Bethany Community Church
“For houses of worship, Fulcrum gives us a strong balance of performance, reliability, and value. It delivers the clarity and output these spaces need without pushing the system beyond a realistic church budget.” — Dennis Mitchell, Sales Executive at PANAVID
Historic Space. Modern Worship Needs.
Bethany Community Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey is a traditional style sanctuary originally constructed in the 1800s. The 800-seat space serves a Haitian congregation with a range of services, including a traditional French-language service and a contemporary English service. As part of a larger AVL upgrade, the church required an audio system that could support the church’s multiple worship styles while respecting the character of the historic space. The design had to provide clear speech while delivering the output and low-frequency impact expected for contemporary worship music. It also needed to reduce unwanted sound on stage and have minimal visual impact.
PANAVID was brought in to help the church complete their broader AVL upgrade. PANAVID chose Fulcrum Acoustic because the project required a sound system that could fit the room visually, support multiple worship styles, and give the church a dependable long-term solution. “For houses of worship, Fulcrum gives us a strong balance of performance, reliability, and value,” says Dennis Mitchell, Sales Executive at PANAVID. “It delivers the clarity and output these spaces need without pushing the system beyond a realistic church budget.”
Reducing Spill, Improving Clarity
The design centers on Fulcrum Acoustic CCX15 passive cardioid loudspeakers for the main system, with RX8 loudspeakers providing fill coverage. Within the church’s historic architecture, these compact coaxial speakers help minimize visual impact. Low-frequency support is supplied by a CS218L passive cardioid subwoofer positioned at the center of the stage below the platform.
Fulcrum’s passive cardioid technology was a key part of the system design. In an environment with microphones, musicians, vocalists, and a pastor all working from the platform, reducing rear output can help improve clarity and gain before feedback. “The passive cardioid design gave us better control behind the loudspeakers, especially in the low frequencies,” says Mitchell. “That helped reduce stage spill, improve gain before feedback, and keep the pastor’s speaking position clearer.”
Streamlined Setup with Driveflex and Fulcrum One
Fulcrum One software brings Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeaker and Driveflex amplifier configuration tools into one workflow, helping PANAVID move through setup more efficiently. “Using Fulcrum One with the Driveflex amplifiers helped streamline setup and tuning, giving the team direct access to the loudspeaker processing needed to refine the system for the room,” says Mitchell.
Supporting Traditional and Contemporary Worship
The completed system gives Bethany Community Church the clarity, coverage, and low-frequency support needed for traditional worship, spoken word, choir, and contemporary music. It helps focus sound where it’s needed, reducing stage spill, and improving intelligibility throughout the space. “Once the church was able to hear the completed system, the response was very positive,” says Mitchell. “The congregation was excited to experience the difference.” The church now has a sound system that supports the way the congregation worships today, with the flexibility needed for long-term use.