For more than 40 years, the DCU Center has energized audiences across New England. However, while excitement was running high in the stands, the venue’s aging sound system was struggling to keep pace with the performance.
To deliver the DCU Center’s audio system upgrade, Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) worked in close collaboration with venue management and leading AV specialists. System design was handled by WJHW, renowned for its expertise in large-scale venues, while installation was managed by Ostrow Electric Company and Metropolitan Interactive. The result was a fully integrated audio solution, custom-designed to meet the venue’s unique architectural and acoustic requirements.
Overview & Challenge
The DCU Center required an audio system capable of adapting easily to a wide variety of events while delivering a premium listening experience for audiences. To meet the demands of today’s events, it was critical that the system could be reconfigured quickly and efficiently with minimal manpower.
Solution
As part of the solution, six ADAPTive flown systems were installed, each consisting of six Anna loudspeakers and three Otto subwoofers—resulting in a total of 36 Anna and 18 Otto modules. In addition, QX300 and MK2300 Series loudspeakers were deployed in specific areas to provide targeted coverage. This configuration ensured balanced and consistent sound distribution across all seating areas.
The ADAPTive system delivers powerful performance that covers the entire seating bowl during large-scale sporting events. Thanks to its flexible design, sound can be directed exclusively to the lower or mid-level seating areas without any mechanical adjustment to the arrays. This dynamic control reduces reverberation and enhances clarity for smaller events, while maintaining the same signature sound quality in every scenario.
Result
With the ADAPTive sound system in place, the DCU Center now delivers audio performance worthy of the events it hosts. The system provides optimal coverage for both large-scale productions and more intimate events, offering consistent clarity and reduced reverberation throughout all seating areas. Following the installation, audiences, event organizers, and production teams praised the venue’s balanced and intelligible sound, further reinforcing the DCU Center’s position as a premier destination for live entertainment.