Bulgaria’s Panagyurishte Museum is now home to an Optimal Audio system that enhances an exhibition centred on the cultural richness of the region.
With a focus on the gold Panagyurishte treasure and other artefacts, the museum required an audio system to match the scale, depth and emotion of its visual storytelling while remaining accessible enough for non-technical staff to operate.
Audio-Technica Central Europe stepped up to recommend an Optimal Audio system, transforming this first of its kind gallery in the region into an immersive audio environment.
The central exhibition area operates in a 5.1 surround format delivered by five Optimal Audio Cuboid 6 loudspeakers alongside two Optimal Audio Sub 10 subwoofers that provide low end support. An additional seven Optimal Audio UP 6 ceiling loudspeakers complement the main system in the peripheral gallery spaces.
The gallery’s flat walls and drywall construction presented acoustic challenges such as resonant frequencies and extended reverberation times which required precisely controlled sound reinforcement without the need for a dedicated sound engineer on site.
Power is delivered through four Optimal Audio Amp 100 amplifiers, with an additional Amp 200 driving the subwoofers and four of the Up 6 loudspeakers. An ATDM-1012DAN digital mixer acts as both mixing engine and routing matrix. The system also distributes 13 inputs across eight outputs to support the 5.1 surround configuration and peripheral zones. This brings a dynamic and detailed sound field that enhances the impact of the installation’s 3D mapping and delivers consistent coverage throughout the gallery.
Stoyan Bozov, system designer, Audio-Technica Europe, explained: “Having just finished my doctoral thesis on the topic of immersive audio in the education field, I designed the system around Optimal Audio because a 5.1 surround system can be a bit of a challenge in rooms without controlled acoustics, but the Optimal Audio Cuboid 6 with two Optimal Audio Sub10s handled it well.
“The SPL delivered by the Optimal Audio system is surprising and it was a great experience to hear the delivery of powerful full-bodied sound from such small enclosures. At the gallery’s internal opening, the same question arose: how did speakers of this size manage such fidelity and clarity? so we were very pleased with the outcome. We were proud to make it possible for visitors to see some very old and forgotten artefacts on display in the most modern way with the best possible immersive experience.”