Neushoorn (audio)

Neushoorn is an important example of adding spatial audio capability into an established live music environment. Delivered through a collaboration between More AV, Funktion-One and Holophonix, the 750-capacity venue in Leeuwarden is now home to one of the first truly immersive live sound systems in the Netherlands.

This is a redesign of the venue’s largest performance space as an immersive environment, built to support a programme of live shows, club events and artistic performances. Delivered in under a year, the project demonstrates what is possible when venue, integrator and manufacturers work towards a shared goal.

The system was designed as a complete immersive environment, with loudspeaker layout and spatial processing developed together to serve the same goal: consistent, room-wide immersion. A distributed system of 12 Funktion-One PSM15 loudspeakers forms the backbone of the spatial design. Five are flown above the stage for the main floor, three above those for the balcony, and two are positioned down each side of the room.

These loudspeakers create the overlapping coverage required for stable localisation and a coherent soundfield throughout the venue. The clarity, low distortion and consistent frequency response of the system are critical here, allowing sounds to move through the space without changing character or losing definition. Supporting this are five F61 front fills, four F1201.2 loudspeakers across the rear of the downstairs space, and 13 F61 loudspeakers providing balcony back-fill. The original left-right Funktion-One Evo and Bass Reflex system remains part of the overall design.

Spatial processing is provided by Holophonix, enabling sound sources to be positioned and moved throughout the room in a way that remains natural and musically convincing. Amplification is handled by Full Fat Audio 8004HD DSP amplifiers with Dante integration, alongside NST Audio processing including the DM-88. Van Damme cabling is used throughout.

The project was delivered through close collaboration between Neushoorn, More AV, Funktion-One and Holophonix, with a shared focus on creating a system that sets a new benchmark. More AV led the system design and integration, coordinating closely with the venue and manufacturers. Loudspeaker placement was a critical part of the process, with careful consideration given to positioning to achieve consistent coverage throughout the room.

The development of the PSM15 ran in parallel with the project, and its suitability for the application helped shape the final design. This alignment between product development and system design contributed to the pace and collaboration involved in the project. Once installed, the system was tuned as a whole, ensuring that the spatial layer and the underlying system worked together seamlessly. The focus throughout was on how the room performs in use, across a wide range of events.
Truly immersive audio relies on excellent coverage. Without an even distribution of sound, spatial reproduction becomes inconsistent and loses efficacy across the room.

The solution was to redesign the system around a distributed loudspeaker approach that could deliver the consistency required. The Funktion-One PSM15 stage monitor proved particularly well suited to this role due to its exceptionally consistent directivity and its ability to deliver high SPL with minimal distortion.

The venue itself presented another challenge. Neushoorn is not a purpose-built immersive space, so the system had to work within the existing architecture. Careful positioning, aiming and tuning ensured that the layout worked with the room rather than against it. Usability was also critical.

The system needs to appeal to engineers who have no prior experience of spatial audio as well as those looking to expand their creativity. This was addressed by ensuring the system remains intuitive and accessible. Finally, the project timeline was tight. Close collaboration between all parties allowed design, development and delivery to progress in parallel, resulting in a fully realised system in under a year.

The biggest change is in how audiences experience shows. The spatial system adds depth and movement that wasn’t possible before. Sound is no longer fixed at the stage, it can move through the space, expand and contract the room, and be accurately placed/located. In practice, it’s often subtle. It could be a vocal holding its position while everything around it expands or elements of a mix sitting wider and with more separation. When it’s used more dynamically, the effect becomes more obvious as an additional layer.

Because the system is so evenly distributed, those spatial effects hold together across the room rather than degrading outside a central position. The audience hears the same thing, which increases scope for a communal, shared experience. The system also allows the venue to run at lower overall levels. Neushoorn has seen reductions of up to 6dBA while delivering a more dynamic and engaging experience.

Neushoorn stands out because it delivers spatial audio in a genuine live music environment.

The project respects the fact that an effective spatial audio system begins with excellent coverage, consistency and sonic integrity. By addressing those fundamentals, More AV, Funktion-One and Holophonix have created a very special spatial audio system that is having real impact on a wide range of events and musical genres. It also respects the realities of live production.

The system is accessible, flexible and suited to everyday use, making it relevant to the wider industry rather than limited to specialist applications. Delivered in under a year through genuine collaboration between venue, integrator and manufacturers, the project combines ambition with practical execution. Most importantly, it delivers clear results: a more even and engaging listening experience, reduced sound pressure levels, and new creative possibilities for artists and engineers. Neushoorn provides a convincing and repeatable model for how immersive audio can be implemented in live venues.