Fulcrum Acoustic was chosen as the part of the new sound system installed at the Stone Mountain Arts Center—a 200-seat, timber frame music hall nestled in the scenic foothills of the White Mountains in Brownfield, Maine.
A labor of love and dream fulfilled for owner/musician Carol Noonan, the center provides a unique venue for national artists who love the idea of connecting with small audiences again. A diverse array of artists, ranging from Lyle Lovett, Robert Cray and Marty Stuart to Ani DeFranco, Taj Mahal, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, have graced the center’s stage to provide unforgettable performances that have helped make it a popular destination for musicians and audiences alike.
The center selected Jason Raboin of Klondike Sound to design a new sound system to support the eclectic roster of artists they showcase. The project presented a number of interesting acoustical and aesthetic challenges, including managing the center’s highly reflective wooden surfaces and designing a visually unobtrusive sound system to blend in with its rustic timber frame architecture.
Raboin selected Fulcrum speakers for their clarity, directional control, and minimal visual impact. The simple yet powerful system he designed consists of two Fulcrum DX1277 dual 12 inch coaxial loudspeakers whose tailored 75° x 75° dispersion keeps sound off the physical structure. Two Sub118 18 inch direct-radiating subwoofers extend low frequency support, and eight compact FX1295 12 inch coaxial vocal monitors are used on the center’s stage.
The center’s production manager Patrick O’Donnell enthuses, “With their tailored coverage pattern and musical quality, Fulcrum’s speakers provide the fidelity and punch we need. Whether it’s a loud rock show or a nuanced acoustic performance, the system is really transparent.” Carol Noonan adds, “As our arts center is all about people and connections, we needed a sound system that wouldn’t detract from its warm, welcoming and intimate feel. Fulcrum speakers were a perfect fit.”
Carol relates, “We recently had Robert Cray who has played here many times. His band brought a lot of their own gear but as usual, used our house speakers and subwoofers. It was definitely the best sounding show we’ve ever had with him. Nothing was different than before – the same crew and players as always – so it’s gotta be the speakers.”
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