Established in 1946 with just 15 members gathering in an attap house—a traditional dwelling with palm frond roofing—Singapore’s Bedok Methodist Church has grown into a vibrant modern house of worship serving hundreds of faithful. Recently, the church undertook a complete revamp of its current premises, culminating in the installation of an L-Acoustics A Series sound system. This technical upgrade marks a dramatic shift from the church’s previous mono array configuration to a sophisticated stereo system, bringing pristine clarity and uniform coverage to its 400-capacity sanctuary.
“The selection process was uniquely thorough,” explained Gerald Fong, Project and Sales Director at Concept Systems Technologies, L-Acoustics Certified Provider Distributor. “Through a rigorous four-week demonstration period coordinated by the church, prospective systems from four different manufacturers were put through their paces in real worship services with live bands and pastoral programs.”
At the end of the month, it was the performance of the L-Acoustics A Series that consistently stood out, delivering tour-grade sound quality within the church’s budget parameters.
The final system design, meticulously modelled in L-Acoustics Soundvision 3d software and verified by L-Acoustics application engineers, features a precise combination of A10i and X Series components. The main left-right configuration consists of two A10i Focus and one A10i Wide per side, complemented by three centrally flown SB18i subwoofers for controlled low-end reinforcement. This configuration was specifically chosen after initial demonstrations revealed that the SB18i provided a tight bass response best suited to the sanctuary’s high-ceiling, A-frame architecture.
Coverage uniformity was achieved through strategic placement of fill speakers. Single L-Acoustics X8i enclosures were mounted on each side of the hall for under-balcony coverage, with four additional X8i units serving the rear seating area’s lower ceiling section. Two compact 5XT coaxial speakers handle a small adjacent section, while four X8 cabinets provide stage monitoring for performers.
Recently appointed Audio-Visual Lead Aiden Lee puts the impact of the new system into perspective: “From the choir’s first breath to the worship band’s full performance, the A10 system delivers unparalleled clarity. The combination of the hall’s acoustic treatment and L-Acoustics’ pristine sound reproduction gives me complete confidence in managing our diverse range of services and musical productions.”
