Meyer Sound SB-3F Goes Long at the 110,000-Capacity University of Michigan Stadium

“The Big House,” aka Michigan Stadium, got even bigger in 2011 when the University of Michigan completed an expansion and upgrade that included a large complement of equipment from Meyer Sound.

At a capacity of almost 110,000, Michigan Stadium is the largest sports venue in the United States and third largest in the world. To address the sound reinforcement needs on such a scale, the PA system includes 28 Meyer Sound MILO 60 line array loudspeakers, eight SB-3F sound field synthesis loudspeakers, four MSL-4 loudspeakers, a Galileo loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 408 processors, and an RMS remote monitoring system.

Ann Arbor, Mich.-based TeL Systems and Dallas-based consulting firm WJHW, Inc. were critical to the massive undertaking. TeL Systems’ former systems designer, Peter O’Neil, recalls the importance of selecting Meyer Sound equipment for the success of the expansion and upgrade.

“One of the things that has really stood out about Meyer Sound is how well it performs when it’s pushed hard,” O’Neil says. “That’s not true of all large-format sound reinforcement boxes.”

Particularly effective in handling sound for the massive size and scope of the stadium were eight weather-protected SB-3F sound field synthesis loudspeakers. “We had to install a point-source system in one of the end zones and throw sound upwards of 800 feet—in the open-air environment and with the weather changing all the time,” O’Neil explains. “The Meyer [SB-3F] is the only product of its sort that’s designed to throw specifically high-frequency sound at that distance. It’s a level beyond what we had before with horn-based technology. We were fortunate to work with a consultant who knew the product and how to design with it.”

TeL Systems President Karl Couyoumjian was impressed with Meyer Sound’s hands-on commitment to service. “It was specified as Meyer Sound from the get-go,” he says. “We have been very pleased with Meyer Sound’s communication—how strongly they worked with us as an integrator, and in making sure that the system performed to the design.”

O’Neil was also satisfied with Meyer Sound’s support throughout the process. “They gave so much to us—as a vendor, as a resource—on this project,” he says. “I was amazed at the resources Meyer Sound put into this to make it successful. They really take pride in making sure there are people onsite to help on the design side, on the installation side, and on the commissioning side. There’s a level of customer support in every phase of a project they do that’s pretty remarkable.”