Renkus-Heinz transforms acoustics into a cult center in Croatia

To overcome the challenges presented by the iconic Pula church, Iconyx Compact beam steerable digital active loudspeakers have been installed and passive column turn signals UBX the Renkus-Heinz.

The church and monastery of San Francisco, an iconic place of Croatian heritage located in the heart of the coastal city of Pula, has served as a place of worship and cultural gathering for centuries. Recently, embarked on a transformative journey to elevate its acoustics and improve sound clarity. With his recent collaboration with Renkus-Heinz, provided by the brand's new Croatian distributor, LOW Project, the church achieved optimal integration of audio technology .

The church and monastery of San Francisco, dating back to the 14th century, combine Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. Dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, It consists of a central hall, a raised sanctuary and apse areas, along with a gallery featuring a pipe organ. In addition to its function as a place of worship, the church often hosts concerts, exhibitions and cultural meetings, lo que amplifica la necesidad de un audio de alta calidad.

“The original sound system at San Francisco Church could not provide the clarity and coverage necessary for both religious services and events”, explains Patricio Valenta, audio systems specialist at LAV Projekt. “With the experience of Renkus-Heinz, We imagined a system that respected the aesthetics of the church and, at the same time, “address the complex acoustics of this sacred space”.

The open, reverberant nature of sacred spaces like St. Francis Church presents notable acoustic challenges. Stone walls and high ceilings can often cause sound reflections and echoes that degrade speech intelligibility and audio clarity. For a structure that hosts both speeches and musical performances, the task was clear: deliver uniform sound coverage without disturbing the architecture or creating excessive reverberation.

“Our team knew that any system implemented here had to be meticulously planned”, adds Valenta. “The goal was to keep the sound clear and focused on the congregation without interfering with the ancient aesthetic of the church”.

To overcome these challenges, beam steerable digital active speakers were recommended Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact ICC36/3 for the nave and chancel areas. Known for their compact size and strong vertical directivity, provide powerful sound coverage in a format that blends perfectly with historic interiors.

“Given the unique challenges of this space, “We selected the ICC36/3 for their precise digital beam steering capabilities.”, says Valenta. “This technology allowed us to focus the audio precisely on the congregation, reducing unwanted reflections and improving clarity”.

Two ICC36/3 units were installed between the chancel and the nave, facing the congregation. Each speaker uses Renkus-Heinz beam steering technology, allowing sound to be directed exactly where it is needed, minimizing reflections from the walls, ceilings and other surfaces. The integrated amplifier 36 channels allows for refined control of the sound field, ensuring that every word spoken during a service or event reaches listeners clearly.

For the presbytery and apse areas, The team also added two UBX4 passive directional column speakers. These compact units, discreetly mounted behind the ICC36/3 speakers, provide additional sound coverage to the altar.

“The UBX4 was ideal for providing the necessary sound reinforcement without visually invading the space.”, Valenta points out. The UBX series, which uses Passive UniBeam technology, achieves asymmetric vertical dispersion, maintaining a constant directivity and reducing interference from lateral reflections.

An additional UBX8 passive directional speaker was installed in the atrium to extend clear audio coverage to the monastery courtyard. Like the UBX4, The UBX8 is designed to operate in outdoor environments and integrates seamlessly into the exterior design.

“The UBX8 makes the liturgy audibly accessible in the atrium, which allows the sound to transmit naturally through the patio”, adds Valenta.

After installation, The system was calibrated to optimize the performance of the Iconyx Compact using the software OmniBeam the Renkus-Heinz. This tool, allowing precise control of the angles of each sound beam, was essential to ensure perfect audio coverage.

Adjustable columns are the preferred option for challenging spaces, and Renkus-Heinz has made its solutions extraordinarily easy to use. The calibration process played a critical role in achieving an impressive PA Voice Transmission Index score. (STI-PA), that surpassed the 0,6 in more than 90 % of the church, demonstrating optimal voice intelligibility.