New food centre – multi-zone audio system in the Banken Food Hall

Thai food, bowls, flatbreads, burgers, or simply a superb coffee – when you enter the Banken Food Hall in Aarhus, Denmark, the choice is all up to you. Covering an area of around 2,000 square metres, the indoor food court combines eight different culinary options that are used by thousands of visitors every day. The Danish AV integrator ProGear was responsible for the multi-zone sound system of the former historic bank building dating back to the 19th century and utilised a LD Systems’ Dante-based audio system from the Adam Hall Integrated Systems portfolio.

CURV 500 in the great hall

ProGear configured a total of eleven audio zones for the Banken Food Hall. The central lounge area is the largest zone and focal point and posed the greatest acoustic challenge with its open space of 440 square metres, six-metre high ceilings, and large windows. “Guests sit and stand here, walk around and chat. We also had to find a solution that was compact and visually appealing,” explains Tobias Pedersen from ProGear. The solution: a CURV 500 system consisting of ten mini line arrays, each with four CURV 500 S2 W array satellites in a white colour finish. “For us, the CURV 500 is unique because, despite its compact size, it offers wide sound projection and broad horizontal coverage.” To amplify the array satellites in the bass range, four CURV 500 I SUBs were also used on the walls. The entire system is powered by four CURV 500 I AMP four-channel DSP power amplifiers. Another reason for the CURV 500 array systems: the Banken Food Hall regularly hosts live events, ranging from concerts and DJ gigs to stand-up comedy shows and readings.

“For us, the CURV 500 is unique because, despite its compact size, it offers wide sound projection and broad horizontal coverage.”
Tobias Pedersen, ProGear

Audio zones and QUESTRA

All other audio zones in the Banken Food Hall are operated with a combination of LD Systems DQOR installation speakers in 5” and 8” versions and IPA 424 T four-channel DSP installation power amplifiers – either as high-impedance or 100V versions, depending on the distance to the amplifier positions. The zones range from the entrance area to the corridors and three bookable meeting rooms for private or business gatherings. “The Banken Food Hall is open from morning until late at night, seven days a week. In addition to the sound and visual appearance, the reliability and the five-year guarantee from LD Systems also played an important role”, adds Tobias Pedersen.

”QUESTRA is a great piece of software with a modern operating philosophy that offers everything you need to create multi-zone audio environments.”
Tobias Pedersen, ProGear

ProGear used the QUESTRA Design & Management software from LD Systems to configure the audio set-up. The IPA 424 T amplifiers have also been outfitted with X-EDAI Ethernet and Dante Audio expansion cards for convenient remote programming. ”QUESTRA is a great piece of software with a modern operating philosophy that offers everything you need to create multi-zone audio environments”, acknowledges Tobias Pedersen.