Cleveland, OH – This week, as the Rock Hall of Fame (RHOF) inducts Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns n’ Roses, and Beastie Boys, the Museum concurrently unveils newly renovated exhibits equipped with state-of-the-art directional audio systems from Brown Innovations. The technology significantly enhances the visitor experience at a landmark where sound and audio quality are paramount.
A primary goal of the facelift was to eliminate sound bleed. RHOF President, Terry Stewart, said, “A great deal of what the renovation is about is reacting to what we’ve learned about the building.” Stewart and museum architects realized directional speakers were required to prevent different music tracks from overlapping and creating a cacophony of noise.
Raymond Kent of Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL), the architectural firm responsible for the new exhibit designs, said “The previous loudspeakers were pointed out in the space at a rather high SPL and a 90-degree dispersion – effectively throwing sound everywhere. We wanted to provide more focused sound dispersion within each exhibit, while providing greater control over audio bleed into adjacent exhibits.”
Challenged to find a speaker capable of focusing sound while maintaining high quality audio, the museum tested all options. Research and evaluation found Brown Innovations custom speakers could discreetly send stereophonic sound to explicitly targeted listening zones. Individuals or small groups in these zones enjoy an audio experience with depth and dimension, while just an arm’s length away others hear virtually nothing – or enjoy a completely different audio presentation.
“Before the renovation, audio bleed was a major issue. We addressed it with Brown Innovations focusing array loudspeakers strategically placed to keep patterns tight, give better directionality, and minimize bleed,” said Kent. “The architectural changes and technology helped to shape distinct rooms and experiences with their own individual characteristics,” added Paul Westlake, managing principal at WRL.
The Rock Hall of Fame Induction runs from April 5th through April 14th. All exhibits will be open to tour during the event, including the museum’s newest exhibits, “The Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip” and the 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees exhibit.