Quattrocanali and MEZZO At Penang waterfront convention centre
Florence (Italy), 27 October 2026 – The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) is Northern Malaysia's largest meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venue, spanning 10,443 square metres within a luxury waterfront development on the island of Penang. Its column-free multipurpose hall accommodates up to 10,000 guests across 7,318 sqm. This space is complemented by ten state-of-the-art meeting rooms, a waterfront terrace for up to 2,000 guests, and a grand arrival hall. The site is set against panoramic views of the Penang Bridge and the Strait of Malacca. Each space required reliable, high-quality audio coverage capable of adapting to a wide range of event types and configurations, from international exhibitions to corporate meetings and private functions.
Delivering an audio infrastructure to match the venue's ambitions required a solution that could integrate fully with PWCC's broader ICT backbone. The system had to support Dante audio networking alongside AVoIP devices, network amplifiers and control systems, all within strict requirements for network stability, bandwidth and cybersecurity compliance. Equally demanding was the requirement for speech intelligibility and consistent coverage across the large, divisible halls, where event layouts and audience positions change from one booking to the next. Plus, they needed a centralised control platform capable of managing multiple zones and event scenarios without adding operational complexity for venue staff.
IHDesign Sdn Bhd, the project's AV consultant, specified a Powersoft amplification platform at the heart of the audio system, with Concept Associates supplying the hardware and Integrated Audio Visual Sdn Bhd leading system integration. 24 Quattrocanali DSP+D amplifiers, comprising 8 Quattrocanali 1204 DSP+D, 15 Quattrocanali 2404 DSP+D and 1 Quattrocanali 4804 DSP+D, drive the primary audio coverage across the exhibition halls, concourses and public areas. 19 Mezzo AD amplifiers, 18 Mezzo 602 AD and 1 Mezzo 322 AD, serve the meeting rooms and VIP spaces, where the Mezzo's compact, mountable form factor allows amplification to be positioned close to the loudspeakers without a dedicated equipment rack.
All 43 Powersoft amplifiers carry native Dante connectivity, enabling audio routing to run across the same Cisco C1300 network backbone as 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 Powersoft amplifiers across the facility. The result is a single converged infrastructure through which audio routing, DSP processing, amplifier control and remote diagnostics all run without a separate audio network or dedicated point-to-point cabling.
The Quattrocanali platform's support for both low-impedance speaker loads and 70 V/100 V distributed audio lines gives PWCC the flexibility to apply different distribution architectures across its zones from a single amplifier family. Patented Smart Rails Management (SRM) technology continuously optimises power draw to match actual load conditions, reducing thermal output and eliminating the need for external cooling at the amplifier level, which simplifies rack design and long-term maintenance. In mission-critical areas, the Quattrocanali's UPS-compatible power supply allows it to be integrated with life safety systems like fire alarms, without requiring a separate amplification platform. This is a meaningful advantage in a large public venue of this type.
The completed system gives PWCC a scalable, fully networked audio infrastructure capable of supporting any configuration across its ten versatile spaces, from intimate meetings to international exhibitions and immense live events. Amplifier monitoring, DSP adjustments and routing changes can be managed remotely through Crestron and Powersoft's Armonía Plus platform without requiring technicians in the rack room. This reduces operational overhead during complex event transitions. With every element of the audio system sitting on the venue's converged ICT network, PWCC is equally well positioned to accommodate future expansion as its event programme grows.
"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."
Equipment list:
● Amplifiers
o 8 x Powersoft Quattrocanali 1204 DSP+D
o 15 x Powersoft Quattrocanali 2404 DSP+D
o 1 x Powersoft Quattrocanali 4804 DSP+D
o 18 x Powersoft Mezzo 602 AD
o 1 x Powersoft Mezzo 322 AD
● Audio DSP
o 7 x QSC Core 110f-V2
o 5 x QSC Core 8 Flex
● Dante I/O
o 33 x Allen & Heath DT series
● Loudspeakers
o 70 x Bose EdgeMax EM180 (ceiling)
o 235 x QSC AC series (ceiling)
o 3 x Bose Smart Soundbar 700 (VIP rooms)
● Microphones
o 65 x Shure SLXD series (wireless)
o 30 x Shure QLXD series (wireless)
o 22 x Shure SM series (wired)
● Control
o 1 x QSC TSC-70-G3 touch screen controller
