AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis is a European football (soccer) stadium in Larnaca, Cyprus. Completed in 2016, it serves as the home for AEK Larnaca FC and has a seating capacity of 8,000. AEK Arena is classified as a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Category 4 stadium, meeting the specifications required to host UEFA European competitions. The seating stands are named after regions and villages of the Larnaca province, reflecting the club’s deep local roots.
Getting to a Category 4 rating required the venue to be partially reconfigured, including adding box seats and upgrading the sound system to cover the entire stadium. The venue contracted with DSP Innovative Solutions and their sister company Kalsedia Ltd to design and implement the upgrades, and they included LEA Professional amplifiers as part of the retrofit.
“The all-in-one amplifier plus DSP capabilities made LEA a perfect choice for the stadium,” said Solonas Nikitas, CEO of DSP Innovative Solutions. “LEA’s speaker tunings made it very easy for us when we swapped out the old gear.”
DSP Innovative Solutions installed Connect Series 704D amplifiers and Connect Series 168D amplifiers to power the stadium’s loudspeakers. The IoT-enabled 4-channel 704D provides 700 watts per channel, while the 8-channel 168D offers 160 watts per channel. Both models support Hi-Z (70V or 100V) and Lo-Z, selectable by channel, and feature Smart Power Bridge technology. Connect Series also includes 96kHz DSP, which is standard in all models and offers a range of benefits that significantly enhance audio performance and system versatility. Dante-enabled models like the 704D and 168D include 96kHz-capable Dante and AES67 connectivity options, plus Dante simplifies system installation with scalable, high-resolution audio over IP (AoIP).
The Connect Series delivers an industry-first professional amplifier family to feature cloud connectivity, a revolutionary advancement and a significant benefit for anyone maintaining the systems. With LEA Cloud, AV teams like DSP Innovative Solutions can remotely control and monitor the amplifiers regardless of the location or time of day, and with no subscription model or hidden costs, it’s completely free to use.
In an era where fan experience is paramount, good stadium audio plays a vital role in creating an immersive and unforgettable environment, amplifying crowd chants, national anthems, and goal celebrations, deepening emotional engagement.
“Nothing quite matches the energy of a football stadium at capacity, cheering on their club,” said Nikitas. “LEA amplifiers go a long way towards feeding that enthusiasm, making every match one to remember. I highly recommend LEA amplifiers to anyone in the market.”
