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A Harmonic Design audio system acoustically enhanced Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, ensuring flawless coverage for over 10,000 people during the solemn Corpus Domini procession held on June 22, 2025, presided over by Pope Leo XIV. Thanks to the HLS 24 and HLS 16 systems compact and high-performing at the same time and the brand’s 10CXN speakers used as front fills, the audio/video system integrator Delta Tecno Studio reduced both the visual impact and setup time compared to the previous edition, earning the appreciation of both the audience and the end customer.
The solemn Corpus Domini procession, held in Rome on June 22, took on a particularly profound meaning thanks to the presence of the new Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, who presided over the Eucharistic Procession, carrying the Blessed Sacrament along Via Merulana. A gesture full of spirituality and symbolism, which attracted thousands of faithful and underscored the strong bond between the Church and the Eternal City.
An occasion of such significance deserved a PA system capable of meeting the demands of the event, and thanks to the close collaboration between Audio Effetti and Delta Tecno Studio of Rome active since 2010 in consultancy, design, and installation of multimedia systems, as well as support, maintenance, and management of AV installations it was possible to deliver exactly that.
The challenge
The challenge was to design a highly performing PA system with minimal visual impact in a location of immense historical and architectural value, such as the square in front of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The event required sound coverage exceeding 60 meters (64 to be precise), with perfect speech intelligibility, timbral integrity, and respect for the sacred nature of the setting.
The solution
Delta Tecno Studio S.r.l., under the technical direction of Emanuele Zanotti, chose to adopt an innovative, compact, and extremely powerful solution based on:
- 4 x Harmonic Design HLS24 (2+2) as main speakers
- 2 x Harmonic Design HLS16 as fill speakers
- 6 x Harmonic Design 10CXN as front fill speakers
Thanks to the coverage characteristics of the HLS models, based on Harmonic Design’s exclusive HybridLineSource technology which combines the advantages of point source systems with those of line arrays it was possible to deliver extraordinary sound performance with a setup that was both aesthetically discreet and technically efficient.
HLS24 - 1200 W HybridLineSource loudspeaker, 2 x 12" LF + 4 x 1.4" HF, 100° x 40° coverage, rigging, BI-AMP LF 4 ohm HF 4 ohm
€ 7.266,60
HLS16P - 700 W HybridLineSource loudspeaker, 2 x 8" LF + 2 x 1.4" HF, 100° x 40° coverage, rigging, incl. 4 ohm passive crossover
€ 5.168,40
10CXN - 450 W passive coaxial loudspeaker, 1 x 10" LF / 1 x 1.4" HF, 75° x 75° coverage, 8 ohm
€ 2.091,20
The results
We’ll let Emanuele Zanotti himself comment on the results achieved with this unconventional solution proposed by Audio Effetti and approved by him: “Using this set of Harmonic Design PA speakers, we achieved exceptional audio coverage even 60 meters from the main cluster. The audience and the client were thrilled with the performance compared to the previous edition, where 20 line array modules (10 + 10) were required to achieve the same result!”
But that’s not all. Zanotti further states: “If we consider the fact that setting up the speakers alone took one hour, and dismantling less than 30 minutes, significantly reducing both time and operational costs, we can only be fully satisfied with the results obtained.”
The high-quality reproduction of both the Pope’s voice and the Sistine Chapel Choir highlights the versatility and elegance of the chosen system, which also ensured maximum respect for the location’s aesthetics and the spiritual significance of the occasion.
Want to learn more?
Email us at international@audioeffetti.it
