HARMAN Professional Audio System Rolls Out at bluO Bowling Center In Chandigarh, India

CHANDIGARH, India – PVR bluO Rhythm and Bowl, a new entertainment destination concept in India, bills itself as India’s largest bowling center, with locations throughout the country. Much more than just a place to knock down pins, bluO’s newest Chandigarh location boasts 25 lanes and offers music, world cuisine, two karaoke rooms and internationally renowned DJ’s. Its lounges are the scene of regular Bollywood celebrity sightings. bluO’s striking interior features a ceiling with “rippling wave” lighting and other ultramodern design touches – and a HARMAN Professional sound system to keep the good times rolling.

“As a destination, PVR bluO epitomizes a new bowling facility standard due to its capability to infuse energy and excitement through sound. When HARMAN was approached by the management of PVR, we knew our goal was to ensure the necessary blend of quality acoustics to match the aesthetics of the venue. Upon completion of the project, we had a great sport destination with a world-class sound system, delivering a great experience to visitors,” advised Karan Kathuria, National Sales Manager, Installed Sound, HARMAN India.

Resonance Audio, a New Delhi-based system integration firm, was responsible for the design, layout, installation and programming of the bluO system.  A JBL loudspeaker complement of four STX 815M two-way 15-inch loudspeakers, four STX 818S 18-inch subwoofers, two Control 28s loudspeakers, a SB210 dual-10-inch compact subwoofer, and six Control 29AV’s which feature a rotatable high-frequency horn, enabling either horizontal or vertical mounting for added installation flexibility, cover the venue.

Audio signal processing and distribution is handled by a BSS Audio BLU-100 signal processor with digital audio bus, BSS BLU-BOB break out box output expander and a Soundcraft EPM-6 mixing console. Crown amplifiers, including one XTi 4002, one XLS 2500 and three XTi 6002’s drive the loudspeakers. Resonance Audio also supplied four AKG HT-45 wireless microphones for paging and announcements, karaoke and visiting DJs and entertainers.

“Our primary needs for this installation were good speech intelligibility and very high SPL levels with uniform low-frequency distribution and exceptional audio reproduction throughout the facility,” said Raghu Srinivasan, Managing Director at Resonance Audio. “We had a lot of ground to cover – the bowling alley itself, the lounges, the bar and restaurant and other areas, and we selected the particular JBL loudspeaker models on an application-specific basis to best cover the areas in which they were installed, and because their form factors made it easy to place them where they would not intrude upon bluO’s decor.”

Overall, the system was designed to maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio and have enough headroom to prevent clipping. “As you can imagine a bowling alley is a high ambient noise level environment, and we knew the power capability of the Crown amps, combined with the wide coverage patterns and efficiency of the JBL loudspeakers would be more than up to the task.”

Srinivasan chose the BSS BLU-100 because its flexible programming options enabled him to configure the system for optimal performance. The BLU-100 and Soundcraft console enable the system to deliver different volume levels for different zones of the venue, without being complicated to use.

“This project needed a system that staff members can easily operate without having to rely on a dedicated audio person. For this reason and because it’s constantly in use delivering high SPL on a regular basis, the audio system has to be totally reliable and foolproof. We have relied on HARMAN Professional products in all of our large-scale installations for years, and our belief in their capabilities has only been strengthened with time,” stated Srinivasan. “We are proud to have been an integral part of such a prestigious project and are more than delighted to have executed it with such extraordinary results,” he concluded.

Commenting on the installation, Bhanu Yadav, Vice President, Operations for PVR bluO stated, “This project was a major success, and we now have an amazing audio experience with a system that is both clear and powerful.”

“Our work with Resonance Audio and this particular installation underscores HARMAN India’s commitment to serving a host of vertical market applications that are now demanding higher quality audio solutions in their venues,” stated Prashant Govindan, Director, India Operations HARMAN Professional. “At HARMAN we are uniquely positioned to meet this need with our dedicated systems approach providing these users with all the elements required for a first-class professional audio system.”

HARMAN designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,800 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.7 billion for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

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Yes Planet Cinema in Rishon LeZion Enters the 3D Sound Sphere with HARMAN’s JBL and Crown

RISHON LEZION, Israel – As if vibrating chairs, gusts of wind, thunder and lightning was not enough, the Israel Theaters Group which owns Cinema City International, recently added a Barco Auro-3D advanced sound system to the three largest theaters at the Yes Planet complexes in Rishon LeZion. This next-generation multi-dimensional sound system features HARMAN’s JBL loudspeakers and Crown DSi 2000 amplifiers.

“We are using JBL loudspeakers in the movie theaters we set up in Israel and abroad, and this time we chose to upgrade and work with Crown’s new DSi Series amplifiers, which turned out to be a perfect combination and a winning formula for reliability and uncompromising sound. The combination of Crown and JBL gives perfect results,” said Ilan Schor, Cinema City International’s technical manager.

By implementing loudspeakers in the ceiling as well as the sides of the theater, the Barco Auro-3D system effectively immerses the viewer in an omnidirectional aural experience. The JBL loudspeakers installed were: 21 JBL ScreenArray 3732 loudspeakers, 36 JBL 4670D loudspeakers, 12 JBL 3678 loudspeakers, 30 JBL 4645C subwoofers, 114 JBL 8340A Surround loudspeakers, 124 JBL 8320 Surround loudspeakers and 18 JBL 8350 Surround loudspeakers. 

Schor added, “This time we chose Crown’s DSi series of amplifiers with built-in DSP, which includes perfect compatibility with every loudspeaker and enables simple and easy control of each component in the system. Also, the DSi-8M projection booth monitors also enable us to fully monitor the system during the screening.” A total of 126 Crown DSi 2000 amplifiers were installed in conjunction with 24 Crown DSi-8m state-of-the-art monitors.

As sound is an inseparable part of the movie-viewing experience, this upgrade not only offers the viewers a new and exciting sound quality, but makes it easy for the staff to operate and monitor the system as well. Rarely can one find a cinema system with a more streamlined integration as the one between JBL and Crown.

HARMAN designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,800 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.7 billion for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

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HARMAN’s JBL and Crown Provide Sound for National Network of Cinemas Project In Mongolia

MONGOLIA — Most audio/video projects involve a single location and anything from a conference room to a domed stadium. That’s a major endeavor by anyone’s standards – but a project that involves equipping an entire country with a network of cinemas? That’s exactly what the Mongolia Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism (MCST) is currently undertaking in conjunction with systems integrator Cinema of Sound LLC and Kinoton Korea, Inc.

In their effort to provide professional high-quality cinemas to Mongolian citizens, Cinema of Sound and Kinoton are building Standard Cinema Point theaters in Mongolia’s aimags (first-level administrative subdivisions), villages and city districts. Twenty installations have been completed to date, spanning across the country’s nearly 604,000 square miles. Audio for all the installations is provided by HARMAN’s JBL JRX125 dual-15-inch loudspeakers and Crown DSi 2000 amplifiers, which are designed specifically for cinema applications.

“Mongolia is a country that has vast areas of scattered settlements and sparse population, so sparse that our country’s most remote citizens watch movies only on television, as there are no theaters,” said Jigjidsuren Khurelbaatar, CEO of Cinema of Sound LLC. “Thanks to our Standard Cinema Point project, which is part of the MCST’s efforts to bring a richer cultural environment to Mongolians, people throughout Mongolia will be able to enjoy a true cinema experience with high-quality sound and projection.”

Cinema of Sound LLC standardized on the JBL JRX125 loudspeakers and Crown DSi 2000 amplifiers for the Standard Cinema Point installations to achieve consistent sound, performance and reliability in every venue. “By standardizing the equipment we’re using, we know we can depend on a high level of audio quality and dependable day-to-day operation no matter where the theaters are located,” Chris Bae, Managing Director of Kinoton Korea, Inc.

The JRX125 incorporates features including dual 15-inch woofers with large 2.5-inch (64mm) edgewound ribbon voice coils, titanium-diaphragm compression high-frequency drivers and high-voltage crossover components to ensure exceptional performance under the most demanding conditions of day-to-day use. Crown’s DSi Series amplifiers are specifically designed to meet the needs of cinema applications and feature onboard digital signal processing including crossovers, EQ filters, delay and output limiting to deliver exceptional sound quality.

Cinema of Sound and Kinoton Korea are contracted to build 50 more Standard Cinema Point theaters in the remainder of 2013, bringing the total of theaters in Mongolia to 70. Theaters are currently installed in capital city Ulaanbaatar and in locations throughout the country.

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 14,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.3 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

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Amerisports Bar’s Live Entertainment Relies on HARMAN Professional Solution with AKG Wireless In-Ear Monitoring System and Mics

VIENNA, Austria – With live entertainment every weekend ranging from legendary classic rock to top 40 covers by local bands, Ameristar Casino’s Amerisports Bar located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, recently added HARMAN’s AKG IVM4500 IEM in-ear-monitors to improve sound for every act in its uniquely shaped room. With a full HARMAN support system, including a Soundcraft digital console, Crown amplifiers and JBL Professional loudspeakers, FOH engineer Dan Allen ensures that casino patrons will enjoy their time eating, drinking and dancing in the bar.

With the multiple sets of AKG IVM4500 IEM’s and its room simulation program, Allen says the performing artists have become more comfortable in the large room, which is octagonally shaped at the stage and dance floor end. The remaining area of the room – approximately 150 feet long – is rectangular and contains an island bar about 100 feet back. The room’s technical staff had struggled with acoustical issues for years before the HARMAN audio overhaul and a sound-dampening renovation. With the internal processing selections of IVM4500 including 8 compression, 8 EQ and 8 room simulations settings, moving onstage acts to the AKG in-ear monitoring system has yielded positive results.

“AKG thought of everything when it developed the IVM4500’s,” stated Allen. “The in-ears are easy to set up and have very low signal latency. Even artists who have no previous experience with in-ear monitors are easily adjusting to them, allowing for their best performances every week.”

Within the casino, wireless communication signals are very dense, as security and other departments utilize numerous free frequency channels. Allen’s AKG WMS470 wireless mic systems are always clear and have never dropped signal during a performance.

The Amerisports Bar’s audio reinforcement system also includes an AKG Rhythm Pack with a D112 kick drum mic, C430 condensers for overheads and D40’s for toms. A Soundcraft Si Expression 3 digital console and JBL STX800 series loudspeakers powered by Crown XTI amplifiers round out the concert sound system.

“I’ve really grown fond of the Soundcraft Expression,” Allen continued. “The user levels, recall and scene setups work well and can be easily used by our IT personnel if I’m not there. It’s easy to train those engineers on the Expression who are used to analog boards. And, the JBL speakers are very honest, leaving the entire system quite transparent, especially in the atypical-shaped room. I have been a JBL fan for life and every time I see that orange sticker, I know we’ll have great sound.”

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 14,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.3 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

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HARMAN Professional Offers Scalable, High-Performance Audio and Lighting Systems for The World’s Most Prestigious Stadiums and Arenas

NORTHRIDGE, California – Whether it’s a match-winning goal in Brazil, a walk-off homerun in New York City, a touchdown in Denver, a slam dunk in Los Angeles or a gold medal race in China, the sonic atmosphere of any stadium or arena are vital to the sports viewing experience. HARMAN Professional’s top-of-the-line microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, mixing consoles and lighting solutions have been installed in the most prestigious venues across the globe and entertain millions of fans each year. 

“HARMAN has been on the field and in the stands for decades as the latest awe-inspiring stadiums have taken shape year after year,” states Scott Robbins, Executive Vide President of Sales, HARMAN Professional. “We offer full-scale solutions with products from our various brands, including AKG, BSS Audio, Crown, JBL, Soundcraft and Martin Lighting, to enhance the customer experience while ensuring installation capabilities are efficient and can exceed the expectations of system integrators, designers and stadium owners. We understand the importance of sound, video, and lighting during a sporting event and work to help bring an acoustically and visually stunning experience for every game on the schedule!”

HARMAN is uniquely positioned to provide complete audio and lighting systems that deliver world-class results and ease-of-use across the signal chain, from microphones to loudspeakers and everywhere in between. High-quality design and reliable performance ensure that all venues, with capacities ranging from a few thousand to 100,000, are covered. HARMAN Professional brands manufacture a broad range of products that can scale up to match the size and needs of any venue, from the high school to the professional and Olympics level.

Noteworthy venues across the globe that rely on HARMAN Professional’s sound reinforcement technology include: Yankee Stadium, STAPLES Center, Georgia Dome, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, MetLife Stadium, Arcadia University Sports Field, BBVA Compass Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Hong Kong Stadium, PGE Arena, the Water Cube, Sydney Football Stadium, Simonds Stadium and Manchester United Stadium, and many more.

In addition, HARMAN Professional provides a wealth of web-based resources for customers, including free software, white papers, application guides, and online training on audio topics and system design. These resources are used by professional consultants and integrators and are accessible to anyone interested in becoming more knowledgeable about audio and lighting technology and applications.

For more information on HARMAN Professional’s offerings for stadiums and other sports venues, please visit www.harmanpro.com

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 14,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.3 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.  

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