d&b’s XSL and U-Series bring quality, control and flexibility to Lahti’s Sibelius Hall
One of Finland’s finest concert venues, Sibelius Hall in the city of Lahti has upgraded its sound with a system from d&b audiotechnik, combining the cardioid performance of the SL-Series with the control and efficiency of the new U-Series. This architecturally and acoustically demanding venue has successfully balanced fixed-install reliability with touring-style flexibility – all with the exceptional aural quality of d&b.
Home to the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, the 1,250-seat Sibelius Hall was completed in 2000. Designed by architects Kimmo Lintula and Hannu Tikka it is renowned for its acoustics, the work of leading US-based specialists, Artec Consultants.
Today, the hall offers a predominantly classical programme of orchestral concerts including chamber music, visiting soloists and the annual Sibelius Festival, alongside contemporary Finnish and international artists, plus amplified music, speech events and other multipurpose productions. In all, it deals with several hundred events each year.
Sound Challenges, Sound Solutions
In recent years the previous sound system, installed in 2011, had been struggling to deliver consistent tonal quality. “The system was old and becoming unreliable, and it was difficult to get spare parts,” says Sibelius Hall Sound engineer Eero Hardén.
“It’s a great hall for classical music,” adds the hall’s technical producer, Jukka-Pekka Nissinen, “but when we have something else, it’s quite a problem. Also, our orchestra does productions with drums, electric bass, guitars, singers – pop and rock with symphony orchestra – so we needed a system with real range.”
The sound requirement was carefully developed around the specific acoustic and operational realities of Sibelius Hall, including coverage consistency, tonal balance, and stage spill. The Hall’s technical manager, Jukka Kaunisto elaborates, “Our main hall is very reverberant and bowl‑shaped at the back, so we have to deal with a lot of reflections and energy build‑up on stage.”
Therefore, cardioid behaviour was attractive, but there were other considerations. Kaunisto continues, “It was essential to provide the kind of production-ready solution expected of an international-level concert hall, as well as the flexibility to allow for mobile deployment, and at a reasonable cost. Also important – looking ahead – was long-term serviceability and support.”
The Choice of d&b
With a selection of d&b T10s, stage monitors and amplifiers – as well as Finland’s oldest Q-series – elsewhere in the venue, the sound team had some familiarity with d&b product. This meant that, when it came to the new main house system, d&b would be a contender although alternative systems would also be auditioned before the final choice was made.
The cardioid functionality and other features tipped the scales toward d&b. “Reputation, reliability, service, and especially the software were big factors,” says Nissinen. “Our staff already knows how to work with d&b, so that was a plus. Compared with some other brands, d&b’s software is more intuitive for us, and we already knew the ecosystem.”
He adds, “If you draw a Venn diagram of price, performance, and size, XSL sits nicely in the middle. For this venue and budget, it’s a very good fit.”
Since the early specification, when E8 and Y10/Y7P loudspeakers had been chosen for delays and fills, supplier Arva Audio had taken delivery of d&b’s first U-Series samples, so showed them to the team. “They liked the sound so much they decided to change the E8s to U3,” recalls Arva’s Juha Tamminen.
“Juha demo’d the U3 for about 15 minutes,” recalls Nissinen, “and we were convinced.”
Addressing Complexity
Next, using CAD drawings of the hall, the design was built within d&b’s ArrayCalc simulation software. Using ArrayProcessing, the design was able to address the hall’s complex seating geometry.
The resulting system, designed to fly from the venue’s existing hoists, gives Sibelius Hall the broad dynamic range and headroom needed for amplified music, while retaining the clarity and natural sound expected for speech and orchestral applications.
Installed by Jouko Kettunen’s team at specialist service company Oulun Kongressitekniikka Oy, it comprises a main left/right system of XSL, each hang with eight XSL8 topped by two XSL-SUBs.
Further LF support is available from SL-SUBs positioned left and right at the stage front. The dedicated multi-channel front-fill system of U3 loudspeakers is tonally matched to the main arrays. U3s also serve as balcony delays and fills, with additional fill from Y7P and Y10P loudspeakers.
The network infrastructure was upgraded to manage amplifiers spread across four different locations in the hall. The main PA is driven by 40D amplifiers, while 5Ds below the stage drive the U3s. There are also 25Ds for the Y‑Series and a D90 for the subs. Touring racks and carts allow for easy relocation when needed.
“The system has been designed so that it can live in the main hall most of the time, but it’s straightforward to take parts of it to the lobby or the congress centre,” says Nissinen. “That mobility was a deliberate requirement.”
Definition of Approval
Even at this early stage, responses to the hall’s new sound capability have been positive, remarks Eero Hardén. “We had a concert by an army show band with young players, and it was really impressive. The humming and noise from the stage were gone and the sound was very clear. That more controlled on‑stage environment makes a difference out in the auditorium side as well – it gives a cleaner, more clearly defined sound for the audience.”
