To ensure optimal sound quality at events celebrating 50 years of pastoral leadership in 2025, New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore installed a Meyer Sound PANTHER line array system. The new setup, installed by Charlotte-based integrator WAVE AVL, replaced an outdated system and was customized to meet the specific needs of the church’s sanctuary.

Deaven Wood, Production Coordinator for New Psalmist Baptist Church, explained the decision: “We chose Meyer Sound because we needed a reliable, state-of-the-art system that could handle the diverse demands of live production. WAVE AVL guided us through the process and demonstrated how this system would meet our needs.”

The system primarily supports weekend services and conferences at the church, which seats more than 3,500 people across the main floor, balcony, and side loges. To cover all areas, the design includes a combination of line array and point-source components. The loudspeakers form a stereo cross-matrix system, designed by WAVE and modeled using Meyer Sound’s MAPP 3D system design tool.

The main left and right arrays consist of PANTHER loudspeakers, with two smaller LEOPARD arrays providing side coverage. Point-source loudspeakers, including UPQ-D3, ULTRA-X40, and ULTRA-X20 models, handle over- and under-balcony fills, while ULTRA-X20 units are used for front fills. Low frequencies are covered by 1100-LFC control elements, and the system is managed by Galileo GALAXY 816 and 408 network platforms. The church requested the speakers be painted custom white to blend with the sanctuary, ensuring the system is visually unobtrusive during livestreams.

WAVE led the design with support from Meyer Sound on AVB networking and the RMS Remote Monitoring System. Wood noted, “With Milan and AVB, we have a framework for interoperability among our A/V devices. The RMServer allows us to monitor every device in real time, ensuring efficient troubleshooting and system management.”

Rob Bender, CEO of WAVE AVL, praised the installation process: “It’s a large room with high ceilings, but the lighter weight of the Meyer Sound system helped with ceiling loads and structural approval. Meyer Sound also ensured timely delivery, which was critical to meeting the client’s timeline.”

Wood added, “WAVE AVL provided expert guidance throughout the installation. This experience has inspired us for future AV projects, and the response to the new system has exceeded expectations. When we powered it up for the first time, the sound was clean and clear, impressing everyone. We’re confident the system will enhance our productions and provide an outstanding audio experience for our congregation.”