The Netherlands’ Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie has completed an audio upgrade with a new L-Acoustics L Series professional sound system that marks a significant advance in the venue’s ability to deliver consistent, high-quality sound – whether for hosting corporate presentations, cabaret performances or dynamic musical acts.
For nearly three decades, the venue has drawn audiences from across Leeuwarden and beyond, welcoming audiences with performances ranging from intimate theatrical performances to high-energy concerts. Opened in January 1995 as a successor to the original Harmonie theatre, this multifunctional venue houses three auditoria, with the versatile 458-seat Rabozaal serving as the flagship space that can also be reconfigured to accommodate up to 850 standing guests for live music events.
‘The new system delivers the audio experience that modern audiences expect, with the L Series providing both the power and precision needed for contemporary live sound applications,’ explains René van der Linden of L-Acoustics Certified Provider Fairlight, who served as distributor for the project. ‘The installation enhances both speech intelligibility and musical performance, ensuring every seat in the house receives consistent, high-quality sound.’
One of the most impressive early validations came during the system’s first weekend of operation, when three distinctly different events put the new rig through its paces – a 1980s guitar music festival with a standing crowd, a seated cabaret performance, and an international soul act. The versatility and performance consistency across these varied applications immediately demonstrated the system’s capabilities.
‘Visiting engineers from all three events specifically praised the high-end audio system and even coverage, nothing they hadn’t experienced such consistent quality before,’ says Chris Mertens from technical partner Mertens AVR, who handled the system design, installation, and integration. ‘This feedback gives us great confidence for the rest of the season.’
‘The L Series was specifically chosen due to its compact size, which minimises visual impact and preserves crucial sightlines,’ Mertens continues. ‘The lightweight construction and easy mounting capabilities proved ideal for truss set-ups and locations with limited rigging points, whilst the improved sustainability credentials of L Series – featuring reduced materials compared to legacy systems and enhanced energy efficiency - aligned with the venue’s environmental objectives.’
The choice of L-Acoustics for the upgrade was driven by both technical expectation and industry recognition: ‘L-Acoustics products are known for transparency, directivity and consistency that make them the go-to choice for venues of this calibre,’ Mertens says. ‘The system’s versatility makes it suitable for the venue’s wide-ranging programme, while the compact units blend into the visual design of the stage and venue.’
The installation process required careful consideration of the venue’s architectural characteristics, including reflective hard walls and balcony fronts typical of the design. The system needed to accommodate three distinct layout configurations –seated, standing and balcony arrangements – while optimising loudspeaker positioning to provide comprehensive coverage without obstructing sightlines.
‘The directional nature of the L Series proved particularly beneficial in managing the venue’s reflective surfaces, helping to minimise unwanted reflections that could compromise sound quality,’ Mertens says. ‘The system’s precise control allows engineers to focus energy exactly where it’s needed whilst avoiding problematic room interactions.’
L-Acoustics Soundvision software played an essential role in the design process, enabling Mertens AVR to run digital simulations of loudspeaker positions and optimise coverage and SPL for the hall. The software helped identify and address problematic reflections early in the design phase, allowing the team to test alternative layouts and balance uniformity, clarity, and visual aesthetics before installation began.
Installed by Mertens AVR working with Fairlight, the final system configuration comprises LR hangs of single L2D line array speakers, providing the main coverage for the auditorium. Complementing these are LR hangs of four KS21i subwoofers positioned outside the main arrays, delivering the low-frequency foundation for both music performances and theatrical productions. To ensure complete coverage of the performance area, three A10 speakers are flown centrally above the stage, with an additional two A10 units providing wide in-fill coverage to eliminate any coverage gaps and maintain consistent audio quality throughout the venue’s flexible seating configurations.
The upgrade positions Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie at the forefront of technical excellence while supporting its mission to deliver exceptional cultural experiences to audiences. The system’s ease of deployment and rider-friendly configuration will benefit visiting engineers throughout the venue’s busy season, ensuring consistent quality across the diverse range of performances that call the Rabozaal home.
‘The L Series was the clear choice for the Harmonie both for its exceptional audio performance and also its sustainability credentials,’ says van der Linden. ‘ With this installation, Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie joins a growing number of forward-thinking venues that prioritise both outstanding sound quality and environmental responsibility.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com