Sound Tests Passed by Amphitheater

Sound technicians from the Orange County Fairgrounds’ Pacific Amphitheatre conducted a sound test this month to determine whether concerts at the county fair in July might pose a noise problem for nearby neighbors.

“We did different tests in different neighborhoods and we had our switchboard open for calls,” said Jill Lloyd, a spokeswoman for the fairgrounds. “But nobody called in to complain--except for two people who wanted to know when we were going to begin the sound tests, which we were already doing.”

Noise from the 8,500-seat amphitheater at Fairview Street and Fair Avenue has long upset some residents. But last year, the fairgrounds bought back the facility from the Nederlander Organization, which had operated it for 10 years, in an attempt to remedy the problem.

“I get the feeling that this year they really want to work with us and keep the sound at a minimum,” said resident Laurie Rusk, who has been fighting the fairgrounds over the noise for more than a decade, including filing lawsuits.

Rusk said sound technicians visited her Serra Way home, which is two-thirds of a mile from the amphitheater, to gauge the decibel levels. She said she was pleased with the noise level overall because she heard “very little,” except when she walked out for a moment and heard a high-pitched sound.

“But it was nothing like it used to be,” she said. “The music used to be as loud as I would listen to it within my own house.”

In all, two sound systems were tested, Lloyd said, adding that both are designed with so-called “sound governors,” which limit sound.

“Any group that comes in will not be able to play loud to the point where the neighbors will be disturbed,” she said. “It’s the kind of sound equipment that controls the sounds and keeps it at a certain level.”