Holt Renfrew, 2nd Floor

GAV MGMT was engaged to upgrade the second-floor audio environment at Holt Renfrew, delivering a more immersive, consistent, and premium sound experience within a luxury retail setting. The client brief called for clear, full-range audio, stronger low-frequency performance, and even-coverage, while preserving the refined architectural aesthetic of the space. The system needed to enhance the atmosphere without visually intruding.

This project also formed part of a broader client initiative to elevate the in-store shopping experience, after seeing an increase in sales following GAV MGMT’s previous Holt Renfrew floor audio upgrade, implementing a premium audio system using 1 SOUND done prior.

GAV MGMT designed and installed a distributed audio solution for Holt Renfrew’s third floor using 1 SOUND Cannon C5i loudspeakers and MiniSUB5 subwoofers. The system was engineered to deliver clear, full-range sound with controlled low-frequency reinforcement across a luxury retail environment where consistency and discretion were critical.

The process began with assessing the layout, customer flow, ceiling conditions, and acoustic behaviour of the floor. Using 1 SOUND’s Auralis prediction and 3D design software, the team was able to model the space and optimize loudspeaker coverage before finalizing placement. This helped GAV MGMT position the system more precisely to achieve even coverage while protecting the clean visual standard of the store.

By combining column-mounted and ceiling-integrated elements, GAV MGMT created a layered audio system that delivers clarity, warmth, and balanced bass without overwhelming the environment. The 1 SOUND C5i loudspeakers provide articulate, high-quality playback across the floor, while the MiniSUB5 subwoofers add depth and low-frequency support to create a more immersive sound profile, while having a profile of only 5 inches off the ceiling.

The result is a seamless retail soundscape with strong intelligibility, even coverage, and musical depth across all zones. Audio remains comfortable and refined while still contributing meaningfully to the overall atmosphere of the store.

Within Holt Renfrew’s second floor, the installed technology is used to shape the customer experience rather than simply provide background sound. In a luxury retail setting, atmosphere plays a direct role in how the brand is perceived, how long customers remain engaged in the space, and how the environment feels overall. This project was designed to support that experience through discreet but effective integration.

GAV MGMT approached the project with the understanding that the technology needed to integrate seamlessly into the architecture while still enhancing the venue in a meaningful way. The upgraded audio environment contributes to a more curated, polished, and immersive retail journey, helping align the in-store atmosphere with Holt Renfrew’s premium brand positioning.

This submission is strengthened by the fact that it reflects a follow-on client investment driven by proven results. The success of a previous Holt Renfrew floor audio installation demonstrated stronger in-store performance during peak shopping seasons compared with other floors, reinforcing the value of a premium integrated sound environment. That real-world outcome helped support the decision to extend the strategy to the third floor.

The result is not only a technical upgrade, but a business- and experience-driven improvement. The system supports a stronger customer environment, reinforces brand perception, and demonstrates how thoughtfully integrated AV can contribute to measurable retail impact.

The main challenge of this project was delivering meaningful audio performance within a luxury retail environment where aesthetics were just as important as acoustics. At Holt Renfrew, any installed technology needed to integrate cleanly into the architectural setting and support the premium visual standard of the store. The audio system could not feel intrusive or visually dominant, yet it still needed to produce clear, full-range sound and impactful low-frequency reinforcement across the entire floor.

A second challenge was achieving consistent coverage throughout a dynamic retail space. Open-plan layouts, product displays, reflective finishes, and changing merchandising conditions can all affect how sound travels and is perceived. Without careful planning, this can lead to uneven listening experiences, localized hotspots, weak areas, or bass that feels disconnected from the rest of the system.

GAV MGMT addressed these challenges through careful system design, product selection, and strategic placement. The team selected 1 SOUND Cannon C5i loudspeakers for their strong sonic performance and their suitability for architecturally sensitive environments. Using Auralis prediction and 3D design software as part of the design process, the team was able to evaluate loudspeaker behaviour and plan more accurate coverage before installation.

These loudspeakers were paired with MiniSUB5 subwoofers to create a more evenly distributed and controlled low-frequency foundation throughout the floor. By combining column-mounted and ceiling-integrated elements, GAV MGMT was able to tailor the solution to the physical and acoustic realities of the space rather than forcing a standard approach onto it.

The result was a system that overcame both acoustic and architectural constraints, delivering a polished listening experience that feels fully integrated into the environment.

The Holt Renfrew 2nd Floor audio system upgrade deserves recognition because it demonstrates how expertly integrated audio can elevate a luxury commercial environment through precision, restraint, and real experiential impact. This project was not about spectacle, but about creating a refined sound environment that enhances one of Canada’s most recognized luxury retail brands while respecting the architecture and visual sophistication of the space.

What makes the project stand out is the balance between performance and design sensitivity. GAV MGMT delivered clear, full-range musicality, controlled and evenly distributed low-frequency support, and consistent coverage across the retail floor using 1 SOUND Cannon C5i loudspeakers and MiniSUB5 subwoofers. The use of 1 SOUND’s Auralis prediction and 3D design software also reflects a thoughtful, design-led engineering process, allowing the team to model the environment and optimize coverage before installation.

This submission is further strengthened by the fact that it reflects a follow-on client investment driven by proven results. The success of a previous Holt Renfrew floor audio installation demonstrated stronger in-store performance during peak shopping seasons compared with other floors, reinforcing the operational and experiential value of a premium integrated sound environment.