Bag End Subs Provide a Musical Base at New Wentz Hall Auditorium

When North Central College, in Naperville, Illinoins, developed the Wentz Concert Hall in its new Fine Arts Center, it turned to Talaske, an acoustic audio- and video-design firm based in Oak Park, Illinois. The system Talaske designed to create an intimate listening experience yet surround the audience with a "grand sound" for reinforced events was anchored by Bag End subwoofers.

"The room never loses clarity," points out Talaske in its description of the project, "yet at the same time maintains a strong, pleasing reverberance and significant running liveliness, creating an environment that will encourage world-class performances."

Wentz Hall is challenging in that it features a moderate-sized audience area of 605 seats, but a stage sized to comfortably hold a full professional symphony orchestra and chorus. The performers using the stage may vary from large and small ensembles to solo acts. An intimate hall that can accommodate large sound, it can be "tuned" through the motorized extension and retraction of sound-absorbing curtains. Two massive acoustic expansion chambers, one on each side of the stage and invisible to the audience, enhance the acoustic characteristics and extend reverb times.

The sound system is equally flexible, amplifying and moderating sound to meet the needs of the situation. Four Bag End D18E-AD subwoofers and an Infra mx2 processor provide bass sound support in the main auditorium, along with a Crown Audio CTS2000 amplifier, and Electrovoice EVI-28 center loudspeaker with Crown Audio CTS600 amplifier, and 2 Electrovoice Xi-2153A, and 2Xi-1123A's for main floor and balcony reinforcement.