Pacific Coast Entertainment (PCE), live event production company and AV equipment provider in Southern California, recently provided a premium sound system to the newly opened Great Park Live venue, using the powerful Anya ADAPTive loudspeaker from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW®), a leader in professional audio solutions. Tom Pappanduros, production manager at PCE, led the installation of the system, showcasing technical expertise and commitment to high-quality sound for the City of Irvine’s innovative venue.
Nestled within the park’s picturesque setting, Great Park Live offers a unique and unforgettable entertainment experience for guests of all ages. This stunning venue has been so successful that the city of Irvine will continue to invest in a permanent amphitheater, set to open in 2027.
Great Park Live offers a unique acoustic challenge. “The venue is situated in the middle of neighborhoods,” says Pappanduros. “We needed a sound system with enough control to ensure an excellent audience experience while minimizing sound bleed into the surrounding community. We chose EAW’s Anya rig, which proved crucial in meeting these demands.”
The custom EAW sound system consists of 24 Anya boxes, 12 per side, and 24 Otto subwoofers in a centralized cluster. “The combination of these powerful yet precise speakers allowed PCE to modify the sound based on the needs of the variety of events held at Great Park Live,” adds Pappanduros. “We’ve worked through about seven different configurations for the low-end, focusing on energy control to maximize the venue’s space while minimizing disruption to nearby homes, and the end result offers the ideal balance.”
EAW’s Anya loudspeaker is a 3-way full-range ADAPTive array module that adapts all performance parameters electronically, allowing it to be used in virtually any application. It is extremely powerful and immensely scalable, making it suitable for anything from small venues to the largest amphitheaters, such as Great Park Live. EAW’s Otto ADAPTive subwoofer balances low-frequency coverage with cancellation to suit the user’s requirements of omni, cardioid or hyper-cardioid. Combined in arrays, Otto provides users with nearly endless possibilities in low-frequency pattern control.
One of the standout features of the Anya system is its ADAPTive Technology. According to Pappanduros, “During one event, city officials noticed higher-than-allowed noise levels in the surrounding neighborhoods. Thanks to the Anya’s advanced control features, we quickly reduced the area’s effective size from 300 feet to 180 feet, lowering the decibel levels without disturbing the concert experience. Being able to make those on-the-fly adjustments is invaluable. The audience didn’t even notice.”
For PCE, this project has been particularly rewarding. “I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years and first encountered EAW’s Anya speaker about a decade ago,” adds Pappanduros. “It left a lasting impression. It’s rare to find a system that combines clarity, headroom and adaptability as seamlessly as Anya and Otto do.”
PCE’s involvement in Great Park Live also highlights the company’s broader capabilities as a full-service production company. From sound systems to video walls, lighting and stage design, PCE has established itself as a leading force in live event production across California. “We’re not just about big festivals or high-profile corporate events. We focus on delivering the best possible experience for every project we take on,” said Pappanduros.
As the Great Park Live venue continues to entertain Irvine residents, Pacific Coast Entertainment’s work stands as a testament to the power of innovative sound technology and expert installation. Looking forward, PCE remains committed to deploying EAW’s state-of-the-art audio solutions across a range of events, festivals and installations.
