The Sultan of Selangor’s Cup, returning after a four-year hiatus, was held at the iconic Merdeka Stadium and saw Singapore and Selangor renew their long-standing football rivalry that dates back to the 1920s. Despite a valiant effort and enduring challenging conditions, the Singapore Premier League (SPL) Selection was narrowly defeated 2-1 by the Selangor Selection. The result marked Selangor’s third consecutive victory in the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup, following their wins in 2018 and 2019, bringing their total number of titles to 10.

Needless to say, the game was a spectacle of energy, excitement, and sporting passion, underpinned by an immersive, crystal-clear soundscape. And integral to this success was the state-of-the-art sound system from JBL, expertly designed and deployed by MD EVENTS ASIA and Systems Electronics & Engineering Sdn Bhd. Their collaborative efforts ensured that every moment of the game was felt as much as it was heard, delivering an extraordinary auditory experience to thousands of spectators.

From the outset, the organisers prioritised production quality, fully aware that creating an unforgettable atmosphere was not just about the game but the entire sensory experience. Turning to the expertise of MD EVENTS ASIA and Systems Electronics & Engineering Sdn Bhd to lead the technical design and implementation of the audio production proved to be a masterstroke. Their remit was clear—deliver a sound system capable of covering the vast arena with consistent clarity and power, providing every audience member with a front-row acoustic experience.

Understanding the sheer scale of the task at hand, the audio team approached the challenge with a meticulous eye for detail. The venue, Stadium Merdeka, with its open seating arrangement and wide audience areas, posed acoustic challenges that required precision planning. The team conducted thorough site surveys, factoring in the physical dynamics of the stadium, the expected audience size, and the technical vision of the organisers.

It was immediately clear that a standard sound setup wouldn’t suffice; which is what prompted the team to craft a bespoke solution centred on JBL Professional’s highly regarded SRX910LA two-way active line array modules, complemented by the thunderous SRX928S dual 18-inch active subwoofers. According to them, this “winning” combination offered both power and precision, enabling the system to not only cover the entire seating area but do so with crystal-clear audio and deep, immersive bass frequencies.

One of the major challenges that the team had to overcome was ensuring even sound distribution across the vast expanse of the stadium. In a venue the size of Stadium Merdeka, there is always the risk of certain sections receiving too much or too little sound. However, the use of JBL’s SRX910LA modules allowed the team to provide even coverage, thanks to their advanced waveguide technology, which ensured that the sound spread uniformly across the audience area. The high-frequency output was particularly impressive, providing crisp, intelligible audio for every seat, whether close to the stage or at the farthest corners of the stadium. Plus, the SRX910LA’s lightweight design and easy setup options also contributed to the overall efficiency of the setup, allowing the technical crew to focus more on fine-tuning the system rather than spending excessive time on installation. This flexibility was a critical factor in ensuring the team could meet the tight deadlines typically associated with such large-scale events.

In total, 56 units of the SRX910LA line array modules were deployed along with 16 units of the SRX928S subwoofers, strategically arranged in a circular formation around the stadium’s circumference to ensure that every section of the audience was treated to the same pristine sound experience. Each line array was meticulously positioned, with particular attention paid to the firing angles to ensure perfect coverage from the first row to the last. The team’s expertise ensured that no seat in the stadium was beyond the reach of the audio system, maintaining a consistent sonic experience throughout. And while the SRX910LA modules brought impressive clarity, handling the full range of audio with finesse; the SRX928S subwoofers delivered the low-end punch that added depth and presence to the soundscape. The strategic placement of the SRX910LA + SRX928S stacks ensured that the bass frequencies filled the stadium with impact, without ever overwhelming the mids and highs. This thoughtful configuration ensured that the audience not only heard but felt the audio in every sense, amplifying the emotional intensity of the event.

At the same time, it is believed that JBL’s Venue Synthesis 3D acoustic simulation software was a key component in the success of the audio design. With its unique ability to offer a predictive model of how the sound would behave in the stadium, the use of JBL’s Venue Synthesis would’ve allowed for precise adjustments before the actual setup. By using the software to simulate the acoustics of the venue, the team would’ve been able to optimise speaker placement and fine-tune the entire system to minimise any acoustic anomalies, such as reverberation or sound reflections.

In addition to the impressive tech system, and perhaps most crucial to the success of the sound design at the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup event, was the collaborative spirit between MD EVENTS ASIA and Systems Electronics & Engineering Sdn Bhd. Both teams brought their extensive experience and technical know-how to the project, ensuring that the system not only met the high expectations of the organisers but exceeded them. Their ability to work together seamlessly, troubleshooting and making adjustments on the fly, ensured that the audio experience remained top-notch from the first whistle to the final moments of the event.

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