Passaic County Technical Institute Pool Sound System
Solving the Toughest Acoustical Challenge in School Athletics
Indoor swimming pools are one of the most acoustically demanding environments in any school building. Hard tile floors, concrete walls, a massive water surface, and an exposed ceiling structure combine to create reverberation times that make speech nearly unintelligible — especially for parents and spectators sitting in the bleachers during a swim meet.
When Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, NJ needed a sound system upgrade for their indoor aquatic center, they turned to JD Sound & Video to solve the problem the right way.
The Challenge
PCTI’s existing pool sound system relied on pendant-style loudspeakers distributed throughout the space. While pendant speakers can work well in shorter, more controlled environments, the highly reverberant nature of an indoor pool — combined with the distance from the source to the bleacher seating — made intelligibility for announcements and swim meet coverage extremely poor.
Parents in the bleachers couldn’t clearly hear lane announcements, event updates, or results. The school needed a purpose-designed system that could cut through the room’s natural reverb and deliver clear, directed sound directly to the audience seating area.
The Solution
JD Sound & Video designed a column line array system specifically optimized for the bleacher seating area, leaving the existing pendant speakers in place for general pool coverage.
Loudspeakers — JBL CBT 70J-1 Column Line Arrays
Four JBL CBT 70J-1 Constant Beamwidth Technology column line array loudspeakers were installed along the bleacher wall, each paired with a JBL CBT 70JE-1 low-frequency extension module. The CBT series is purpose-built for exactly this type of application — its asymmetrical vertical coverage pattern and constant beamwidth technology allow the system to project sound toward the audience while minimizing energy sent into the ceiling and floor, which is the primary driver of reverb buildup in a pool environment.
By controlling where the sound energy goes, the system dramatically improves speech intelligibility without fighting the room.
Amplification — Crown DCi 4|600
All loudspeakers — new and existing — are powered by a Crown DCi 4|600, a professional-grade four-channel amplifier rated at 600 watts per channel with full 70V/100V distributed audio capability. The DCi series is a workhorse of the commercial AV industry, delivering reliable high-output power with built-in DSP and network control capability.
Digital Signal Processing — BSS BLU-50
A BSS BLU-50 4×4 signal processor was added to the system to provide room EQ, delay alignment, and output limiting. Custom DSP programming was completed by JD Sound & Video using calibrated measurement equipment to tune the system to the room, optimizing frequency response and ensuring the column arrays work in proper alignment with the existing pendant speakers.
Wireless Microphone Coverage
The existing Shure wireless microphone system was upgraded with Shure UA505 remote antenna bracket kits and Shure UA850 50-foot UHF antenna extension cables, relocating the antennas into the pool space for better RF coverage and allowing the equipment rack door to be fully closed during events.
Audio Input — Whirlwind MIP3S Wall Plate
A Whirlwind MIP3S media input plate was installed to provide flexible source connectivity, including a balanced XLR microphone input and both 3.5mm TRS and dual RCA line inputs for phones or other portable devices. All line inputs are transformer-balanced at the plate for a clean, noise-free signal.
The Installation
JD Sound & Video handled every aspect of this project in-house — no subcontractors. Our team pulled plenum-rated 14-gauge speaker cable through the ceiling, secured with J-hooks and properly firestopped at all penetrations. Loudspeaker brackets were installed using rated anchors with stainless hardware, and each enclosure was leveled, aimed, and confirmed against the original design intent before commissioning.
The entire system was pre-built and burned in at our shop prior to the installation day, ensuring a clean, efficient single-day deployment with zero surprises on site.
Following installation, JD Sound & Video performed full system commissioning using calibrated measurement tools and provided hands-on training for PCTI staff.
The Result
PCTI’s aquatic center now has a modern, purpose-designed sound system that delivers clear, intelligible speech to bleacher spectators — even in one of the most acoustically challenging rooms in the building. The column line array approach keeps energy directed at the audience and out of the reverberant field, solving the core problem that pendant speakers simply cannot address in a space like this.
The rack bears the JD Sound & Video system plate — because every system we install is one we stand behind.
About JD Sound & Video
JD Sound & Video is a commercial AV integration company serving schools, houses of worship, municipalities, and corporate clients throughout New Jersey, the greater Philadelphia area, and Delaware. We are a factory-direct dealer with manufacturer training across leading brands including Crown, JBL, BSS, Shure, Biamp, QSC, EAW, and Danley Sound Labs.
Every project is engineered, installed, and commissioned by our own in-house team — CTS-D and CTS-I certified, with no subcontractors, ever.
Looking for a pool sound system, gym sound system, or stadium PA for your school in New Jersey?
Contact JD Sound & Video | 800-650-5378