Elmcor’s gym is a nonstop space. Basketball games, dance performances, fundraisers, fitness classes. But their old portable PA gear made it hard to hear announcements and left music sounding weak. Crunchy Tech came in with a permanent audio solution built for gym environments: powerful, clear and simple to run. Now every whistle, track and mic check cuts through. Elmcor can shift from one type of event to the next without hesitation.
Elmcor Basketball Recreational Center
New York City, NY
Basketball Gym Sound System Upgrade
PA System Installation
Consistent Audio Coverage in a Multipurpose Gym
Project Challenges
Elmcor needed sound that could handle the demands of a high-SPL environment. That is, one night might be a basketball game that’s packed to the rafters. The next could be a quiet award ceremony or a dance class. But their old setup—a couple of portable speakers—clearly wasn’t cutting it. Coverage was uneven. Sound dropped off in corners. And in a noisy recreational facility, that meant spectators couldn’t hear what’s going on.
The challenge wasn’t just loudness but also clarity, flexibility and ease of use (or the lack of them). Elmcor needed a distributed audio solution that could deliver clean sound across the entire court, adapt to different events and be uncomplicated enough for anyone on staff to run without needing expert AV support.
A Sound System for Every Moment
Understanding Client Needs
Elmcor wasn’t looking for something extravagant. They needed something that worked. Simple. A PA system that could handle big, animated crowds, music-heavy events and day-to-day programming without making life harder for their staff. They wanted intelligible speech, solid bass and the ability to go from a game to a fundraiser with just a few quick adjustments.
We listened closely to how they used the space. Flexibility was key. So was simplicity. Volunteers and staff needed to walk up, tap a preset and get on with the event. No intricate setup. Just a reliable sound system that filled the main gymnasium and kept up with whatever was happening that day.
Gymnasium-Grade Audio Components
Technical Solutions
Crunchy Tech implemented the synergy of a distributed loudspeaker system, high-powered amplification, a 16-channel digital mixer and a wall-mounted equipment rack tailored for flexible, gym-wide sound coverage.
| System Category | Components | Role in Project |
| Distributed Loudspeakers | 2 × 10″ speaker boxes, 6 × 12″ speaker boxes | Distributed loudspeaker layout for even coverage and full-range sound |
| Amplification | 8-channel 8 kW power amplifier, 4-channel 2 kW power amplifier | High-headroom amplification to handle peak volume demands |
| Digital Mixing | 16-channel digital mixer | Scene recall, EQ and onboard processing for fast event-to-event adjustments |
| Equipment Rack | 12U wall-mount rack | Consolidated all core hardware while preserving floor space and keeping cabling organized |
Everything was built around performance and ease of use. The speakers were placed to cover the gym evenly (meaning no dead zones and no harsh hotspots). The amplifiers packed enough headroom to handle boisterous crowds and thumping music. And the digital mixer made it easy to switch from one event type to another in seconds. It’s the kind of setup that sounds incredible, works hard and stays out of the way.
Design-Build Approach
Implementation Methodology
We kept things simple and efficient. From beginning to project wrapup, this was a hands-on collaboration with Elmcor. We mapped out the system layout, confirmed power availability and ascertained the audio sources they already had would plug right in.
The install itself moved fast. Our team ran clean cabling, mounted the gear and set up the rack to keep everything tight and off the floor. Before calling it a day, we walked Elmcor staff through how to operate the system and assured them they don’t need to be techie. The whole process was smooth, on schedule and built to make life easier for the people using it every day.
Clear & Clean Sound, Every Time
Results and Impact
Now, the difference is obvious the moment you set foot in. Announcements are sharp. Music fills the space. Nothing gets lost in the noise. Whether it’s a high-energy game or a community gathering, the distributed audio system delivers.
Staff can switch between events with preset scenes. No fiddling, no delays. It’s simple, dependable and sounds fantastic no matter what’s happening. Elmcor didn’t only get a new sound system for their activity center. What they got was a professional audio upgrade that makes every event feel more polished, more exciting and more connected.
Built for the Long Game
Finishing the Project On Time
The Elmcor Basketball Recreational Center project shows what happens when the right PA system meets the right space. We didn’t overcomplicate it. We focused on sound that’s clean, strong and easy to control. Something that works just as well for a basketball tournament as it does for a dance showcase.
Crunchy Tech deployed everything right on time, with no disruption to Elmcor’s programs. Now the gymnasium sounds as good as it feels. And Elmcor has the tools to keep pace with whatever the community brings through the door next.