Power Sound of New England

Ste. Marie Parish- Located in Manchester, NH

Complete Audio System Renovation
Ste. Marie's is one of the most recognized and historic churches in New England. Established in 1880, the original congregation consisted primarily of The French-Canadian residents of the west side of Manchester. With seating for more than 1,000, including a mezzanine level, this church is particularly reverberant in nature and had some challenging acoustics we needed to tame.

We analyzed their diverse needs, working closely with the pastor, Rev. Maurice Larochelle, “Fr. Moe”, and designed a complete system that would offer clarity for both the Spoken Word and the Music Ministry. "The big challenge has always been building a hybrid to address both", said Power Sound Chief Engineer, Troy Jennings. “But with today’s technology we were able to achieve tremendous success; far surpassing the parish’s audio expectations.” I

Improved sound intelligibility was essential, but aesthetics in this majestic church mattered also. As part of the sound system we chose BOSE Panaray speakers, designed especially for church environments. A towering 9 feet tall, yet just 4 inches wide, they are colored to match the interior exactly so the only thing noticed is rich, clear sound.

Read about other projects here. Learn about Worship A/V solutions, including sound systems & video projection.

Custom Settings and “Smart Electronics”
From a softly spoken voice to a singing voice, the smart electronics continuously self-adjust providing the appropriate volume level. Custom settings offer the correct volume and projection for varied environments including large, medium or small attendance and choral presentations. Unique settings may used for changing weather environments as well. Preset and tuned to a parish chosen settings, a simple turn of a knob changes from one setting to another. One dial = easy control.

One area of particular concern was the standing area behind the last pews where parishioners simply could not hear. Now, Fr. Moe says, speech is "completely audible and intelligible.” He also noted that the new speakers are visually subtle; even the 9-foot tall speakers on either side of the altar are virtually invisible. When asked how they liked the look of the speakers, the Parish’s Art and Environment Committee members asked, "Where are they?" When he pointed to the new speakers Fr. Moe says, "It still took them 20 seconds before they could see the speakers. Beautiful.”