Northern Italy’s University of Bologna is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world. The word ‘universitas’ was coined upon its founding, and it continues to be one of the most prestigious institutions in Italy.
Among the buildings at University of Bologna is the Aula Magna of Santa Lucia, a 13th century church, which has seen many uses over the centuries. It is currently being used for institutional meetings and cultural performances, and as host to ceremonies bestowing honorary degrees upon some of the most influential people in the world.
Aula Magna’s previous sound reinforcement setup featured two hangs of NEXO’s compact GEO S8 line arrays. When it was time for an upgrade, the University of Bologna turned to local installation specialist LG Integrated Service, who recommended NEXO’s new high-performance ID84 column speaker.
“During this restructuring phase in the Aula Magna, the client wanted to eliminate the central structures that were blocking the view of the room, in particular the line array hangs,” explains Alberto Vandini from LG Integrated Service. “We opted for a distributed system, mounting the elements on the columns of the nave. The choice of the ID84 loudspeaker seemed to us to be the most logical for this space, which is approximately 80×40 meters, accommodating about 1,000 people.”
The ID84 is a state-of-the-art installation loudspeaker offering an outstanding Peak SPL output of 135dB, and a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz, delivering a smooth and musical sonic signature that is equally competent at music reinforcement as it is speech. Within the 2-way passive box are 8 x 4” long-excursion Neodymium LF drivers, and eight 1” HF drivers in a unique arrangement which maximises the efficiency of the overall design.
Ten separate loudspeaker setups have been placed around the nave of the Aula Magna, each featuring a single column formed by coupling an ID84 with its companion low-frequency extension module, the ID84L; a pairing that is especially suitable for long-throw applications.
The amplification system comprises 2x NEXO NXAMP4X2MK2 and 1x DTDAMP4X1.3 + DTD-TN processor, all running Dante. White side covers and white front grilles complete the sleek contemporary appearance of the cabinets, matching the base aesthetics of the Aula Magna.
“When the speaker modules were installed, even before we turned the system on, we received so many compliments on the beauty and elegance of the product,” says LG’s Alberto Vandini. “Having such an aesthetic makes an importance difference in an environment of historical interest.”
