One of Canada's top research institutions, Simon Fraser University (SFU), has opened an acoustics lab equipped with 128 Renkus-Heinz C Series loudspeakers to support its research in the field.
Located across British Columbia’s three largest cities – Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver – SFU offers programs ranging from Anthropology to Marine Science. The university's drive to leverage technology for societal benefit led to the creation of a new lab focused on 3D multimedia applications, including surround sound, video, and spatial acoustics, commonly referred to as "immersive communication."
The lab is centered around two TiMax spatial processors, which is used for the range of experiments planned in the lab, such as simulating complex sound fields and testing noise-canceling concepts. In addition to the 128 Renkus-Heinz CX41 speakers, 128 Advanced Audio microphones were installed, all integrated via a Dante network to allow for communication between components.
An area of interest for the lab is enhancing room acoustics, particularly in overly reflective environments. By using advanced modeling and soundfield control, researchers hope to develop systems that analyze a room's acoustics and compensate for excessive reverberation, improving intelligibility and sound quality in challenging spaces.