Sweetwater Sound installs sound system in Assembly Hall

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - A Fort Wayne based audio retailer was responsible for installing the new sound system in Indiana University's Assembly Hall.

Sweetwater Sound, the third-largest music instrument and pro-audio retailer in the United States, along with All Pro Sound, installed the sound system in November.

The new sound system is able to play music during time-outs, half times, and pre-game warm ups.

Jeremy Gray, assistant athletic director for broadcast services, said Assembly Hall seats more than 17,000 people so the system was needed to reach all of those fans. Gray said the new sound system is 400 percent clearer to the ear than the old system, which dates back to 1971.

"This upgrade has been outstanding.  It adds to the clarity of what fans are able to hear in the stands. I think overall it enhances the average game day experience for an IU fan substantially," Gray said.

Christopher Guerin, director of program development at Sweetwater Sound, said a project such as this would usually take four to six months. The demolition of the old system and installation of the new system took 19 days and the project was finished in just 30 days.

Work on the project was scheduled during the night, around IU basketball practices.

Sweetwater and All Pro rented tall lifts to carry the speakers up to the top of the ceiling. More than 90 PA speakers, amplification equipment, and a large board for managing the sound were installed.

Guerin believes the new system will be in Assembly Hall for decades.

"We live in Indiana, our company started here and remains here in Indiana and Assembly Hall is a legendary hall, in Indiana," Guerin said.