THAILAND: VIC Hua Hin is preparing to reopen its doors with a new generation of performances, education initiatives and immersive productions, supported by a newly upgraded audio system designed and installed by Sonos Libra. Built around Adamson loudspeakers and an Allen & Heath SQ-5 digital mixing console, the new system is designed to deliver the clarity, consistency and operational flexibility required for the theatre’s evolving programme.

Part of the creative learning environment founded by Thailand’s National Artist Patravadi Mejudhon, VIC Hua Hin has long served as a space for performing arts, creativity and education. The theatre has also been used as a filming location for numerous Patravadi artistic productions and is now preparing for a new chapter that includes a traditional Thai musical and an immersive multimedia performance combining LED technology and projection mapping.

The redevelopment highlighted the limitations of the venue’s previous sound system, which had deteriorated through years of operation and no longer provided consistent coverage or the performance required for contemporary theatre productions. Polish sound engineer and audio consultant Patryk Tylza was invited by Patravadi to assess the venue and recommend a suitable solution, with speech intelligibility identified as a central priority. For a theatre environment, ensuring that every line of dialogue reaches the audience clearly was considered just as important as delivering the impact required for musical performances.

Sonos Libra subsequently designed, installed and tuned a new system centred on Adamson Point Source loudspeakers. The choice was driven by the technology’s predictable coverage, power density and compact form factor, allowing the system to deliver consistent sound while remaining visually unobtrusive within the theatre’s architectural environment.

The system uses a three-channel LCR configuration with three Adamson CS10p loudspeakers positioned at the left, centre and right of the stage. Subwoofers were flown above the stage, preserving sightlines and the visual character of the performance environment while providing low-frequency reinforcement across the audience area.

Audio control is centred on an Allen & Heath SQ-5 digital mixing console. Having worked with the SQ platform since its launch in 2018, Patryk identified its combination of sound quality, routing capabilities, I/O and intuitive workflow as particularly suited to the venue. The console also provides a comparatively accessible operating environment, enabling theatre staff to become familiar with the system without an extensive learning curve.

To support the theatre’s ongoing operations and its role in developing Thailand’s performing arts community, Sonos Libra donated an Allen & Heath SQ-5 and DX168 to VIC Hua Hin.

Installation safety was another key consideration. Working with installation partner Alba Integrate, Sonos Libra incorporated heavy-duty mounting hardware, structural clamps, certified fixing points and secondary safety slings throughout the installation. The Adamson subwoofers were flown using dedicated flybars with additional safety slings, while careful attention was also given to electrical infrastructure and grounding given the use of active loudspeakers.

Following installation, tuning and commissioning, the new system delivered more even coverage and improved clarity throughout the theatre. Performers also reported a noticeable improvement, with actors able to maintain dialogue intelligibility without having to push microphone levels excessively.