World-class audio at Genting Arena
Concerts held at Genting Arena of Stars will no longer be the same with the new state-of-the-art L-Acoustics K2 sound system, writes Aiman Maulana
DRIVING up to Genting Highlands to attend the music and other entertainment or artistic showcases frequently at Genting Arena of Stars counts as one of the most popular attractions for tourists and locals alike. The arena has hosted some of the most famous showbiz personalities in the world, including Kenny G, Lionel Richie and Richard Clayderman.
Resorts World Genting has now amped up the entertainment factor with its new state-of-the art sound system, the L-Acoustics K2.
For those of you who are unaware of this system, L-Acoustics is a French professional audio specialist that provides worldclass audio quality through its equipment. This equipment may carry four different brand labels - L-Acoustics, L-ISA, Blububbles, and Simea. In Malaysia, L-Acoustics is represented by Sennheiser Asia.
The L-Acoustics K2 sound system consists of various audio equipment which combine to provide listeners with the best sounds imaginable. There are four K2 Array clusters consisting of two 12-box arrays at the front and two 10-box arrays at the sides, four stacks of L-Acoustics K1-SB subwoofers, and eight KARA enclosures placed in
line with KS-28 subwoofers.
All of these are driven by four LA4X and 20 LA12X amplified controllers, said to be the most powerful equipment in L-Acoustics’ arsenal. When you combine all these together, it results in audio being projected directly towards the audience with pinpoint precision, heart-thumping bass, and sounds that fill the entire arena evenly.
It also eliminates major audio issues including feedback, reflection, and dead spaces in certain areas.
This L-Acoustics K2 sound system is the very same one utilised in international music festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland, and Summerfest. It is also said to be the preferred choice of sound system for some of the world’s top touring artistes such as Adele, Pink, and Jacky Cheung.
ONLY HALF THE WORK
At this point, you may be thinking that this is simply a case of throwing away money for a better sound system which should automatically result in a better experience. But that is not the case as it is not as simple as placing the equipment wherever one pleases. The other half depends on properly optimising the L-Acoustics K2 in the Arena of Stars.
To fully take advantage of the L-Acoustics K2’s capabilities requires meticulous planning in knowing the most optimal positions for specific equipment. To do this, sound engineers utilise the L-Acoustics Soundvision software to create a simulation of an area to map out audience zones manually.
Through this software, loudspeakers and arrays will be virtually placed to get a calculation of the impact coverage and sound pressure level (SPL) mapping. This allows engineers to get a visualisation of the most optimum position possible. While other locations are more flexible in terms of removing and adding structures to optimise audio, this particular installation requires that the Arena of Stars not have any modifications, and to only use the existing structure.
Faz Salleh, senior consultant of Pro Audio Solutions at Sennheiser Asia, says that while this mapping program is not proven to be 100 per cent accurate, it is far more accurate than is humanly possible to do. The company has continued using this program to optimise the experience at various environments and has succeeded every single time.
EXPERIENCING THE SOUND SYSTEM
Now that we know all about the L-Acoustics K2 sound system, all that’s left is to try it out for ourselves. To put the system to the test, we were treated to a 30-minute musical performance by the band John Thomas & Friends. The band consists of John Ashley Thomas, one of Malaysia’s top drummers who has performed with international artistes including Jacky Cheung, David Tao, and Lo Ta-yu.
While the experience was certainly captivating, there are a few issues that I need to point out. The first is that the instruments were drowning the vocals so I personally missed out on most of what was being sung during the performance. This seems like an easy fix, as they will simply need to dial down the volume for the instruments.
The other issue is the lack of soundproofing in the Arena of Stars. This resulted in a very noticeable echoing sound which made guitar riffs sound more enticing but everything else sounding a little odd. There was no carpeted flooring whatsoever and the arena is noticeably hollow. Given that there weren’t many who were present during the performance, this might not be an issue if the arena was filled with people.
“The Arena of Stars averages eight international concerts and eight corporate events each month, a demanding schedule that requires a first-rate sound system that is as reliable as it is outstanding. The L-Acoustics K2 sound system has already debuted to rave reviews in our recent concerts. We have made this significant investment because we believe that our audiences deserve only the best,” said Kevin Tann, Vice President of Promotions and Entertainment for Resorts World Genting.
The L-Acoustics K2 sound system is certainly something that needs to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. If you often go for musical performances and it happens to take place at the Genting Arena of Stars, you are going to be in for an amazing experience unlike anything you’ve heard before. It is not pefect yet but that can be fixed. One thing’s for sure, you have to hear it to believe it.