Project Portfolio

Hayden Planetarium Sound System Reinforcement

American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Challenge:

With its shimmering, glass-encased and transparent structure, the $200 million Rose Center for Earth and Space at New York City's American Museum of Natural History has created a Big Bang, garnering praise both as an architectural masterwork and a triumph of planetarium technology. The aluminum shrouded Center houses the stunning Cullman Hall of the Universe as well as the 21st century incarnation of the beloved Hayden Planetarium, with its gem, the Space Theater.

Solution:

Meyer Sound products were utilized in both areas of the center. A Meyer Sound Self-Powered system performs as the primary loudspeaker system for the Planetarium, located in the top half of the sphere. A portable Meyer Sound MSL 4 system serves the Cullman Hall of the Universe.

With limited equipment space, there was no question that Meyer Sound Self-Powered Loudspeakers would be installed in the Space Theater, which seats 429 and features a customized Zeiss Star, ProDome projector. By integrating the amplifier directly into the loudspeaker, our installation team saved considerably on rack space, which would normally occupy this element, as well as dedicated processors, crossovers, controllers, and limiters. In addition to saving space, this saved time in installation, setup and adjustment.

The design for the Hayden Planetarium called for over 23 discrete loudspeakers, placed throughout the dome, to be aimed and equalized, as well as subwoofers, soffit delay loudspeakers and a bass shaker in every chair. With the Meyer Self-Powered series, the system could be hung, connected to power and audio, and equalized in a straightforward manner.

Maintained by a Level Control System matrix, sound effects, music and narration all could be panned around the room, as well as overhead, with magnificently smooth and natural swooping audio coverage throughout the area.

Equipment Highlights:

Loudspeaker system; subwoofers; soffit delay loudspeakers; projector; control system matrix

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