Technomad, Audio Associates Team Up for Harvard Field’s New PA System

Audio Associates has designed and installed many sports audio systems at Harvard University, which participates in 41 Div. 1 Ivy League sports.  The company was recently given a challenge to quickly turn around a PA system for a new on-campus, multi-purpose field that saw its first event in September.

“We had a very tight deadline and the proximity of Technomad to my offices and the campus, coupled by the information I researched on the products gave me the confidence that we could meet the deadline,” says Skip Welch, project manager of Audio Associates.  “We needed an environmentally tough loudspeaker for an elevated lighting pole installation that would not constant maintenance.  Those specifications were more than met, but what impressed me more was how great they sounded.”

Welch installed four Technomad Noho C loudspeakers, mounted high on lighting poles at opposite sidelines at the center of the multi-purpose field.  This easily blanketed the bleachers, sidelines and fields with clear audio for the first soccer game of the season.  The loudspeakers will remain mounted year-round through the inclement weather of the northeast for soccer, lacrosse, and other intramural sports.

Welch used PoleStar rigging to mount and adjust the Nohos about 45 degrees off-center from each other, creating a 90-degree open pattern.  The broad dispersion of the Technomad loudspeakers provided the even coverage they needed for the entire field.

“I’m very impressed with the audio quality and distance of projection, especially compared to another loudspeaker company with similar weatherproof products that we evaluated,” says Welch.  “The Nohos are very articulate and have excellent power, and require minimal manipulation compared to the amount of processing required for the other products.  The Technomads produce much better mid-range clarity and high-frequency articulation.  By far, the Noho provides crisper, clearer speech and musical reproduction.”

Technomad delivered the Nohos almost immediately, allowing Welch to procure and install the system within two weeks. The loudspeakers patch into a mobile rack prior to each event, allowing students to provide game commentary and play music prior to, during, and after each event.

“Everyone at Harvard who has heard the system is very happy,” says Welch.  “Technomad provided fantastic service and their response time was excellent.  It was our first project with them, yet they treated us like a long-time dealer.”

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