Customer Story
From Echoes to Engagement: Apex Baptist’s Sanctuary audio system Upgrade
Apex Baptist Church | Apex, N.C.
Apex Baptist Church in Apex, NC turned to S&L Integrated to transform their sanctuary audio, bringing clearer sound to every worship service, song, and sermon for a growing family of believers. Before, echoes and uneven coverage made it hard for folks in the balcony or back rows to fully connect with the music and message. Now, with a powerful Martin Audio line array system, wireless mics for the praise team, and easy controls anyone can use, Sunday mornings feel alive and immersive from front to back. S&L designed and delivered this custom audio solution, helping the church focus on what matters most: loving God and welcoming people.
The Challenge
The sanctuary’s reflective walls and balcony design turned every service into an audio puzzle—words got lost in reverb, and music didn’t reach everyone equally. Worship leaders and volunteers struggled with limited wireless gear for the full band and choir, plus clunky power setups that slowed down setup and teardown. The church dreamed of a space where every voice, guitar riff, and hymn could inspire without technical headaches, all while keeping costs in check for ministry growth.
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Sound faded in balcony and far seats during praise and preaching
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Echoes muddied lyrics and sermons for the whole congregation
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Not enough wireless mics or monitors for vocal team and instruments
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Manual power sequencing complicated volunteer operation
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Projectors blocked optimal views from new stage perspective
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Customer
Apex Baptist Church
Location
Apex, N.C.
Industry
House of Worship
The Solution
Martin WPS main line arrays
Left/right hangs of ten Wavefront Precision WPS elements per side in 1‑box resolution provide precise coverage control and an average SPL of approximately 101 dB ±2 dB over 98% of the listening area.
Front fill and balcony loudspeakers
Six Martin FlexPoint 6 front fills and six FlexPoint 4 balcony fills supplement the main arrays to maintain tonal consistency and intelligibility for front‑row and upper‑level seating.
Flown cardioid subwoofer array
Three Martin SXHF218 subwoofers, flown in a center cardioid configuration with bridged amplifier channels, deliver controlled low‑frequency energy focused into the seating area while reducing stage and platform buildup.
Martin Ikon DSP amplification
Three Ikon 81 and three Ikon 42 eight‑channel DSP amplifiers provide processed power for the arrays, fills, and subs, using dedicated DSP channels for each WPS element; six 30‑amp 120V circuits at the stage‑right rack support the power requirements.
Acoustic wall treatment
Wall and balcony‑face treatment, based on an RT60 analysis with Acoustical Fulfillment, reduces reflections, shortens reverb time, and minimizes flutter echo; ceiling treatment was excluded due to ceiling type and color.
Shure Axient wireless systems
Complete Axient Digital mic setup with eight SM58 handhelds and four bodypacks (for instruments or headsets), plus PSM IEM with eight stereo bodypacks; both feature antenna combiners, directional antennas, and ShowLink for rock-solid RF, coordination, and auto frequency management across the worship team.
Allen & Heath dLive control
Allen & Heath S7000 at front‑of‑house, with stage racks and personal ME-1 mixers, empowers quick, pro-level sound for services.
Distributed I/O and personal mixing
Two DX168 stageboxes and two DX164 wall panels (stage left and right) provide flexible stage I/O via CAT6, while eight ME‑1 personal mixers, fed from a rack‑mounted ME‑U and stage‑left/right ethercon panels, give band members control of their own monitor mixes.
The Solution
S&L brought the sanctuary to life with a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPS array that blankets every seat in clear, powerful sound—like sitting front row no matter where you are. Paired with Shure Axient wireless systems for mics and in-ear monitors, plus an Allen & Heath dLive console that’s intuitive for volunteers, the setup now handles dynamic worship effortlessly. Acoustic wall treatments tamed reflections, and smart power controls make it all reliable, setting the stage for bigger events down the road.
The Result
Now, worship at Apex Baptist feels connected—congregants smile wider as lyrics land clear and bass drives the heart during praise choruses. Volunteers run services solo with touch‑panel presets, freeing leaders to pour into people instead of troubleshooting. The system unlocked fuller band sound and balcony engagement, turning good Sundays into unforgettable ones. With room for streaming or events ahead, it’s built to grow with their mission of making disciples.
Ready to talk to an expert?
S&L Integrated crafts custom audio, video, lighting, and control solutions for worship spaces that help churches shine. If your sanctuary needs clearer sound and simpler operation, let’s talk about your story.