Opened in 1957, the Lowy Hall in Tel Aviv commissioned an extensive audio upgrade to match its architectural significance and acoustic pedigree. The result is a fully immersive L-Acoustics L-ISA configuration that would serve its demanding mix of classical, jazz, and pop concerts, choirs, conferences, and ceremonies.
To design and oversee the upgrade, Lowy Concert Hall engaged AV consultant Harel Tabibi, who wrote a detailed tender. The process of selecting the right speaker manufacturer and the integrator company was critical since this was the first permanent installation of an immersive system in Israel.
At the end of this process, L-Acoustics Certified Partner Sincopa 2002, won the tender and signed the contract, sub-contracting Charmer Group to carry out the integration. The project began in 2024 when Sincopa and Harel started developing the design in partnership with the L-Acoustics Application team. The one-year development timeline reflected the complexity of integrating cutting-edge immersive technology into a historically significant space that maintains a demanding performance schedule.
The technical challenge centered on achieving precise loudspeaker positioning while preserving existing infrastructure. Lighting trusses, fly bars, and motorised acoustic panels remained in place, requiring careful coordination. "We had to replace ceiling infrastructure and all lighting to accommodate the L-ISA stage-wide configuration," notes Omri (BaBu) Levy from Sincopa 2002.
As part of the preparatory work, Sincopa brought the venue's technical team to L-Acoustics' Marcoussis facility to experience the newly released L2 line source firsthand. L2 satisfied two critical requirements: its elegant design complemented the hall's historic character, while delivering the technical sophistication needed for a fully immersive sound solution.
Sincopa used Soundvision to model and refine the design before deployment. "Soundvision was the critical tool on this project," says Efrat. "It let me assess how different approaches would perform, then finalize and implement the optimal solution."
The final configuration features five hangs of one L2 over an L2D, with two extension hangs of four A10 clusters on each side for consistent coverage across the venue's wider seating areas and a centre-hung array of six KS28 in cardioid mode, all integrated into the ceiling structure. The ceiling's net-like construction allows low frequencies to pass through unobstructed, delivering powerful bass response throughout the hall without compromising sightlines or visual integrity. Ten Kiva II provide spatial front-fill coverage. The hall's distinctive side balconies receive focused treatment from four X6i per side, delivering precise coverage to these challenging areas without spilling into the main seating bowl. Two KS21 subwoofers on a chariot system, with A15 Wide and A15 Focus, are on hand as a mobile system that can be repositioned as side fills or to provide additional reinforcement for specific productions.
The processing architecture includes 12 LA7.16i amplified controllers—10 dedicated to L2 arrays, one handling both A10 clusters and X6i balcony fills—with LA12X amplified controllers driving the subwoofer array. On-stage racks include LA7.16i for the Kiva front-fill system, and LA12X amplified controllers for a mobile backup configuration.
Since the venue doesn't maintain a house console, Sincopa designed the system with flexibility to accommodate the variety of mixing desks that arrive with different productions. A technical room beside FOH houses all necessary electronics, including multiple computers running different applications, a master clock, and two LS10 Milan-AVB switches.
The audio infrastructure uses a clear signal flow from FOH to an isolated, air-conditioned amplifier room, with additional stage connectivity, all linked via fibre optics. L-Acoustics P1 processors at FOH and on stage convert analogue and AES3 input points into Milan-AVB streams, which travel over the redundant LS10 network to the L-ISA Controller and amplified controllers. The L-Acoustics Milan-AVB ecosystem; LS10 switches, AVB-capable amplifiers, and P1 processors, forms the system backbone in a fully redundant configuration.