Highgate House, Northampton

Large historic mansion with yellow stone walls, multiple chimneys, and gabled roofs, set in a well-kept garden with trees and outdoor seating on a sunny day—this elegant property evokes the charming character of Highgate House near Northampton.
Pink sign with bold dark letters reading HIGHGATE HOUSE and smaller text below stating Northampton, all set against a rich purple background.

Project Details

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The Aspen Room AV system was relocated and reconfigured to improve usability while maintaining a familiar setup for staff. The main equipment, including the rack, amplifiers and mixers, was moved to the rear of the hall and integrated into the existing relocated desk.

A spacious, well-lit room at Highgate House, Northampton, featuring a stage, lectern, piano, and audio equipment. The floor is carpeted, and large windows with curtains allow natural light in. There are ceiling lights and exit doors visible.

Project Overview

The Aspen Room AV installation has been relocated and reconfigured to improve the overall usability of the room while retaining the familiar operating experience for staff.

The main equipment rack, amplifiers, mixersand associated equipment were relocated to the rear of the hall and installed within the existing desk relocated from High Leigh.

Installation & Cabling Works

A number of existing services required extending or adapting to accommodate the new equipment location and the revised room layout. The works completed included:

  • Extension of speaker cables to the relocated equipment position.
  • Extension of the relay cable controlling the screen motor.
  • Extension of the SY input plate connection.
  • Extension and reconnection of the hearing loop system.
  • Installation of additional cabling from the stage for HDMI input via CAT5.
  • Installation of 16 additional mixer input connections from the stage.
  • Routing of cabling either within the ceiling void or beneath the floor, as appropriate, to maintain a neat and practical installation.
Spacious room at Highgate House in Northampton, with large windows and glass doors opening to a patio. The room has grey carpet, ceiling lights, floral curtains, a whiteboard, and a few people near the exit.
A wooden lectern with control panels and cables stands in an empty, well-lit conference room at Highgate House in Northampton, featuring carpeted floors and a green feature wall in the background.

Power Requirements

The desk at High Leigh previously had a permanent power installation. In order to relocate the desk, this existing power provision had to be removed. The relocated desk is currently being powered using multiple extension leads from a single socket.

For a more permanent and professional installation, it is recommended that suitable fixed power outlets are reinstated at the desk position. This would reduce reliance on extension leads and provide a safer, tidier andmore practical long-term solution.

System Configuration & Notable Changes

The system remains intentionally similar to the previous setup, allowing existing users to operate the room with minimal familiarisation. The following changes have been introduced:

  • Additional stage input for laptop connection.
  • Laptop audio is now taken from the splitter rather than requiring audio to be sourced from the Denon.
  • 16 additional XLR inputs have been provided at the stage.
  • A repeater screen has been installed on the left-hand side of the room.
  • Handheld and belt-pack radio microphones remain in place.
A wooden audio-visual control desk with a large sound mixer, audio equipment, and a laptop, positioned in a spacious hall at Highgate House near Northampton, featuring open doors, screens, and rows of chairs.
A wooden rack from Highgate House in Northampton holds three black amplifier units labelled AMP with control knobs and switches, as well as a power strip with four plugs and visible cables.

Testing & Demonstration

Following completion of the installation, a demonstration was carried out with five members of staff. The system was operated through the principal inputs and functions, and all available inputs were tried and tested.

Feedback from the demonstration was positive, with the system remaining very similar in operation to the previous arrangement. This should allow staff to transition to the revised installation with minimal disruption.

Further Adaptation Requests

Two potential improvements were identified following the staff demonstration:

  • Screen control: the current screen control is incorporated into a plate that also contains source controls which are no longer required. It is recommended that this be simplified to a dedicated up/down control plate for easier operation.
  • USB-C connectivity: provide a USB-C input at both the stage and desk positions. This would allow clientsusing modern laptops and devices without a native HDMI connection to connect directly, avoiding thereliability issues sometimes experienced with HDMI adapters.
A small stage with a speaker, sign, and black-draped piano sits in a carpeted room with pale green walls, white trim, and large ceiling lights at Highgate House in Northampton. Sliding glass doors are on the left side.
Spacious conference room at Highgate House in Northampton with brown carpet, large ceiling lights, a stage with screens and speakers, a TV display on a stand, and windows with curtains along the right wall.

Completion Summary

The Aspen Room installation has been successfully relocated, reconfigured and tested. The revised system provides additional stage connectivity, improved input flexibility and a familiar operating environment for staff.

All existing handheld and belt-pack microphones remain operational, and the available system inputs have been tested. Subject to the recommended power provision and the optional future adaptations identified above, the installation is considered ready for normal use.