Harman Professional Solutions recently helped Full Gospel Holy Temple elevate its sound, with a system that comprises HARMAN’s JBL, Crown and BSS Audio components. Working closely with E2i Design and Skylark AV, the congregation’s Technical Director, Chris Black, sought a solution that would deliver tour-level sound to every attendee, provide greater musical clarity and help forge a more intimate bond between minister and worshipper.
“We wanted every seat in the house to feel as close to the sound as the front row,” said Chris. He describes the church as a high-energy ministry, one that transitions rapidly from traditional to contemporary worship in services that feature a nine-person Praise and Worship team and a choir with more than 100 members.
More than 45 Harman Professional Solutions components were chosen for their ability to handle those transitions and to convey the energy of worship that’s the hallmark of Full Gospel Holy Temple. The installation includes 12 JBL VTX V25-II line arrays in two hangs of six, eight JBL S28 subwoofers in two hangs of four, seven JBL F15 stage monitors, three JBL AM7212s 2-way high-power loudspeakers and two JBL PD6200 loudspeakers. The loudspeakers are powered by eight Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD, four Crown I-Tech 12000HD and two Crown DCi 2|600 amplifiers. A BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-806 signal processor works within a Dante network.
Chris said that one of the main benefits of having a complete system solution from a single manufacturer is peace of mind. “The one thing that has to happen for me, service in and service out, is good sound,” he said. “People are forgiving once, twice, maybe even three times, but if you can’t keep things sounding consistent and make each service enjoyable, everyone eventually becomes an audio expert.” The all-Harman Professional Solutions lineup, according to Chris, doesn’t call attention to itself. “The components work extremely well together, they sound great and they enhance our worshippers’ experience,” he said.
There were other factors that drew Chris to a solution of Harman components. “We heard some great systems, but at the end of the day, it was all about how we were going to be supported over the long haul,” he said. “Is the manufacturer going to stand behind their products? Will we feel comfortable partnering with them in the future?” As the person responsible for providing technical leadership to an organisation that began with six individuals gathering to worship at a barbecue joint and now counts more than 2,500 members, Chris knew the answers to these questions were crucial. For him, the answer was-and is-yes. “With massive R&D efforts, an excellent support system and the experience that Harman brands and their employees have, it was clear that when you have all the Harman components working together, there is really nothing else like it available,” he said.
According to Chris, the technical and strategic value of the deployment have exceeded his expectations, but it’s the solution’s enablement of those not necessarily born to the pulpit to participate in the church community that he considers the most important of many benefits. “Presenters who talk quietly used to be a strain on our old system, and we would always get feedback,” he said. “Now, working with people who don’t project their voices is easy.”
“With our new client-centric organisation, Harman Professional Solutions is now uniquely positioned to be more responsive to our customers’ needs with dedicated expertise in their vertical markets, while also developing solutions that will help their organisations grow,” said Dave McKinney, Vice President, Hospitality. “It is becoming increasingly important to have the ability to deliver complete systems in many markets, including House of Worship. We are deeply committed to helping this market better serve its worshippers through complete system solutions that not only work well together, but are also easy to install, maintain and operate.”
