Daktronics Revitalizes Lane Stadium's Sound System with Harman Professional Audio Components

Systems integrator Daktronics recently upgraded Virginia Tech University's Lane Stadium with new Harman's JBL VLA Series loudspeakers, along with equipment from BSS audio and Soundcraft. The stadium seats 66,233 and is home to the Virginia Tech Hokies' football team.

The goal of this renovation was to ensure a high output system and even coverage from seat to seat. Daktronics selected JBL Professional's VLA Series line arrays, which offers revolutionary high-impact sound beyond the reach of traditional loudspeaker designs.

"We designed the JBL VLA system to meet and exceed the initial performance standards of point-and-shoot horn speakers while also reducing costs," says David Sturzenbecher, audio project engineer for Daktronics.

Daktronics installed a system consisting of 18 JBL VLA601H loudspeakers, four JBL VLA301H loudspeakers, two JBL PD5212 loudspeakers, two JBL PD764 loudspeakers, powered by 17 Crown I-Tech HD 4x3500 amplifiers and nine I-Tech 9000 amplifiers, with two BSS Soundweb London BLU-800 processors. The system also features a Soundcraft Performer 3 audio/ lighting mixing console.

"The system has been functioning great and received many positive reviews. We utilized additional DSP I/O to control additional areas outside of the initial scope to provide added customer functionality," Sturzenbecher says.

Besides installation, Daktronics was also responsible for system design and programming. Of course, a project incorporating all these elements did not go unchallenged.

"The original design did not call for vertical arrays, so we collaborated with the structure engineer to redesign the space to accommodate for the VLA system," Sturzenbecher says. "With support from [JBL senior applications engineer] Brad Ricks and [owner's representative] Anthony James Partners, we successfully completed the project."