Named after the mermaid on Warsaw’s coat of arms, Syrena Theatre has been a cornerstone of Polish cultural life for nearly 80 years. Founded in Łódź after the war, the theatre relocated to Warsaw in 1948 and established itself as a leading musical theatre venue, recognised for its quality and artistic commitment.
In 2025, Syrena Theatre took a significant step forward in its technical capabilities by transitioning to an L-ISA Hyperreal immersive installation.
The project, carried out by Warsaw-based L-Acoustics Certified Provider Audio Plus, was built directly on an ARCS II system that the company had originally installed at the theatre in 2016. The upgrade to a full L-ISA configuration was completed without replacing a single amplifier or removing any loudspeaker, with the entire installation finished in under a week.
A strong foundation: the 2016 L-Acoustics installation
Audio Plus first installed an L-Acoustics system at Syrena Theatre in 2016. This included four ARCSII arrays as the main system, four 5XT loudspeakers as front-fills, six X8 for surround sound, four SB18i subwoofers, and two X12 used as side-fills. In addition, two 108P active monitors were installed in the sound booth. The system was powered by three LA4X amplified controllers and one LA8.
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It was—and remains—a professional-grade foundation. When Syrena Theatre approached Audio Plus in 2025 for an upgrade, the objective was clear: expand the system to the highest possible level while keeping all existing components in active use.
L-ISA immersive audio: precision and presence for musical theatre
In a venue focused on musical theatre, L-ISA offers clear advantages. Object-based mixing enables instruments and performers to be positioned in space with a level of precision that conventional stereo systems cannot achieve, reflecting the physical reality of the stage rather than compressing it into a left-right image. The result is a more accurate and emotionally direct experience for the audience.
In addition, the increased number of front arrays required by L-ISA distributes the acoustic load more evenly throughout the venue, allowing overall volume levels to be reduced without sacrificing impact, thus improving listening comfort.
L-ISA allows instruments and performers to be positioned with much greater precision, creating a more realistic and spatially coherent experience. At the same time, the increased number of front arrays enables overall levels to be reduced without losing impact, resulting in a more comfortable listening experience, explains Jakub Kowalik, Tech and Sales Representative at Audio Plus.
From four ARCS arrays to five A10i arrays: the L-ISA upgrade
Moving to L-ISA required at least five front-of-house arrays—one more than the existing ARCS configuration. For the new system, Audio Plus deployed five A10i Focus arrays paired with five A10i Wide. The A10i, the direct successor to ARCS, features PanFlex technology, which allows horizontal dispersion to be adjusted—particularly useful in Syrena’s compact auditorium to minimise unwanted reflections.
Another challenge was the LA8 amplifier, which predates the Milan-AVB protocol. Rather than replacing it, it was reconfigured to drive the SB18i subwoofers, now suspended on either side of the central array, via AES/EBU digital signal from the L-ISA Processor II. Only two new amplifiers were added: one LA4X and one LA2Xi, along with an LS10 network switch.
“A key characteristic of L-Acoustics hardware is that it is designed to grow with you”, says Łukasz Kaźmierczak, Head of Projects and Installation at Audio Plus. “By leveraging the existing infrastructure, we expanded the theatre’s capabilities with minimal additional resources, making it far more cost-effective than replacing the entire system”.
Full reuse of the existing system
No components from the 2016 installation were retired. The four ARCS units were reassigned: two now serve as rear stage monitors and two as side-fills. The front-fill line was extended with an additional 5XT. The six X8 speakers remain in their original positions as surround. The X12 units were redeployed as stage monitors. The 108P monitors remain in the booth, and all three original LA4X controllers continue to operate alongside the reconfigured LA8.
Installation in under a week
The full installation was completed in under a week. Audio Plus prepared the components at its Łomianki facility before deployment, minimising disruption to the theatre’s schedule. Tomasz Schnitzer led the installation and system integration, while Jerzy Kubiak handled tuning and crew training.
Syrena Theatre now delivers a fully immersive audio experience to every seat, with sound design possibilities that were previously unattainable. It stands as one of the most advanced theatre audio installations in Poland, built largely on existing equipment.
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When you choose L-Acoustics, you are building a foundation. Ten years later, the system is still in operation and now forms part of one of the finest immersive installations in the country. That is what defines a professional sound system, concludes Kowalik.
Image captions
- Syrena Theatre transforms its L-Acoustics system into an immersive L-ISA installation
- The theatre takes a technical leap with L-ISA Hyperreal
- Audio Plus builds on the ARCS II system installed in 2016
- The goal: maximum expansion while retaining all components
- L-ISA requires five front arrays instead of four
- All three original LA4X units remain in use alongside the reconfigured LA8
