The Tallinn City Theatre is now home to a Genelec Smart IP sound system that is fit for a modern audience.
The theatre is well known for its high production values and creative storytelling, requiring an upgrade to its sound system to match the modernity of its facilities. This system had to provide all public spaces with ambient soundscapes and even coverage without disrupting the theatre’s visual appear.
To achieve this, a Genelec Smart IP system was selected, meeting the need for a high-fidelity, full-bodied loudspeaker system that evenly covers the public spaces with the option to digitally adjust the matrix.
The needs of each space are diverse: gentle background music and voice announcements were a key focus for public spaces such as the lobby, dining and bar areas, common rooms, and smaller theatre auditoriums. The system for the theatre halls were required to run on a Dante network, a requirement that extended to the common areas to ensure that all areas follow the same protocol.
More than 100 Genelec loudspeakers were selected for this project, with regional distributor, msonic Baltic, supplying a total of 120 Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers throughout the theatre complex.
A combination of 44 Genelec 4430s and 76 4420 Smart IP loudspeakers were installed by Optimus Systems throughout the audience areas, making up 24 distinctive zones of audio. The system was planned with the positioning of the loudspeakers in mind, ensuring wide directivity and even coverage with no dead spots.
The loudspeakers are mounted on walls or flown from the ceiling, standing out from the wood-panelled, brickwork, and white painted walls. The oval form factor of the Smart IP series and discreet single-CAT cable installation allowed the loudspeakers to blend with the theatre’s historic setting.
Genelec’s Smart IP Manager software was used to route, tune, and manage the loudspeaker. For networking and power in the common areas, Netgear M-4250 switches were used, while the entire system was run over Dante.
A temporary system is in place to take care of processing and control until a permanent system has been chosen and implemented.