The CEKiS Culture and Art Centre in the city of Skierniewice, in the central Polish province of Łódź, recently completed a major renovation of its 300-seat multipurpose culture and art centre handled by Warsaw-based MBS. Able to support live concerts, theatre shows and film projection, the new system centres on an Outline Eidos loudspeaker system and Newton processing.
The tender for the contract was presented as a ‘design and build’ model, allowing contractors to submit proposals for a design and equipment solution, instead of a predetermined list of equipment.
‘Thanks to that, when MBS was invited to design and deliver the technological solution, we were free to propose the client a custom set-up that included a hybrid electroacoustical system, capable of ensuring top-quality concert sound as well as premium cinema sound – an all in one system and managed by a top industry audio processor, the Outline Newton,’ says MBS CEO, Piotr Lugowski.
The LCR system comprises ten Eidos 265 as LR FOH with two FlySub 15 companion subwoofers, two Sub 218 boxes for FOH and concerts as an LFE channel (part of the hybrid solution), four Eidos 265 boxes as a centre channel array for cinema and immersive sound, 20 FX101 boxes for the surround and ceiling as 5.1 and 7.1 surround and Atmos/immersive speakers, three Vegas 24 as front fill and six iSM112 as stage monitors. The set-up was controlled and processed by a Newton processor and a Dolby CP950a cinema sound processor.
‘The client chose Outline products after a presentation and intense tests during two days of concerts at the 2020 Rock May Festival organised by the city of Skierniewice,’ says project leader and technology consultant, Lugowski. ‘The performance and quality of the Eidos 265 system impressed CEKiS sound engineers and they requested it as the main FOH system.
‘During 2021, we designed a solution with support from Dolby to create a hybrid electroacoustical system at CEKiS, which enabled to switch with the push of a button from FOH for concerts to Atmos cinema projection and immersive theatre plays, according to requirements. This configuration uses the Outline Eidos 265 as LCR for Atmos cinema has been approved by Dolby, which makes it unique. The Outline system outperforms many other solutions offered to the client before and, when used with the Newton processor, provides a robust, hiigh-quality solution for present-day concerts and cinema projections, but also for future formats focusing on immersive sound.’
As well as the Eidos 265 system’s quality sound during the tests, the second aspect that convinced the client was the possibility of expanding the FOH system into a hybrid solution able to support 5.1, 7.1 and immersive formats such as Dolby Atmos, with a one-brand speaker format guaranteeing coherent sound.
Lugowski says that working with Dolby on designing a hybrid sound system that could serve not only FOH for concerts, but also surround and Atmos cinema sound was challenging. After two months of constructive communication, MBS finally received Dolby’s approval for its system design, which enables to use the same front speakers, along with a centre line array (Eidos 265) not only as a FOH system, but also for LCR in cinema: both 5.1/7.1 surround and Atmos. The same is the case with the pair of Outline Sub 218 subwoofers, which – at the push of a button on the Newton processor – become a dedicated LFE cinema channel.
Following installation supervised by MBS installation manager Jacek Zbudniewek, the client was pleased with the solution provided by Outline and MBS – probably the first hybrid immersive sound system in any culture venue in Poland and probably the first hybrid Atmos PA solution accepted by Dolby using an Outline line array system from for LCR as well as FOH during concerts and theatrical plays.
‘This installation opens a new chapter on the Polish market, proving that Outline PA systems are not only a guarantee of premium sound quality, but are able to provide smart flexible solutions for hybrid venues,’ Lugowski concludes. ‘It’s therefore a very important reference which proves our ability to realise very complex projects, including immersive solutions, providing amazing sound for both concerts and immersive projects, such as theatrical plays and Atmos cinema projection.’
