Calvary Community Church is a cornerstone of its community, offering meaningful worship experiences every week. However, the church’s aging and mismatched PA system was becoming a significant obstacle. With strange echoes, dead spots in the balcony, and poor overall audio quality, the sound system wasn’t matching the power of their message. The time had come to upgrade, and Sapphire was brought in to help reimagine their audio experience.
The challenges were clear. The existing setup was a patchwork of different speaker brands and an outdated digital audio console, assembled over time by well-meaning volunteers. Unfortunately, it wasn’t properly tuned or aligned to the church’s unique auditorium design. As a result, some areas of the room suffered from poor sound coverage, especially the steeply sloped balcony, which was almost entirely disconnected from the ground-level subwoofers. The inconsistent audio made it difficult for the congregation to fully engage during worship. To make matters worse, the existing audio console’s quality further degraded the sound, and the system lacked reliability.
Our team approached the project with care, knowing how crucial sound is to a worship experience. We started by conducting a detailed needs assessment and exploring every aspect of the auditorium’s design. Using advanced audio modeling, we tested different solutions to ensure that whatever we implemented would provide consistent, high-quality coverage. We also worked closely with the church to keep the solution budget-conscious while still addressing their needs for both spoken word clarity and musical performance.
The result was a complete audio overhaul, with d&b audiotechnik at the heart of the solution. We installed 12S-D speakers to provide exceptional sound coverage to the balcony, paired with 10S-D speakers for the main floor. To ensure balanced low frequencies, we introduced 27A cardioid subwoofers that delivered even bass throughout the space—including the balcony, which had been previously neglected. For the under-balcony areas, we added 44S speakers to eliminate dead spots and ensure every corner of the room was covered.
In addition to the speakers, we upgraded the church’s outdated console to an Allen & Heath SQ6. This advanced console brought pristine audio quality and much-needed reliability to the church’s operations. We also introduced Shure in-ear monitors for the musicians, reducing stage noise and allowing for greater clarity during performances. Together, these upgrades created a system that was not only functional but also intuitive for the church’s volunteers to operate.
Today, Calvary Community Church enjoys a fully transformed sound experience. Whether it’s a sermon, a musical performance, or a special event, every member of the congregation can now hear and feel the message clearly, no matter where they’re seated. The echoes and dead spots are gone, and the sound quality is crystal-clear across the entire auditorium. The upgraded system has breathed new life into their worship services, ensuring that every moment—whether a spoken word or a powerful song—is delivered with clarity and impact.
We’re so proud to have been part of this transformation. A well-designed audio system can truly elevate a space, and Calvary Community Church is now equipped to deliver a world-class worship experience every single week.
Interested in how Sapphire can help you with your audio issues? Contact us today!
