Bryn Athyn Cathedral

Houses of Worship | Installation
April 28, 2011
Renkus- Heinz Inconyx digitally steered loudspeakers in the nave of Bryn Athyn
The important view of the nave, with the sanctuary in the east, is not obscured by the IC-16 loudspeakers.
IC-16R Renkus Heinz Iconyx digitally steered loudspeaker array Rhaon empowered.
The Renkus Heinz IC-16R loudspeaker array is custom painted to work with the soft tones and pleasing patterns of sandstone.
FM500/HC Earthworks hypercardioid 19” gooseneck microphone at Bryn Athyn
Earthworks high quality lectern microphones are mounted in the wonderfully carved white oak lectern and pulpit.

The Bryn Athyn Cathedral is situated on a hill overlooking the picturesque Pennypack Creek Valley in the borough of Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Since its dedication in 1919, it has been the central place of worship for the Bryn Athyn Church and a gathering place for members of the New Church throughout the world.

In 2009, the church decided that their audio system needed complete replacement and selected Clear Sound as their design build contractor. Working closely with the church, Clear Sound designed a system based around Renkus-Heinz Iconyx digitally steered line source loudspeakers. These speakers are tall and slender, and are easily integrated into the columnar architecture in the sanctuary. 

The main nave is served by two IC-16 loudspeakers while seven IC-7 loudspeakers fill in the transepts, side chapel and chancel. JBL Control series loudspeakers provide controlled monitoring for the organist and choir loft.

System control is entirely done in the digital domain using Biamp Nexia networked processing and a custom touch screen control interface. Services are recorded digitally with a networked Marantz recorder and streams live from the church’s website. The clergy uses Sennheiser wireless microphone systems and a variety of Sennheiser and Shure wired microphones for the choir and musical instruments.

The choir hall is served with Community CPL43 loudspeakers suspended high in the ceiling, with another networked Nexia processor providing both local control and interface with the main sanctuary system.  QSC amplifiers are used for all of the conventional loudspeakers.