Boulder Theater Rocks with L-Acoustics K3

P1 was essential to the new design, says Phillips, providing loudspeaker system control and tuning from FOH. “In addition to acting as the DSP for the system, P1 also functions as an input switcher between consoles,” he describes. “The house console is an Avid S6L 24D, which communicates to the P1 via MILAN AVB. With AVB signal routing, the venue’s engineers are able to send mixes practically anywhere—live streams, distributed audio, recording, and so on. The AES and analog inputs are available for guest consoles, with the mic inputs acting as house music inputs while switching between bands. From the P1, the signal travels backstage over AVB to the amplifiers and then out to the system. The fact that the audio is going from the console all the way to the amplifiers over AVB at 96k will keep this system relevant for years to come.”

A performance by Al Di Meola on February 3rd officially christened the venue’s new sound system, and both the show and rig received ample praise. “The system performed remarkably in terms of sound quality and coverage,” Phillips recalls. “The clarity and musicality between the previous PA and the new one are obvious even to the uneducated ear. The show was mostly acoustic guitar and percussion, and the subs were barely even tapped yet, but there was still enough LF to fill the room noticeably. Everyone at the venue was extremely pleased.”

Link says that that reaction has quickly become the norm: “In addition to hearing very complimentary comments from many artists and their engineers, fans that have been coming to the theater for 20-plus years have pulled me aside after shows to thank us for putting in this new system and to tell me how amazing it is to hear their favorite acts through it.”

“And I’m just as amazed,” he continues. “K3 covers the space perfectly and provides a beautiful true stereo image for the whole room. I can hear the pick drag against a guitar string from any seat in the house, and a vocalist’s breath and subtle nuances of their voice are all present. EDM and ‘bass science’ music sounds amazing, with all frequencies working together in harmony, and the system’s generous headroom allows for more mixes and artistic choices by engineers. In my opinion, the range of the K3, the power of the KS28, and the articulation of the X8 combined are the perfect match for Boulder Theater. Given the space and weight restrictions that we had to work within, there isn’t a better option out there to service our space.”