MALAYSIA: The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), Northern Malaysia’s largest meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venue, has deployed a comprehensive Powersoft amplification platform as part of a fully networked audio infrastructure spanning its expansive waterfront facility.

Covering 10,443 square metres, PWCC features a 7,318 sqm column-free multipurpose hall capable of accommodating up to 10,000 guests, alongside ten meeting rooms, a waterfront terrace for up to 2,000 guests and a grand arrival hall. With spaces regularly adapting to accommodate everything from international exhibitions and corporate meetings to private functions and large-scale live events, the venue required consistent, high-quality audio coverage and speech intelligibility across a wide range of configurations.

The project also called for the audio system to integrate with PWCC’s broader ICT backbone, supporting Dante audio networking alongside AVoIP devices, network amplifiers and control systems while meeting requirements for network stability, bandwidth and cybersecurity compliance.

IHDesign Sdn Bhd, the project’s AV consultant, specified Powersoft amplification at the heart of the system, with Concept Associates supplying the hardware and Integrated Audio Visual Sdn Bhd leading the system integration. The installation comprises 24 Quattrocanali DSP+D amplifiers—eight Quattrocanali 1204 DSP+D, 15 Quattrocanali 2404 DSP+D and one Quattrocanali 4804 DSP+D—driving primary coverage across the exhibition halls, concourses and public areas. A further 19 Mezzo AD amplifiers, comprising 18 Mezzo 602 AD and one Mezzo 322 AD, serve the meeting rooms and VIP spaces, where the compact, mountable form factor allows amplification to be positioned close to the loudspeakers without requiring a dedicated equipment rack.

All 43 Powersoft amplifiers feature native Dante connectivity, allowing audio routing to operate across the same Cisco C1300 network backbone used for the venue’s IT and control infrastructure. Allen & Heath Dante I/O interfaces handle signal handoff between the QSC DSP processing platform and the amplifier network, while Crestron AVoIP and control systems manage room switching, signal distribution and real-time monitoring of the Powersoft amplifiers.

The Quattrocanali platform’s ability to support both low-impedance speaker loads and 70 V/100 V distributed audio lines enables different distribution architectures to be deployed across PWCC’s zones from a single amplifier family. Meanwhile, patented Smart Rails Management (SRM) technology continuously optimises power draw according to actual load conditions, reducing thermal output and eliminating the need for external cooling at the amplifier level. In mission-critical areas, the Quattrocanali’s UPS-compatible power supply also allows integration with life safety systems such as fire alarms without requiring a separate amplification platform.

The completed installation provides PWCC with a scalable, centrally managed audio infrastructure, with amplifier monitoring, DSP adjustments and routing changes accessible remotely through Crestron and Powersoft’s ArmoníaPlus platform.

“At this scale, the priority is creating a future-proof network without the clutter of traditional racks,” says Sandhi Soong, Senior Sales Manager, Integrated Audio Visual Sdn Bhd. “Powersoft’s high-density Quattrocanali and Mezzo platforms allowed us to deliver massive power and sophisticated DSP over a single converged ICT infrastructure, giving PWCC total flexibility for any event configuration.”