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KOKO Chooses JBL and Crown
Harman Pro UK has announced the completion of a prestigious PA installation at North London’s premier live music venue, KOKO. The historic Camden venue has added to its already Harman-rich inventory this month, choosing a state-of-the-art JBL VerTec line array driven by Crown iTech amplifiers to achieve a comprehensive upgrade of its sound system.
16 JBL VT4888 mid-size line array elements have been installed by Camden based electrical contractors RAG Support Ltd. as part of the upgrade of the venue’s sound system with a view to provide full, even coverage throughout the venue. To complete the latest Harman package, iTech 4000 and 6000 amplifiers from sister company Crown were also chosen.
Tim Hamper, head sound engineer at KOKO explains the decision: “Buildings of this age are often irregular shapes, which is part of their charm. When it comes to setting up an audio system however, this has its drawbacks as the sound can be lost in some areas, severely affecting the output. We have chosen the JBL line array system specifically to combat this.”
Harman Pro UK were closely involved with the refit at KOKO from the outset, and Hamper didn’t see any benefit of going elsewhere when decisions for the latest upgrade were being taken.
“The sound check at the installation proved that there were no dead sound patches and the output power is incredible: really loud, but clean. It sounds disturbing!” laughs Hamper, clearly bowled over by the system.
"’If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it!’ Now we certainly do have some excess to play with,” agrees Daveid Phillips, KOKO’s head of music ”In fact I think we now have the best sounding venue in London, not just loud and crystal clear, but something physical that needs to be experienced.”
The VerTec line array is an ideal solution to a broad range of sound reinforcement challenges for fixed performance venues such as KOKO. Engineered to be light in weight with integral rigging hardware, each VerTec model is mechanically and acoustically compatible with others in the line and delivers premium quality audio.
Mark Johnson, live bookings manager at KOKO is just as impressed: “Coming to KOKO these days, with its new PA, is like being in front of the main stage at Reading festival."
World renowned North London venue KOKO has a rich and varied history. Having started life in 1900 as Camden Theatre, it evolved steadily with the times becoming a cinema, a BBC Theatre and a live music venue for all manner of music genres, before it was given a multi-million dollar makeover to create KOKO: today’s 21st century entertainment venue.
“The JBL system ticks all of the boxes,” Hamper concludes. “As the whole line array is lightweight, there was no danger of pulling the walls down. I can’t wait to hear the system in action in front of a full house. It’s going to be awesome.”
3rd October 2007
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