Accommodating 10,000 people for a major exhibition one day and hosting a series of smaller corporate meetings the next calls for an audio system that can adapt quickly. At Malaysia’s Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), that flexibility is now supported by 43 Powersoft amplifiers, installed as part of a fully networked audio infrastructure serving the venue’s exhibition halls, meeting rooms and public spaces.
Spanning 10,443 square metres, PWCC is Northern Malaysia’s largest meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venue. Its facilities include a 7,318 sqm column-free multipurpose hall, ten meeting rooms, a grand arrival hall and a waterfront terrace accommodating up to 2,000 guests, with views of the Penang Bridge and the Strait of Malacca.
With such a variety of spaces, the audio system needed to deliver consistent coverage and clear speech while accommodating changing room layouts, audience sizes and event requirements. Just as importantly, venue staff needed a straightforward way to manage multiple audio zones without the added complexity of separate systems.
Building a Flexible Audio Infrastructure
IHDesign Sdn Bhd, the project’s AV consultant, specified Powersoft amplification as the foundation of the audio system. Concept Associates supplied the equipment, while Integrated Audio Visual Sdn Bhd handled system integration.
The installation comprises 24 Powersoft Quattrocanali DSP+D amplifiers and 19 Mezzo AD amplifiers, each selected to meet the requirements of different areas within the venue. The Quattrocanali deployment includes eight 1204 DSP+D units, fifteen 2404 DSP+D units and one 4804 DSP+D unit. These provide the primary amplification for the exhibition halls, concourses and public areas, where high power density and flexible loudspeaker distribution are essential.
For the smaller meeting rooms and VIP spaces, the team installed eighteen Mezzo 602 AD amplifiers and one Mezzo 322 AD. Their compact, mountable design allows them to be installed close to the loudspeakers, reducing the need for dedicated equipment racks. This combination gives PWCC the capacity to support large events while retaining the flexibility and space efficiency needed in smaller rooms.
One Network for Audio and Control
A major consideration was how the audio system would fit into PWCC’s wider ICT infrastructure. Rather than introducing a separate network for audio distribution, the project team integrated the Powersoft amplifiers into the venue’s existing Cisco C1300 network backbone.
All 43 amplifiers feature native Dante connectivity, allowing audio signals to be routed across the same network infrastructure used by the venue’s IT and control systems. Allen & Heath Dante I/O interfaces provide the connection between the QSC DSP processing platform and the amplifier network, while Crestron AVoIP and control systems handle room switching, signal distribution and real-time amplifier monitoring.
The result is a converged infrastructure that brings audio routing, DSP processing, amplifier control and remote diagnostics onto a single network, reducing the need for dedicated point-to-point cabling.
For a busy convention centre, this also has practical benefits. Technicians can monitor amplifier performance, adjust DSP settings and change audio routing remotely through Crestron and Powersoft’s ArmoníaPlus platform, without having to access equipment racks each time an event configuration changes.
Designed for Different Spaces and Demands
The Quattrocanali amplifiers support both low-impedance loudspeakers and 70V/100V distributed audio systems, allowing the installation team to accommodate different speaker configurations across the venue using the same amplifier family.
Powersoft’s patented Smart Rails Management (SRM) technology also helps optimise power consumption according to the demands of the connected loads, reducing heat generation and easing cooling and maintenance requirements.
In areas where uninterrupted operation is particularly important, Quattrocanali’s UPS-compatible power supply provides additional flexibility for integration with life safety systems, including fire alarm applications. This allows PWCC to maintain a consistent approach to amplification while addressing the different technical requirements of its large halls, meeting rooms and shared spaces.
“At this scale, the priority is creating a future-proof network without the clutter of traditional racks,” said Sandhi Soong, Senior Sales Manager, Integrated Audio Visual Sdn Bhd. “Powersoft’s high-density Quattrocanali and Mezzo platforms allowed us to deliver massive power and sophisticated DSP over a single converged ICT infrastructure, giving PWCC total flexibility for any event configuration.”
For PWCC, the completed installation provides more than reliable sound coverage. By bringing amplification, routing and control together on one network, the venue can switch between event configurations more efficiently while retaining the capacity to expand its audio infrastructure as future requirements change.
The project also demonstrates how a large-scale venue can benefit from treating audio as part of its wider network infrastructure, rather than as a separate system requiring its own cabling, equipment and management processes.
