In a remarkable audio-visual transformation, Songdo Ganaan Church, located in Hwaseong-si, South Korea, has elevated its worship services with a state-of-the-art sound system from industry leaders, Harman Professional. Founded in 2001 by Senior Pastor Eui-cheol Kim, the church’s primary goal has been to expand its congregation and inspire global worship through powerful sermons and vibrant music. To achieve this, the church undertook a major upgrade of its audio infrastructure, aiming to deliver exceptional clarity and sound quality to every attendee, regardless of where they are seated.
Songdo Ganaan Church is a substantial venue with a seating capacity of around 2,600 spread across three floors, with an option to extend seating for an additional 200 when needed. Given the church’s commitment to leading worship through a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary music styles—including full orchestras and choir performances—precision and sound clarity were crucial. The church’s leadership realised the need for a cutting-edge audio solution that could meet these diverse requirements and maintain consistent sound quality throughout the space.
To bring this vision to life, Songdo Ganaan Church partnered with two key players in the AV industry—TechDataPS Co., Ltd. and Saegyero-In-Sound. These specialists were tasked with deploying an audio system that would not only complement the church’s existing architectural style but also ensure uniform sound distribution across the three floors of seating. The team selected JBL Professional’s VTX A-Series line array speakers as the foundation of the upgrade, thanks to their reputation for delivering outstanding sound quality in large and acoustically challenging environments.
At the heart of the new sound system are 24 units of JBL VTX A12 loudspeakers, divided equally on either side of the church to provide balanced audio coverage. Twelve units per side were expertly arranged, with six loudspeakers on the first floor, three on the second floor, and three on the third floor. This precise configuration ensures even sound projection, accommodating the venue’s unique structural design. Powering the VTX A12 speakers are the robust Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD amplifiers, known for their reliability and superior power handling capabilities.
To reinforce the low-frequency range, the installation included eight VTX B28 subwoofers, strategically arranged in a cardioid configuration to minimise unwanted reflections and deliver a tight, punchy bass response. These subwoofers are driven by Crown I-Tech 12000HD amplifiers, providing the power necessary for impactful and immersive bass performance.
In addition to the main speakers, four JBL AC25 front-fill loudspeakers were installed at the front of the stage to accurately direct sound towards the pulpit and the main audience. This addition allows for clear and consistent audio delivery during sermons and other performances, ensuring that spoken words are comprehensible even at the front rows.
Songdo Ganaan Church posed unique challenges in terms of acoustics due to its tiered seating and architectural design. To overcome the problem of ‘acoustic blindspots’—small sections where sound coverage could be compromised—36 JBL AC18 loudspeakers were installed. These units were placed strategically throughout the venue to ensure wide vertical coverage and fill gaps that might otherwise have experienced audio dropouts. This arrangement minimises interference caused by balconies and other structural elements, delivering crystal-clear sound to every corner of the church.
This meticulous setup allows the church to cater to various styles of worship, from classical orchestral performances to modern rock and EDM-inspired worship music. The technical finesse of the system has proven to be a game-changer for the church’s diverse worship formats, as confirmed by the church’s audio and broadcasting system lead, Donghyun Yoo. He shared, “Since we upgraded to the JBL VTX A Series Line Array, we have been able to deliver performances for a wide range of music, from orchestral to modern worship songs with rock and EDM elements. Our members have been extremely satisfied and delighted by the new sound system.”
According to members of the congregation and the church officials themselves, the upgraded audio system has made a profound impact on the worship experience at Songdo Ganaan Church, allowing the congregation to enjoy a seamless blend of speech and music. The newly installed system provides clarity, depth, and balance—crucial elements for creating a powerful worship atmosphere. Whether it’s a full choir performance, a live orchestra, or a sermon, the church now delivers each element with precision, making the worship experience engaging and immersive for all attendees.
The success of the installation has been celebrated by Harman Professional, whose products form the backbone of the upgraded system. Amar Subash, Vice President and General Manager of HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome: “The audio system upgrade at Songdo Ganaan Church is testimony to HARMAN’s expertise and commitment in delivering a high-performance audio solution for any environment. Our trusted partner, TechDataPS, has done an excellent job in prescribing the right audio solution to match the unique architectural style of the church.”
