AMSTERDAM — Visitors to the Hermitage Amsterdam are there to see part of a vast Russian art collection, not the sound system. Audio Electronics Mattijsen (AEM) chose Meyer Sound’s compact loudspeakers to ensure that the audio system would not interfere with the aesthetics of the main church hall, auditorium and restaurant. “The Hermitage is an exceptionally dynamic and interactive gathering place,” said Eric Mattijsen, CTO and system designer at AEM. “Every day you’ll find public and corporate events, seminars, network meetings, and parties right in the middle of the most precious historical treasures. So, our objective was to come up with flexible yet uncompromising audio systems, aesthetically matching the architect’s designs and easy for museum personnel to use.”
The Meyer Sound gear starts with 12 custom-painted four-inch-square MM-4XP loudspeakers mounted to the chandeliers in the church hall. These miniature MM-4XP loudspeakers are installed to reproduce live classical music and occasional presentations with clarity while remaining out of sight.
An ultracompact UMS-1P subwoofer adds bass support. “The intelligibility of the MM-4XP comes in handy especially during special announcements, as the speakers are also connected to the emergency system,” said Mattijsen.
For the luxurious environs of the upscale Neva restaurant, flush-mounted MM-4XP and UPM-1P loudspeakers blend into the décor as they provide subtle reinforcement for ambient soundtracks.
The museum’s reverberant 300-seat auditorium uses the smallest cabinet of Meyer Sound’s line array product line, the M1D line array loudspeaker. Four arrays of custom-painted M1D loudspeakers are deployed, mostly during corporate presentations and lectures. Three 600-HP subwoofers offer directional low end in either left-right or cardioid configurations.
“The M1D has proven that it’s a truly versatile compact array, capable of delivering speech intelligibility in difficult and highly reverberant spaces like this auditorium,” said Jasper Ravesteijn, project sales engineer of AEM. “The mid and highs really cut through, steering its energy exactly where it’s wanted. The performance of the 5-inch LF drivers is also nothing short of amazing, providing substantial body, and minimizing the number of subs needed.”
The audio crew involved in the Hermitage Amsterdam project also included AEM installation engineer Peter van Ingen and installation project manager Martijn van Vloten.
The Hermitage Amsterdam’s permanent exhibitions such as “Russia and Amstelhof” and “Russia and the Hermitage: Encounters” and temporary exhibit “At the Russian Court” feature a wide collection of paintings, photos, costumes, jewellery, and other treasures from the estates of the czars.
For more information, please visit www.meyersound.com.
