Industry Event |
Region UK |
Type of Solution ZU650 laser projector |
Installation Company Spartan Audio |
www.spartanaudio.co.uk |
Cardiff-based Spartan Audio provides corporate event solutions, live sound, vision and lighting solutions, AV installation and sales and touring logistics, supply and crew. |
Spartan Audio was tasked with providing the AV for the prestigious Best of Wales Awards Ceremony to be held at the Mercure Hotel Cardiff.
As this is a very popular awards gala, event organisers, Best Of South Wales Ltd, wanted to ensure everyone would be able to hear and see presenters from any seat in the room. This would need a large projected image for the main stage that synced with repeater televisions throughout the banqueting hall. But space around tables was limited, so the screens needed to be slim.
The throw distance for the projector was limited to three metres so the imagery would need to be rear projected.
Previous year’s events had seen poor image quality between the repeater televisions and the main projector so it was important that both the audio and picture was perfect.
Alistair Brick, Event technician from Spartan Audio, said: “We knew a higher spec unit would be required for the event, so opted for Optoma’s 6,000-lumen laser-phosphor projector, the ZU650. “
This high brightness WUXGA resolution ProScene model with 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast provides 20,000 hours of impressive, virtually maintenance-free operation without the need for lamp or filter replacements. This makes it an ideal solution for installations where access is problematic or restrictive. It is also suited to quieter environments, smaller rooms or those with low ceilings due to the fact it has no lamp – so needs less cooling.
Flexible installation is provided by 360˚ rotation and portrait mode operation, combined with an extensive lens shift range and five optional lenses. HDBaseT comes as standard and almost all functions of the projector can be controlled remotely across a network.
Alistair said: “The projector was easy to install and operate at site. The lens shift on it was fantastic and made aligning infinitely quicker than in previous years. It also had the added bonus of being HDbaseT compatible to work with our existing distribution methods.”
Spartan installed two Samsung 65” LED UHD televisions due to their thin and low profile appearance. They also installed a DB technologies system for the main PA. This was comprised of one active top and sub a side to provide vocal intelligibility for the front of the room as well as offering subtle low end reinforcement. Spartan used L’acoustic MTD108A speakers and amplification was via Powersoft X4 amplifiers. These offer full DSP control, which allowed the AV company to load box presets and provide system EQ from a laptop connected wirelessly to the unit.
Both Spartan staff and event organisers noticed a significant improvement in projector quality from the previous year. The public attending the event commented positively on the quality of the images on both the UHD televisions and the projection.
Alistair said: “It all worked seamlessly and was a real step up for the event. The image quality of the projector was clear, bright and punchy.”
Spartan Audio
Tel: 02920 481797
Unit J2 Colchester Estate Cardiff CF23 9AP
Image copyright ©Spartan AV