During its 13-year existence, the “Women of Faith” tour has drawn more than 4 million attendees, featuring numerous guest speakers from around the world. Each year, more than 20 cities throughout the United States and Canada host this event, which draws sell-out crowds in arenas including the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the United Center in Chicago and the Honda Center in Anaheim. More than 350,000 women are expected to attend this year's events.

CTS Audio has been handling this project for the past eight years and wanted to provide a new speaker solution to ensure that each attendee hears every nuance of these in-the-round presentations.  

This new speaker system is comprised of eight line arrays containing a total of 120 VT4887A line array elements and 32 VT4881ADP-AN line array subwoofers. “We deployed eight hangs in four quadrants in the center of the room, with an upper truss and lower truss and video screens situated between the trusses,” said Ed Crippen, Senior Consultant, CTS Audio. “We have three one ton motors that support the overall PA system fly grid including the amp racks and we are deploying the bass in a forward steered array.

The VERTEC VT4887A full range high directivity line array element provides audio professionals with a broad, flexible range of sound reinforcement solutions. The VT4887A has extended low frequency response to 55 Hz through use of JBL’s new 2268J-1 8-inch woofer. An additional 2 dB of output and one-third octave of low-frequency extension is available when compared to its predecessor, the VT4887. A unique new integrated port/handle assembly aids in low frequency extension. The model also incorporates a newly-optimized mid/high frequency network and new high frequency elements, JBL’s 2408H component transducer. Frequency range is 55 Hz-22 kHz (-10 dB). In employing the new VT4887A line array system, CTS Audio has found a reliable solution for the Women of Faith program, which relies largely on spoken word with occasional live music performances. “The system is extremely easy to tune and we have only had to tweak the EQ slightly here and there, depending on how hot the arena is,” Crippen added. ”With previous systems we were doing much more drastic EQ’ing per zone.”

Additionally, four half-ton motors attach under the main PA fly grid to provide adjustable tilts on the main line array hangs. “The challenge is providing enough horizontal and vertical coverage to cover the entire seating area while working around the 4-large video screens.  Some audience members are literally seated behind the tilted arrays,” Crippen added. “To solve this, we place JBL VRX928 portable line arrays into the lower lighting truss, which fit slightly behind the PA quadrants and provide front fill for those seats.  They keep up with the rest of the system and provide great vocal articulation.”