KV2 Audio plays a starring role in the 25th anniversary of The Lion King in Hamburg

“In honour of the 25th anniversary of The Lion King in Hamburg, the audio upgrade was part of a broader strategy to enhance the show’s quality for the next twenty-five years,” says John Shivers. “Vocal intelligibility was a critical consideration for such a globally recognised story and soundtrack. Each member of the 2,030 seat theatre should experience every word or musical note without compromise. Having used KV2 many times in past musicals, including the Broadway productions of The Lion King and Pretty Woman, I specified the brand’s point-source loudspeakers for the Stage Theater im Hafen. They deliver exceptionally natural, detailed sound at any level, with superb coverage and minimal listener fatigue.”

A total of seventy-eight KV2 loudspeakers were deployed throughout the theatre. “The installation was carried out by Stage Entertainment’s technical production management team with help from the theatre’s local sound department,” Shivers explains. “For the main PA, each side of the auditorium features two VHD2.0 mid-high loudspeaker systems, arranged as upper and lower PAs to deliver the primary programme audio, from the soundtrack and effects to clear, intelligible spoken word. The lower VHD2.0 works alongside a VHD1.0 downfill enclosure to extend coverage into the lower seating areas and maintain an even listening experience throughout the auditorium.”

Two VHD2.16 subwoofers per side add controlled upper-bass extension, working with the VHD2.0 to deliver the output and tonal balance required by the production. An EX12 on each side provides additional left and right infill, maintaining even coverage and clear, detailed vocal reproduction across the seats closest to the stage.

At floor level, six VHD2.18J subwoofers are positioned as three ground-stacked cabinets on each side of the stage, providing additional low-frequency extension and high-output impact. “These subs deliver exceptional output when working in conjunction with the main PA to ensure subtle sonic detail and effects can be heard,” reveals Shivers. Flown centrally above the auditorium is a pair of VHD2.21 subwoofers, positioned upstage and downstage, operating in a cardioid mono configuration, providing controlled low-frequency energy from the centre of the room.

“Extensive effort has been made to pull vocal imaging all the way to the back of the audience,” Shivers reveals. “Two centrally positioned SL412 systems deliver wide-dispersion vocal reinforcement, with one serving as the centre downfill and the second as a centre delay.” Under the balcony, seventeen CS6 ultra-compact 2-way loudspeakers are configured in two rows of eight and nine respectively, providing dedicated coverage to the seating below. “These delay lines help fight high-frequency compression under the low ceiling of the balcony. The compact and discreet form factor makes the CS6 well suited to maintaining consistent coverage in this more acoustically challenging section.” Working together with the under balcony delay lines, the SL412 systems help keep the vocal image focused through the depth of the auditorium, supporting clear spoken word and vocals beyond the central seating area.

A further thirty-four CS6 loudspeakers create the surround system, with eighteen positioned around the sides and rear of the orchestra level, twelve covering the sides and rear of the balcony, and four mounted overhead. “Their exceptional speech clarity in such a compact enclosure allowed us to place them throughout the auditorium to ensure even the subtlest details of the jungle soundscape can be heard.” Four full-range, active EX10 loudspeakers, split between the orchestra and balcony levels, provide additional outfill coverage, using their compact, high-output design to supplement the main system where wider peripheral coverage is required.

Finally, four ESD25 loudspeakers are integrated into the front lip of the stage as frontfills, providing discreet close-range coverage for the first rows. Their low-profile design allows them to provide discreet front-stage coverage without compromising the theatre’s sightlines.

KV2 system setup:

• 4× VHD2.0
• 2× VHD1.0
• 4× VHD2.16
• 6× VHD2.18J
• 2× VHD2.21
• 2× SL412
• 2× EX12
• 4× EX10
• 51× CS6 (17 under-balcony delays, 34 surround)
• 4× ESD25

System specification

• John Shivers, sound designer

Installation and integration: 

• Stage Entertainment technical production management team, with the theatre’s local sound department

Venue:

• Disney’s The Lion King, Stage Theater im Hafen, Hamburg