CHINA: At The Dali EDITION, professional audio has been integrated into a resort designed to keep the surrounding landscape and natural materials at the forefront. Set at the foot of Cangshan Mountain with views across Erhai Lake, the property is the third EDITION hotel in Greater China and the first in Western China. Its sound system combines K-array and KGEAR loudspeakers to serve guest areas, dining spaces, banqueting facilities and outdoor entertainment without compromising the architecture.

Designed by CCD around a contemporary courtyard concept, the resort incorporates aged timber, bluestone and cobblestone inspired by local Bai ethnic traditions. Its low-rise buildings follow the natural terrain, with a spring-fed stream running through gardens, terraces and public areas. The 151 guest rooms, suites and private pool villas are complemented by four dining venues, a ballroom and meeting space, a spa, a fitness centre and outdoor lawns for weddings and private events.

The audio project was sourced through an audio consultant, with K-array selected for its ability to combine visual discretion with professional performance. Shanghai JETA, K-array’s official distributor in China, provided technical support from component selection through installation and on-site tuning. Jason Zhao, Director of Sales and Operations at K-ARRAY. CN LTD, worked with the consultant to match loudspeaker models, mounting solutions and coverage patterns to each zone, coordinating with the architecture, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and hotel operations teams as the design developed.

In the lobby, dining rooms and pool areas, where exposed timber and stone define the interiors, K-array Tornado KT2 point-source loudspeakers and KT2C ceiling speakers provide background music. Their compact form factor supports a low-visibility installation, while the distributed configuration provides even coverage across open floor plans.

The ballroom required a different approach. Used for conferences, weddings and live performances, the space can be partitioned for smaller events and therefore needs to accommodate varying audience sizes and programme formats. KY102 line arrays provide the main sound reinforcement, paired with recessed KS2P I subwoofers extending low-frequency response to 35Hz. Concealed within the wall structure, the subwoofers provide additional low-frequency capability without introducing visible enclosures into the room. The system is designed to balance speech intelligibility with the dynamic headroom required for live bands and DJ performances.

Outdoor entertainment areas bring further demands. The terrace lounge and outdoor bar use weatherproof KGEAR GF82 I line arrays with GU210 subwoofers, supporting background music during the day and higher-energy events in the evening. External DJ input ports accommodate parties and cocktail functions, while loudspeaker placement along the covered terrace perimeter preserves sightlines towards the mountain and lake.

Audio signals for background music, banquets and events pass through an audio matrix and zoning processor before reaching dedicated amplifier channels for the K-array and KGEAR systems. Each zone has independent volume and playlist control, while the ballroom’s digital mixing console connects to the matrix to support live-event operation.

The principal challenge was to accommodate a professional audio system within interiors built around exposed natural materials, while meeting the distinct acoustic requirements of each space. Dining and lobby areas needed consistent, unobtrusive background sound; the ballroom and outdoor bar demanded greater dynamic range and low-frequency output.

K-array’s team worked with the fit-out and low-voltage contractors during early design reviews to establish loudspeaker positions, mounting depths and cable routes. The team subsequently returned to site to verify placement and tune each zone after installation, aligning system performance with the requirements of the completed spaces.

“This project demonstrated K-array’s strength extends far beyond compact, minimalistic hardware,” Zhao said. “K-array and KGEAR form a complete hotel audio ecosystem, solving concealed installation while delivering scalable coverage, dynamic range and low-frequency support for background music, banquet PA and outdoor entertainment alike.”

The resulting installation treats audio as part of the resort’s wider architectural and operational design. Rather than applying a uniform loudspeaker specification throughout, it combines discreet background music systems, dedicated ballroom reinforcement and weatherproof outdoor solutions within a centrally managed infrastructure. The aim is to preserve the property’s understated aesthetic while giving hotel staff the flexibility to support everyday guest experiences and more demanding private events.