THAILAND: Marking five decades as one of Thailand’s most iconic stage productions, Tiffany’s Show Pattaya has undertaken a transformative audio upgrade—shifting from a long-standing stereo system to a fully immersive sound environment powered by Martin Audio and TiMax. The project was delivered by Bangkok-based Mr. Team Productions Co., in collaboration with Martin Audio, TiMax, and regional partners Fuzion Far East and Generation AV.

Renowned globally for its elaborate choreography, striking costumes, and high production values, Tiffany’s Show had already invested heavily in visual enhancements, including large-format LED screens, refreshed video content, and upgraded scenic elements. However, its legacy stereo PA system—operating continuously for nearly a decade—had begun to lag behind the venue’s evolving production ambitions.

“The system had been running eight hours a day, every day, for almost a decade,” explains Pok Sutat Kohkiat of Mr. Team Productions Co. “It had done its job, but with the 50th anniversary coming, the owners knew it was time to upgrade. At first, the idea was just to replace the existing stereo system. But once we looked at the production, we realised there was an opportunity to do something much more ambitious.”

That ambition was underpinned by a shift in the show’s audio content itself, with Tiffany’s moving towards custom-composed multitrack music. This provided the foundation for an immersive audio approach, built around TiMax SoundHub and a newly specified Martin Audio system.

“For their 50th anniversary, we encouraged them to do something truly special – especially since the video, LED, and lighting were already at a very high standard,” describes Pok. “The audio needed to be on the same level.”

To demonstrate the concept, Mr. Team created a 7.1.4 immersive environment in their studio, enabling direct A/B comparison between traditional stereo and spatialised mixes. “We set up a 7.1.4 environment using TiMax SoundHub as the processor, and we prepared A/B comparisons between stereo and spatial mixes,” Pok recalls. “We wanted them to experience the difference in a controlled studio setting before talking about changing anything in the theatre.”

The response from the Tiffany’s team was immediate. “They described it as a completely new experience.”

Working alongside Fuzion Far East and Generation AV, Mr. Team developed a comprehensive immersive design tailored to the theatre’s physical constraints. The main PA is centred around a Martin Audio TORUS LCR system, comprising T1215 and T1230 elements, selected to suit the relatively shallow auditorium while ensuring wide, consistent coverage.

“The distance from downstage to the last row is not that deep,” notes Pok. “TORUS is perfect for that curvature and throw. It’s very punchy and gives a strong, stable image across the room.”

Low-frequency reinforcement is delivered via flown Martin Audio SX218 subwoofers positioned centrally behind the main cluster, a necessary approach given that floor space is fully dedicated to choreography and scenic movement. Surround and delay coverage is achieved using Martin Audio ADORN A80 loudspeakers, with additional coverage extending to the balcony and two VIP rooms, where ADORN A55 loudspeakers are deployed.

“The theatre isn’t huge, so we rely on the A80s around the room for the immersive field,” says Pok. “We needed a lot of loudspeakers because there’s a balcony and multiple seating tiers, and we had to respect sightlines and choreography. Everything is flown, with custom rigging points.”

Delivering the installation presented a significant logistical challenge. With Tiffany’s Show operating daily and no available dark nights, the entire system upgrade had to be executed without interrupting performances.

“We had nearly two weeks to run entirely new cabling and put loudspeakers in place, but the old system had to stay live during that period,” Pok explains. “We only had one night to do the final switchover from the old system to the new LCR and TiMax infrastructure. That meant removing and repositioning loudspeakers, re-patching amplifiers, and matching all the original routing and presets, as well as introducing the new immersive paths. For a production company, we’re used to that kind of intense overnight changeover, but it was still a big challenge.”

The show control infrastructure is built around QLab, which provides timecode to the TiMax SoundHub and associated systems. Mr. Team has also taken responsibility for remixing selected show content into immersive formats at its studio, followed by on-site scaling and refinement of object positioning and spatial imaging.

“The first spatialised and immersive show, Crystal, opened on 28 February,” says Pok. “The entire new system was in and working in time for that grand launch. The response has been very positive. The client loves it, the audience feels a much more enveloping experience, and for Tiffany’s this is a big statement at their 50-year milestone – especially as a flagship destination in the LGBTQ+ and tourist sectors.”

With this upgrade, Tiffany’s Show Pattaya not only celebrates its legacy but also signals a decisive step into the future of immersive live entertainment—aligning its audio capabilities with the visual spectacle that has long defined its global appeal.