A pioneering facility at the University of Bristol is aiming for a new benchmark in immersive audio, research and cinematic experience. The MyWorld Smart Cinema, part of the wider MyWorld programme in the West of England, has selected the Dynaudio Acoustics M-Series MkII monitors as the backbone of its state-of-the-art installation.
Designed as a hybrid environment combining advanced audiovisual technology with biometric research capabilities, the MyWorld Smart Cinema is more than a traditional screening room. The Dolby Atmos-enabled space is certified for theatrical playback and dubbing, supporting formats including 5.1, 7.1, and 9.1.6, alongside emerging spatial audio technologies.
At the core of the Smart Cinema concept is its ability to analyse audience engagement in real time. Equipped with eye-tracking systems, EEG headsets, heart-rate monitors and infrared cameras, the space enables detailed biometric data capture for research and content evaluation.
‘This isn’t just a cinema,’ asserts Studio Technician, Emilia Quistelli. ‘It’s a research environment where we can understand audience response at an incredibly detailed level, whether for filmmaking, healthcare studies, or experimental media.’
Following the evaluation of multiple systems, a Dynaudio M-Series MkII was undertaken, comprising three M3FX (LCR) loudspeakers, 30 MF30 surround loudspeakers and six MS18 subwoofers supported by 40kW of Delta Series amplification.
The system was specified by Dynaudio Acoustics’ Phil Pyatt, and designed to meet stringent requirements for high sound pressure levels, low distortion, and full compliance with Dolby standards - all within a challenging acoustic environment.
‘What I didn’t want was colleagues, clients or researchers saying “wow, that sounds great”…’ says Dave Blackham, Facilities Lead at MyWorld. ‘Yes, it does sound great, but you want it sounding great from the point of view of the content, rather than the loudspeakers or the technology. What mattered most was transparency. It’s uncoloured, but not to the point of being boring - it’s a very nice space to work in.
‘Phil Pyatt of Dynaudio Acoustics specified everything based on our requirements,’ he adds. ‘I’d much rather rely on his advice, he’s the expert in that regard. The same with the amplifiers, that’s all Dynaudio Acoustics. He and Dynaudio did a fantastic job. I didn’t feel the need to question it at all.’
The facility forms part of a £30m collaborative initiative involving the University of Bristol, University of Bath, Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England, alongside a number of industry partners supporting innovation in creative technologies and audience research.
In addition to the main cinema, Dynaudio monitoring solutions have been installed throughout the facility’s edit suites, ensuring consistent sound reproduction across production and playback environments.
The project was delivered in collaboration with systems integrator Megahertz Ltd, and supplied by Dynaudio’s UK distributor Synthax Audio UK.
The facility is already attracting interest from organisations looking to develop similar next-generation spaces. ‘We’ve already had interest from other clients looking to build similar spaces,’ Blackham reports. ‘And I’d have no hesitation in recommending Dynaudio Acoustics for those projects.’
More: www.synthax.co.uk/dynaudio/dynaudio-acoustics-m-series