A full audio system upgrade built on Amadeus Acoustics’ ART platform has been installed at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf in Germany.
Situated on the banks of the Rhine, the Tonhalle Düsseldorf was originally built in 1926 as a planetarium, it has long since transformed into a concert hall. Its iconic blue dome, now fitted with LEDs, it creates a visual spectacle reminiscent of a starry sky, while its history as the home of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra has seen it called a “planetarium of music”.
In 2005, an electronic reverberation system was installed to optimise the hall’s acoustics for a wide range of performances. Over time, however, technical issues began to compromise its performance. The Tonhalle needed an upgrade, one that would respect its architecture while enhancing its sound for every type of concert, from intimate vocal recitals to full orchestral works.
Following extensive listening tests and demonstrations, Peutz Consult, the acoustic planners who had also worked on the original system, worked in parallel with Jürgen Meyer of Kottke Bühnenplanung to rework the existing electroacoustic infrastructure, redesigning the system based on the hall’s current inventory and developing the technical specifications for the tender.
After a competitive process, Thomann commissioned Amadeus Acoustics to deliver a system that would bring the hall’s acoustics into the 21st century. The challenge was significant. The Tonhalle’s dome and curved side walls, remnants of its planetarium past, make sound reflections unpredictable. To achieve a listening experience comparable to a more conventional music hall, the team had to carefully control early reflections while preserving the hall’s character and warmth.
The design combined new technology with thoughtful design. Active Acoustics is tailored to each type of performance, with immersive sound with Virtual Sources for 5.1/7.1 surround applications, and voice lift to optimise speech and vocal clarity.
The system upgrade was built on Amadeus Acoustics’ ART platform, powered by the ART:Hub2 hardware and utilising the ART::AP (Active Acoustics Performance) module. As an ecosystem of hardware, software, services, and content, it integrates with third-party systems and the hall’s existing inventory. This included new power amplifiers and microphone preamplifiers, while retaining the Tonhalle’s existing stock of 64 microphones and 96 loudspeakers, with replacements installed only where necessary.
top photo: Susanne Diesner
bottom photo: Anne Schaefer