More Than 130 Powersoft Amps At Core Of New Billion Dollar Sports Hub In Singapore

SINGAPORE - Sept. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- The dynamic new Singapore Sports Hub, constructed at an estimated cost of Just over $1 billion US dollars, has now opened on the site of Singapore's former National Stadium in Kallang. With the newly constructed 55,000-capacity stadium as its centerpiece, offering spectacular views over the waterfront and Singapore city skyline, it also includes the 6,000-capacity OCBC Aquatics Centre, the 3,000-capacity Arena (scalable into six halls), the Water Sports Centre located along the Kallang Basin, and commercial areas for leisure, shopping and dining activities.

Construction began in 2011, and the following August, Electronics & Engineering Pte (E&E) won the contract for the full integration of the Event Sound System and HD giant screens. Working to an architectural and engineering design prepared by the consultants, they specified well over 130 of Powersoft’s premium 1U K-Series and Duecanali Series amplifiers to drive the various PA and sound reinforcement systems. They described the project as “probably the largest high-powered distributed audio system that E&E has ever worked on.”

The network design for the National Stadium audio transmission was extremely complex, involving switching via 40 Netgear Gigabit 1000 base network switches. The main racks are populated by no fewer than 70 Powersoft K10 amplifiers (capable of delivering a jaw-dropping 12000W into 2 ohms) and 26 K2 amplifiers, incorporating the company’s proprietary DSP+AESOP technology — offering fully integrated sound shaping and system management capabilities).

These are found in 16 air-conditioned racks up on the Catwalk where they power six EAW MQX speakers, 35 QX speakers and 48 SB528zP subwoofers to serve the entire stadium bowl. This is processed by Symetrix SymNet Edge DSP, while a PC runs Dante software control and patching.

The Catwalk location for the amp racks was determined at an early stage in order to minimize the cable runs to the speakers. This was logistically challenging in view of the available space. However, Gary Goh, Deputy Managing Director at E&E, acknowledged that despite the limited rackspace, the fact that Powersoft amplifiers output extraordinary power from just 1RU chassis made this possible. “To derive sufficient power from such compact real estate required the superior switchmode amplification technology of Powersoft’s K series, with its incredible power to weight ratio. It really helped to maximize the space efficiency,” he reports.

The audio distribution design was based on an amplifier network running AES inputs as standard and analog inputs as backups. The amplifiers are controlled and monitored via the Armonía Pro Audio Suite software and deliver EAW Greybox settings in the DSP to the loudspeakers.

Elsewhere, a similar network was constructed for the OCBC Arena, using Powersoft’s energy-saving Duecanali 2-channel installation series. Via Netgear 1000 base network switching, in Amp Room 1 22 x Powersoft Duecanali D3904 amplifiers were specified to power large quantities of EAW and Community loudspeakers at various levels in all six halls — with signal processing again carried out in SymNet Edge, with signal transport over Dante.

Operating on the same principle in the Aquatic Centre are a further 15 Powersoft Duecanali D3904 amplifiers populating Amp Rack 1 and 2 to power the EAW loudspeakers installed at the Catwalk to serve the swimming pool area and further column speakers, installed at pool side, to service the corridors.

The final deployment of Powersoft amplification is in the Water Sports Centre, which, like the other zones is fully featured with Netgear switching, Symnet DSP, full audio control/mixing and playback devices. Here, the final three Powersoft Duecanali D3904 can be found in the Amp Room driving three EAW speakers installed at the top tower of the Centre.

All of which will future-proof the new Singapore Sports Hub for years to come — ensuring on the one hand that the public address and voice alarm systems can be heard intelligibly while the line and live playback pack plenty of punch.

“The clients trusted us to deliver all their technological requirements and I am confident that we have succeeded,” concluded Mr. Goh.

About Powersoft:

Powersoft is the world leader in lightweight, high power, single rack space, energy efficient amplifiers for the professional audio market. Founded in Italy in 1995, headquartered in Florence, Italy, with offices in Ventura, CA, Powersoft couples the experience and precision of its production department with exceptional components to deliver products with perfect audio response and high performance reliability. Its state-of-the-art amplifiers can be found in an array of markets, ranging from stadiums, sporting arenas, theme parks, performance venues and airports to convention centers, churches and clubs, and are used by the world's leading tour sound companies. For more information, visit the Powersoft website @ www.powersoft-audio.com

About Singapore Sports Hub:

The centrepiece of the Singapore Sports Hub is the new 55,000-seat National Stadium. The retractable seating capability allows for flexible reconfiguration of the stadium’s bowl, making the National Stadium the only stadium in the world able to host rugby, cricket, football, athletics and concerts in one venue. The stadium’s retractable roof and energy efficient bowl cooling technology also represents the next stage in sustainable stadium design, providing athletes and spectators with a unique and comfortable environment. OCBC Arena consists of six halls over two levels that are designed to be scalable in size, and will cater to an array of indoor sports events for both National Sports Associations as well as the general public. This 1,000-3,000 capacity venue was designed for badminton, fencing, taekwondo, basketball, netball, volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics training and table tennis. OCBC Aquatic Centre is designed to cater to both the general public and elite athletes, and will be able to host community-run events to premier aquatic competitions. Planned for everyday use and flexibility to host international events, the OCBC Aquatic Centre will have the ability to add additional temporary seating and double its 3,000 permanent seating capacity to accommodate a variety of events. Water Sports Centre will have community and elite training facilities for aquatic enthusiasts of all levels. A 500 metre course will be mapped out on the water and a one kilometre course will be accessible from Marina Bay. Canoeing, kayaking and dragon boating can be enjoyed at the Water Sports Centre.