installation

PalaDozza

Bologna, Italy

22/01/2025

Artist: none

Venue: indoor

Equipment Used

"We couldn’t be more pleased to have partnered with dBTechnologies, who supported us throughout the realization of this project with great expertise and professionalism."
Daniele Ravaglia [President of Fondazione Bologna Welcome]

"By choosing a solution other than the classic line array, we made an unusual decision that, after testing, proved to be extremely functional and fascinating. In fact, the sound distribution achieved is precise and adequate, and its implementation turned out to be significantly simpler."
Alessandro Macrì [Site Manager and owner of Always Merged]

Description

Paladozza, a true icon of Bologna's sports scene, has recently undergone a significant technological upgrade that enhances the sound experience, increasing engagement and spectacle. Unique for its sentimental value and central location in the city's urban fabric, this historic venue is a landmark for basketball and the entire community. A temple of basketball and home to the Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna 103 team, Paladozza is a versatile, multifunctional space with 5,500 seats and 4 tiers, capable of hosting sports events, concerts, public and private gatherings, and significant happenings.
With a history of major sports and musical milestones, such as concerts by the Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Paul Anka, and many others, Paladozza embraces its emblematic status, fully utilizing the new possibilities for spectacularization offered by modern technologies. In this context, the venue has recently been equipped with a VIO Series audio system from dBTechnologies. This upgrade, which saw the installation of the VIO C system, was promoted by Bologna Welcome, the company that manages Paladozza, as part of a broader project to enhance the territory and its cultural and identity-based resources. This upgrade responds to the growing need for superior acoustic quality while simultaneously driving the venue's expansion towards increasingly diverse and ambitious events that require high-level technologies.
The VIO C system offers optimal performance in an easy-to-manage configuration characterized by a minimalist and elegant design. Thanks to the VIO horizontal array's modular design, the sound is evenly distributed throughout the venue, providing a uniform acoustic experience. The system was chosen for its ability to adapt to Paladozza's multifunctional spaces, addressing the need to optimize sound in acoustically complex environments.

Audio configuration:
20 VIO C12 speakers and 8 VIO L208 speakers are positioned at the center of the venue above the playing area/parquet.
The 20 VIO C12 systems are divided into 4 clusters: 2 clusters with 6 speakers and 2 clusters with 4 speakers, completed by 2 VIO L208 modules for downfill.
The acoustic coverage of the VIO C system extends to all the tiers, while the downfill is designed to cover the parquet area.

Alessandro Macrì, Site Manager and owner of Always Merged, comments: "Opting for a different solution over the classic line array, we made an unusual choice that, after testing, has proven to be extremely functional and fascinating. In fact, the sound distribution achieved is precise and adequate, and its installation turned out to be significantly simpler: we saved time and energy that are usually required when designing vertical line arrays, which were not necessary in this case thanks to the solution we adopted. An interesting aspect of the configuration is the presence of a VIO L208 downfill, minimal, discreet, and high-performing, which we worked on by designing a rigging solution without the need for further custom supports. Every aspect of the project represented a wonderful challenge, and the system responded to the various scenarios, showing a solid acoustic footprint while offering great flexibility in addressing any need or issue that might arise during the installation."
Another key feature of the integration was the decision not to use a mixer, but instead a system made up of 6 Dante endpoints, distributed throughout the venue, which route the signals to the matrix; the control surface thus becomes the tablet, allowing centralized management of both inputs and outputs through an intuitive and comprehensive interface. To this end, over 1,080 meters of Ethernet cable were used, ensuring redundancy across all connections, along with 250 meters of balanced signal cable to provide an analog backup to the digital infrastructure, ensuring operation even in the event of issues with the complex interconnection system. Additionally, 540 meters of power cable were used to supply the clusters, and 26 rack units are positioned 23 meters above the ground, supported by a custom system anchored to a vertical pillar of the structure, specifically designed for hanging the systems.
The support provided by RadioSata Service, the main technical partner of the PalaDozza project and creator of the joint venture, was crucial. RadioSata is a well-known local company and a key player in high-profile audio sound system projects. For some time, it has been investing in and believing in VIO technology, putting it at the forefront of prestigious events and installations.

The final realization was made possible through a successful collaboration, which today strengthens the bond between local and innovative entities, interpreting and nurturing the spirit and culture of Bologna. "The new dBTechnologies audio system at PalaDozza is part of a broader plan aimed at enhancing the sports venue in the heart of Bologna, which has been the focus of a long-term project of widespread revitalization and renewal," says Daniele Ravaglia, President of Fondazione Bologna Welcome. "We couldn't be more pleased to have partnered with dBTechnologies, who supported us in bringing this project to life with great expertise and professionalism."

With the installation of the new audio system, Bologna is preparing to enter a new era of live events, where sound quality will be one of the distinctive elements that will make each event even more memorable.