Founded in 1788 and occupying an impressive Art Noveau building in Nybroplan,
Stockholm since 1908, the Royal Dramatic Theatre – or Dramaten – is Sweden’s
National Theatre. After several years of renting Alcons loudspeakers for events, in
2015 the theatre has installed a permanent system in its main space.
The state-owned venue produces classical theatre, new Swedish and international
productions and is also a hub for child and youth theatre.
Dramaten has seven stages in three different buildings. Located in the main
building, the 770-capacity Main Stage is, in many ways, the heart of the theatre. Its
decor is maintained as close as possible to when the building opened, so the new
audio system had to be compact yet deliver very high quality sound.
“The challenge was to find a physically small PA without compromising in sound. We
demand even coverage throughout all four levels of seating and a good stereo
image. The available positioning for a PA was very limited because the building is
historically protected, as well as considering sight lines,’ says Dramaten’s Technical
Project Manager Johan Bengtsson.
Swedish audio specialist Electrosound AB is a member of the Alcons global Ribbon
Network and had rented a range of systems to Dramaten in the past. “Through
regularly renting Alcons systems, such as VR8, VR12 and LR7 for various events,
Dramaten already knew the quality that Alcons delivers. They also installed Alcons
SR9 low profile loudspeakers for front fills several years ago,’ says Electrosound’s
Brollan Soderstrom.
The LR7 is a true line-source system, which can be deployed either in stacked or
flown configuration. Loaded with the RBN401 pro-ribbon driver on a “morpher’ lens –
which produces up to 94% frontal radiation – the system features 120° dispersion
with seamless coverage. Its transient response and peak power handling of
800W/200mS produces amazing intelligibility and throw, while offering maximum
“gain-before-feedback’ from any position up to directly under the array.
Precisely matching the LR7, the LR7B is a double-tuned bandpass bass unit.
Featuring a single 12′ long excursion woofer, the LR7B delivers high quality, high
output bass response from an ultra-compact, weight-efficient package. The
concentric bandpass configuration offers LR7-tuned bass response in full-space
(flown) and increased efficiency in half-space (stacked) applications. The extended
frequency response enables the LR7B to be used as mid-bass reinforcement, full-
range bass extension or subwoofer.
The micro-sized design and weight saving all-Neodymium drivers of a combined
LR7/LR7B system makes it very easy to handle.
In addition, eight Alcons VR12 two-way, compact loudspeakers were installed as
fills and monitors.
The system is powered by five Alcons ALC Sentinel 3 Amplified Loudspeaker
Controllers. The Sentinel 3 is a powerful four-channel, DSP-based controller with
Class D amplifier stages, designed to get the absolute maximum performance out of
Alcons pro-ribbon systems.
