LEA amplifiers helped Sweetwater create a level playing field for comparing up to 80 passive loudspeakers in their recent Home Audio Audition room expansion.
The Spec
🏢Venue: Sweetwater | Fort Wayne, Indiana
👷Integrator: David Kars | IT Audio Visual Engineer at Sweetwater
🎶Audio Spaces: Home Audio Audition Room
🦈Product Used: Connect Series 168
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Founded in 1979, Sweetwater has grown into one of the most respected retailers of music technology and audio equipment in the United States. As part of its commitment to customer experience, the company recently opened a dedicated Home Audio Room where customers can audition and compare passive loudspeakers in a controlled environment.
When Sweetwater set out to create its Home Audio Room, the goal was simple: give customers an accurate way to compare loudspeakers without introducing variables that could influence the listening experience. The system needed to support up to 80 passive speakers while delivering consistent amplification and maintaining a compact footprint.
David Kars, IT Audio Visual Engineer at Sweetwater, recognized that the amplification platform would play a critical role in ensuring fair and repeatable listening tests. After evaluating available options, Sweetwater selected LEA Connect Series 168 amplifiers for their combination of channel density, efficiency, and networked control capabilities.
“The amplifier needed to be our ‘constant’ source that never changed to make it a level playing field as customers auditioned one speaker pair at a time,” said David Kars, IT Audio Visual Engineer at Sweetwater. “LEA was right in that sweet spot where we have the power requirements, the channel counts, and the super-efficient architecture.”
When Sweetwater set out to create its Home Audio Room, the goal was simple: give customers an accurate way to compare loudspeakers without introducing variables that could influence the listening experience. The system needed to support up to 80 passive speakers while delivering consistent amplification and maintaining a compact footprint.
David Kars, IT Audio Visual Engineer at Sweetwater, recognized that the amplification platform would play a critical role in ensuring fair and repeatable listening tests. After evaluating available options, Sweetwater selected LEA Connect Series 168 amplifiers for their combination of channel density, efficiency, and networked control capabilities.
Because the room already relied on Q-SYS for audio management and control, seamless integration was equally important. LEA’s network connectivity and Q-SYS plugin allowed amplifier management to become part of Sweetwater’s existing workflow, simplifying setup and ongoing operation.
“Having the ability to manage the amplifiers through the network connection and apply settings across all the amplifiers was incredibly useful and saved us a significant amount of time,” said Kars. “The biggest advantage for us was the Q-SYS integration and the plugin developed specifically to manage and control the amplifiers.”
“The amplifier needed to be our ‘constant’ source that never changed to make it a level playing field as customers auditioned one speaker pair at a time,” said David Kars, IT Audio Visual Engineer at Sweetwater. “LEA was right in that sweet spot where we have the power requirements, the channel counts, and the super-efficient architecture.”
The Conclusion
The completed Home Audio Room gives Sweetwater customers a consistent and reliable environment for evaluating loudspeakers and making informed purchasing decisions. By combining high channel density, efficient operation, and seamless integration, LEA amplifiers helped create a listening experience where the only thing changing is the speaker being auditioned.
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