Harman Professional Kicks Into High Gear At Swedish Soccer Stadium Norrköpings Idrottspark

In a fixed installation that provides a highly advanced and versatile sound reinforcement system, Swedish soccer stadium Idrottsparken has been retrofitted with a Harman system that includes components from BSS Audio, Crown, and JBL. Home to Sweden’s IFK Norrköping soccer club, the stadium was constructed in 1903 and underwent a major renovation beginning in 2007 that was just recently completed this year. The installation was completed by audio contractor Musikservice AB, with the system design developed by Swedish Harman distributor Septon Electronics AB.

Norrköpings Idrottspark Managing Director Magnus Nilsson explained the process of visiting other stadiums to help make a more educated decision on what type of audio system the stadium needed. “I didn’t want a conventional sound system. I was looking for something outstanding that would add a whole new dimension. Our goal was to offer our spectators a new way to experience the arena with a system that spreads the sound and atmosphere from the field and grandstand to all parts of the arena,” stated Nilsson.

To handle the processing and distribution, a BSS Audio Soundweb London digital matrix was constructed, consisting of 56 inputs and 64 outputs. This took into consideration the fact that, with the stadium’s renovation, the west side had received a new extension with a VIP section, the east side had doubled in size and a roof had been added to the north side. A site-wide fiber optic transmission was proposed to cover the longer distances involved.

While three I/O-configurable BLU-160 devices, a single BLU-320 and multiple BLU-120 devices three I/O-configurable BLU-160 devices, a BLU-320 and BLU-120 devices occupy the rack positions, a BLU-10 programmable remote situated in the commentator’s box offers local master control, and on match days overrides the source feeds to four simple BLU-8 zone controllers, strategically positioned in the bars and restaurants (while leaving the local volume control intact).

Project Consultant from the Sweden-based AV company MICAB, Mikael Bergvall felt the control of the Soundweb London system was a major advantage. “It’s just so easy to use. I can now access the system and adjust any parameter in the Soundweb London devices — from anywhere in the world over the Internet,” stated Bergvall.

Thirty Crown I-Tech 4000 amplifiers power the main audio system, while Crown CTs 1200 amplifiers, fitted with PIP Lite cards, power general areas of the stadium including restaurants. All amplifiers are networked via Harman HiQnet System Architect™.

JBL Control 47C/T loudspeakers were deployed in the first floor stadium restaurants. Incorporating JBL’s Radiation Boundary Integrator (RBI), which is adapted from the VerTec® series of line array loudspeakers. In the upper tier restaurant are a combination of seven JBL Control 29 and eight Control 28 loudspeakers, to take into account the increased roof height. For outdoor areas, 30 JBL weather-coated PD5322/95 and PD5322/64 were deployed.

“Every speaker had to be fitted and tested individually because of the variation of tolerances on the different roof sections,” stated Rickard Bergkvist, owner of Musikservice AB. The wider-dispersion horns run along the flat sides with the more directional PD5322/64’s providing coverage in the corners.