The Arena Vienna is Austria’s largest alternative culture and communication center and an important meeting point for music and art. In order to meet the latest acoustic requirements, the outdoor area was equipped this year with a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound sound system consisting of PANTHER line array speakers and 2100-LFC low-frequency control elements. The aim was to significantly improve the public experience while reducing noise pollution for residents.
(Image: ThomasMAGYAR photo design)
In the 1970s, the arena, then a slaughterhouse, was occupied by alternative activists and later converted into an integrative cultural center for young people. The arena has multiple zones suitable for a range of events and crowd sizes of up to 1,000 people indoors and 3,000 people outdoors. Large concerts and festivals take place outside, especially in summer. Over the last few years, several residential complexes have been built near the venue. Since then, nighttime open-air events in the arena in particular have led to increased noise complaints from new residents.
Noise regulations threatened operations
“The arena expected that the complaints would jeopardize operations at the existing location under Austrian law,” said Manfred Prochazka, Managing Director and Head of Audio at ATEC Pro, the Austrian Meyer Sound partner, and responsible for the delivery of audio solutions for 20 years for the arena. “So management approached us to talk about a new sound system to minimize noise emissions towards the new high-rise buildings.”
“To avoid complaints and comply with regulations, it was crucial to direct sound precisely to the spectator area while minimizing upward or outward sound to avoid spreading to the surrounding neighborhood,” explains Thomas Löffler , Head of Audio for All Sound and Technical Info for the Arena.
Due to the many advantages, ATEC Pro quickly chose a PANTHER line array system, which was intended to replace the older MILO sound system. For the system design, ATEC Pro worked with Dennis Tholema, Technical Services Manager, International, and Michael Pohl, Technical Services at Meyer Sound. The set-up was tested in the Meyer Sound MAPP 3D System Design & Prediction Tool.
ATEC Pro then presented the PANTHER system to the Arena team. “During the presentation we had the opportunity to see the sound quality for ourselves while a civil engineer and the responsible city administration carried out measurements. These measurements confirmed the predictions from the MAPP 3D tool and showed that noise emissions could be effectively minimized,” says Löffler. After the positive decision, the Meyer Sound system was finally installed and calibrated in April 2024 under the leadership of Richard Redl, project manager at ATEC Pro, in collaboration with Meyer Sound and the Arena Vienna team.
The core of the system was Meyer Sound made up of nine PANTHER loudspeakers (Image: Thomas MAGYAR photo design)
PANTHER speakers as a basis
The new system consists of nine PANTHER loudspeakers on the left and right, six cardioid-flown 900-LFC Low-Frequency Control Elements per side and nine 2100-LFC Low-Frequency Control Elements under the stage. The entire system is connected to Galileo GALAXY processors via a Milan network.
“The 2100 LFC subwoofers play a key role in controlling the low frequencies,” explains Löffler. “Strategically positioned under the stage, they reduce the low frequencies to the left, right and back, thus preventing unwanted sound emissions into the neighboring residential areas. In addition, the 900-LFC reduces the upward propagation of sound. The system configuration improves the coverage within the arena while giving us absolutely precise control, allowing us to provide concert-appropriate sound without exceeding noise limits.”
A small system consisting of two ULTRA-X40s and a 900-LFC at the FOH, which sounds exactly like the sound system on the stage, also makes it possible to carry out sound checks without using the main PA. This means that residents are not disturbed even during the day. “This set-up is so effective that visiting technicians rarely believe that the PA on stage remains switched off during the sound check,” says Redl.
“The attributes of the new system – scalability, flexibility and user-friendliness – enable the Arena Vienna not only to prevent noise complaints, but also to offer a diverse and seamless event program,” concludes Ruckendorfer. “This allows us to continue to stand for being a dynamic venue that offers exceptional audio experiences – and remains attractive for a wide range of performances and events.”
