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- Mercury Sound & Lighting deployed Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) AC6 ADAPTive column loudspeakers at the 10,583-square-foot prayer hall to solve complex acoustic hurdles with soaring ceilings, a hand-painted domed centerpiece, large windows, reflective stonework, and congregants seated directly on the floor.
- The primary system consists of three vertically stacked AC6 units per side in the front corners, supplemented by single AC6 column delay fills along the side walls.
- The audio architecture bridges stage capture to audience distribution over a unified network. BSS Audio BLU-100m and BLU-DAN units manage digital signal processing and Dante routing, seamlessly tying together an Allen & Heath SQ console for complex event production, AMX touch control for streamlined daily services, Shure SLX-D+ Dante wireless receivers, and an AKG CGN341E gooseneck microphone at the minbar.
Mercury Sound & Lighting has designed and integrated a new audio system for the Islamic Institute of America’s newly constructed 10,583-square-foot prayer hall, one of the region’s most architecturally intricate worship spaces. Facing a highly reflective room and a request for minimal visual impact, Mercury built the system around Eastern Acoustic Works’ (EAW) AC6 ADAPTive Column Loudspeakers, achieving strong speech intelligibility, consistent coverage and precise acoustic control.
The prayer hall features soaring ceilings, orthogonal crossbeam patterns, expansive stonework and a hand-painted domed centerpiece. These elements give the room its beauty, but they also create significant acoustic challenges. With large windows, reflective surfaces and a seating layout that places congregants directly on the floor, the space required a system capable of precise, adaptable coverage.
“The combination of venue circumstances and the request to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, all factored into our design for this space,” said John “Timmy” Gooding, senior systems engineer at Mercury Sound & Lighting.
Gooding, who led the design, selected the AC6 as the core of the system. “The AC6 ADAPTive system ticked all the boxes for this installation," he said. "It gave us the ability to fully tune the system to the room, adjust the coverage as the use-case changes and have minimal visual impact on the space."
Mercury installed three AC6 units per side as the main arrays, vertically stacked in the front corners of the hall. Single AC6 units along the side walls serve as delay fills, extending even coverage to the rear of the room.
The AC6’s ADAPTive coverage control was essential to achieving that balance, allowing for aesthetically pleasing front arrays that can cover the space, no matter what function is being held within it. Additionally, the AC6’s networked audio capabilities also reduced installation time and complexity. “All we needed was power, two network cables and a solid mounting surface," Gooding said. "With the ability to manipulate the coverage via software, it eliminates the need for additional installer time to fine-tune positioning of the cabinets."
Rounding out the system, two EAW MK8196i passive loudspeakers fly as wide-coverage monitors, powered by a Crown CDi 2x300 BLU amplifier. A BSS Audio BLU100m and BLU-DAN handle processing and enable Dante connectivity between the Allen & Heath SQ mixing console, used for advanced operation, and AMX control for daily services. An AKG CGN341E gooseneck microphone serves the minbar to capture the imam’s voice during sermons, and a Shure SLX-D+ Dante wireless receiver with headset, lavalier, and handheld options gives the congregation flexibility for a wide range of events.
The AC6 delivered what the congregation hoped for: clarity, consistency and control. Early feedback from the community has been positive. Gooding also credited the AC6’s audio reproduction, along with its flexible design, robust mounting hardware, and IP54 durability. The column, he said, does not sound like a traditional column and its low-frequency performance makes subs unnecessary for many applications.
The Islamic Institute of America has a flexible, high-performance audio system ready to support its growing community and diverse programming. Mercury Sound & Lighting’s design keeps the prayer hall both visually stunning and sonically enhanced, an environment where spoken word, worship and community connection can thrive. “EAW makes a wide array of dependable products that fit a multitude of applications," Gooding concluded. "We definitely plan on utilizing EAW products within our designs for future house of worship applications."
