The Stone Mountain Arts Centre is a 200-seat, timber frame music hall nestled in the foothills of the White Mountains in Brownfield, Maine. A labour of love and dream fulfilled for owner/musician Carol Noonan, the Centre provides a unique venue for national artists who love the idea of connecting with small audiences again.
A diverse array of artists, ranging from Lyle Lovett, Robert Cray and Marty Stuart to Ani DeFranco, Taj Mahal and Mary Chapin Carpenter, have graced the Centre’s stage to provide unforgettable performances that have helped make it a popular destination for musicians and audiences alike.
Stone Mountain Arts selected Jason Raboin of Klondike Sound to design a new sound system to support the eclectic roster of artists they showcase. The project presented a number of interesting acoustical and aesthetic challenges, including managing the Centre’s highly reflective wooden surfaces and designing a visually unobtrusive sound system to blend in with its rustic timber frame architecture.
Raboin selected Fulcrum speakers for their signature clarity, precise directional control and minimal visual impact. The simple yet powerful system consists of two Fulcrum DX1277 dual 12 inch coaxial loudspeakers whose tailored 75° x 75° dispersion keeps sound off the physical structure. Two Sub118 18 inch direct-radiating subwoofers extend low frequency support, and eight compact FX1295 12 inch coaxial vocal monitors are used on stage.
The Centre’s production manager Patrick O’Donnell enthuses, “With their tailored coverage pattern and musical quality, Fulcrum’s speakers provide the fidelity and punch we need. Whether it’s a loud rock show or a nuanced acoustic performance, the system is really transparent”. Carol Noonan adds: “As our arts centre is all about people and connections, we needed a sound system that wouldn’t detract from its warm, welcoming and intimate feel. Fulcrum speakers were a perfect fit”.
