Case Study

Custer Road United Methodist Church

Precise Audio for Purposeful Worship

Custer Road United Methodist Church (UMC) in Plano, TX, prides itself on its vibrant, multigenerational community of parishioners. For over 45 years, Custer Road UMC has diligently improved multiple spaces to best suit the needs of families, children, and other members. Recently, the church launched a major capital campaign, with the most substantial upgrade being a complete renovation of their sanctuary, as well as improving their technical system.

AC6

SB828

MKD526

CHALLENGE

Custer Road UMC faced a challenge following the renovations made to their sanctuary. A combination of the traditional architecture and the high ceilings created audio issues that prevented the congregation from fully connecting during services. The 43-foot-high ceiling and wraparound balcony posed acoustical discrepancies, impacting the clarity of spoken word and musical performances. Inconsistent coverage made it difficult for members of the congregation to understand, engage, and connect during worship services.

SOLUTION

Following a demonstration of the Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) AC6 Column Loudspeaker led by Highway Marketing, church leadership called upon Electro Acoustics and EAW to help improve the audio system in their sanctuary in order to foster a more engaging worship experience.

The system design was crafted to diminish the natural room reverberation and adjust seamlessly throughout services to fit the spatial and acoustical parameters of spoken word and musical performance. The deployment included 2 AC6 columns (3 per side) in front of the outer columns, where the top units focused on the balcony sides with a throw to the rear balcony and the middle and lower units covered the floor. 2 SB828 18” subwoofers were placed in the center. To round out the coverage and work the fills under the side balconies, 6 MKD526 loudspeakers (3 per side) were installed.

To ensure seamless integration of sound, both aesthetically and technically, the ADAPTive sound system was custom painted by EAW to match the sanctuary’s new color scheme.

With the new ADAPTive audio system in place, Custer Road UMC has been able to establish more gain out of the microphones on the platform and the choir loft than before. The sleek and compact design of the ADAPTive audio system allows the congregation to still enjoy a view of the pipe organ, which is equipped with over 8,000 pipes. Church leadership reported positive feedback from the congregation, grateful for the increased intelligibility in the sanctuary.

“With the positive feedback we continue to receive from the congregation and staff members, we have been able to accomplish our goals. Many thanks to EAW, as its products gave us the opportunity to have that success and take us into the future at Custer Road UMC.”

“The new EAW AC6 system has drastically improved the church’s audio quality. It brings the sound closer to the congregation, making it feel more intimate. The ADAPTive technology ensures that every seat in the sanctuary receives clear and consistent audio, which is a huge win for the church.”