell into
disrepair. Abbott installed four Nohos on the back rafters and wired
the system so that the Turnkey PA rack is simply connected to
pre-configured cable runs that descend through the press box ceiling.
The result is a reliable, plug-and-play installation.

“The projection of the Technomads gives you more than any horn system
could offer for voice, but the bigger difference is the bass response
and music quality,” said Abbott. “Most of the announcers are male, and
horns cannot precisely reproduce the male voice because of the lack of
lower end. And bass reproduction is very essential for today’s music,
which is especially important for football games and practices.”

According to Bruce Rader, school board president at Kalama High School,
the Technomad system was part of a larger upgrade to the outdoor
stadium that also involved a new turf and a paint job. “The old horn
system sounded horrible; cheerleaders wanted to play music through it
and it didn’t work. The four Technomad Nohos reproduce music very well
and cover the entire stadium, from the home to visitor stands and
across the field to each end zone,” he said. “Inside, we were using
20-year old speakers, and Mark also recommended four Nohos. We thought
that might be overkill, but the sound is loud and clear without coming
across as overpowering. They sound incredible.”

Abbott added that the weatherproof aspect is highly important to
withstand the consistent rain and dampness of the Pacific Northwest
region, and the occasional weather-related curve ball. “This winter, we
have had record amounts of snowfall,” he said. “To have a loudspeaker I
don’t have to worry about out in the elements says it all.

“But the simplicity of this Turnkey PA System is that Technomad has
done all the work,” added Abbott. “They wire the amplifier, mixer and
take care of all the cabling in advance. Everything is self-contained
and it is an excellent system for schools and colleges that are on a
limited budget but want the versatility that comes with being on the go
and supporting multiple events.”