DAS Audio responds to the acoustic challenges of the Opera theater

The sound reinforcement solution for this theater in Argentina was custom designed, respecting its historical structure through the use of existing flying points. To ensure uniform coverage and tonality in all areas, different lighting systems were selected. THE audio, betting on the SARA system.

In the heart of the emblematic Corrientes Avenue, a few meters from the Obelisk, is found Theater Opera Orbis. Maximum exponent of Porteño Art Deco and inaugurated in 1872, It has hosted important international figures such as Édith Piaf for decades., Louis Armstrong o Ava Gardner. With a capacity for 2.500 people and impressive architecture, presented certain technical challenges at an acoustic level. The goal: Deliver the best possible sound quality without compromising aesthetics or audience experience. The DAS Audio technology provided the solution.

In this project DAS Audio worked in collaboration with Discopro
Tevelam, official distributor in Argentina, and with Buenos Aires Live Show (BALLS), leading company in sound and lighting solutions for shows. Thanks to the experience and deep knowledge of theater by its technical team -led by Hernán Niupieri, Diego Gonzalez, Valentín Vieites and Nacho Videla- The solution was found to overcome the acoustic challenges of the Opera theater.

Designing a sound system for a theater always involves a series of key challenges: Ensure uniform coverage on all seats, ensure high speech intelligibility and excellent music quality, minimize noise pollution on stage and sensitive areas, and offer a versatile solution capable of adapting to different types of shows, from concerts and plays to screenings or corporate events.

Added to these usual challenges was an added difficulty: its historic architecture and, in particular, the steep angle of the pullman (upper tier), which made it especially particular to maintain the sound coverage and tonality of that area without compromising the aesthetics or making structural modifications..

This required meticulous design through acoustic prediction and close technical collaboration with Hernán Niupieri and Diego González of the Buenos Aires Live Show team. (BALLS).

Sound reinforcement

The solution of sound reinforcement for the Ópera Orbis theater it was custom designed, respecting its historical structure through the exclusive use of the flying points existing, without the need to modify or alter the building.

To ensure uniform coverage and tonality in all areas of the theater, different DAS Audio systems were selected, specifically directed to each area of ​​the venue.

In the stalls and lower stands, two line arrays SARA with seven boxes each, combining three SARA80 at the top and four SARA-100 at the bottom. To reinforce front and side coverage, four have been added ARA-P28.115 systems como frontfill, of the ARA-P12.115 as infill, and two ARA P28.74 together with two SARA-SUB as sidefill.

in the pullman (amphitheater), due to its pronounced architectural angle, Two SARA line arrays have been placed at a height of 11 metros, composed of six systems each, using three SARA-80 on the top and three SARA-100 on the bottom for precise and consistent dispersion.

“Prior planning and communication with the technical team was decisive. We achieve precision in prediction. This has allowed us to achieve a great result”, Álvaro Plumed, DAS Audio Application Engineer.

The mechanical optimization of line arrays was obtained in the prediction with EASE Focus y EASE 5. Next, optimization was studied with FIR filters (THE Aim), to optimize the distribution of sound pressure in the audience, although it was not required given the good results obtained from the design.

To obtain definition and homogeneity of sound in the low frequencies, two central arrays of four SARA-SUB each were flown. By being cardioid systems, It was possible to minimize noise pollution on the stage and possible vibrations in nearby structures.. The horizontal coverage of these subwoofers was controlled by adjusting the distance between them and adapting to the architecture of the theater..

The vertical dispersion was optimized by applying electronic delay in the lower boxes, enhancing the sound impact in the first rows of the stalls and guaranteeing a homogeneous distribution of the pressure level throughout the room, taking into account the acoustic gain at the rear of the theater to obtain the greatest possible bass pressure uniformity.

This entire complex design and adjustment process was carried out by combining prediction, acoustic measurements and perceptual adjustments in the room, in close collaboration with the technical team of Buenos Aires Live Show (BALLS), thus ensuring a quality sound result.

“The incorporation of the DAS Audio SARA system, along with the rest of the installed products, have provided great acoustic coherence to the room. I am especially satisfied with the configuration that was made of the subwoofers., since we have achieved exceptional coverage from the first rows to the last seats, significantly improving the audience experience”, underlines Valentin Vieites, Opera theater sound technician.

Álvaro Plumed highlights prior planning and communication with the technical team. “We achieve precision in prediction, creating a model from theater plans and on-site validation by Buenos Aires Live Show technicians (BALLS). This allowed us to work quickly upon arrival., achieving a great result”.