When NeoLogic Sound was called to update the speaker system at one of the largest Methodist churches in Los Angeles, little did president Jeffrey Miranda know what a profound effect the new setup could actually have on the congregation.

Not only did the upgrade help officials at the 50-year-old First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica better cover the room that reaches 50 feet at its peak and stretches 120 feet to the back wall, it also helped most of the dozen or so regular congregants who were using assisted listening devices to no longer depend on them to hear what’s happening during services.

“It’s a very big room, so coverage was always a concern,” Miranda says. “It was an acoustically reflective space, so sound was bouncing all over the place. On top of that, the last system that was put in was done in-house about 10 years before, so the trustee board felt like they’d been burned. Getting them to trust me was a feat in itself. Having them talk to our references really helped, and made everyone feel more comfortable.

“No matter how big they are, churches generally don’t want to spend money if they don’t have to. They feel like it’s up to them to be good stewards for the congregation,” he says.

Inside The Install

Once Miranda was able to gain the board’s trust, he convinced them to go with two TOA HX-5 speaker arrays (eight modules each) for the main system, two F1300 delay fills for the balcony and a Symetrix Zone Mix 760, which allows control of the system from a laptop.

“They wanted something that didn’t stand out and fit in with the sanctuary,” Miranda says. The church is well-known for its pipe organ and choral program and typically attracts as many as 400 people for weekend services. “Finding something that wouldn’t look ugly and increased intelligibility was really a challenge.”

NeoLogic is hoping to convince church officials to install a control system in the balcony of the church, Miranda says, but some of the trustees fear it could cause a distraction.

“The important thing with any job is making the customer feel like they’re the ones making the decision,” he says. “You want them to feel like it’s their idea rather than something you’re telling them to do.”

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D. Craig MacCormack

Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years experience covering local and national news and sports as well as architecture and engineering. He joined Commercial Integrator in January 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @CraigMacCormack.

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