Neushoorn, in Leeuwarden (Netherlands), has upgraded the sound system in its 750-capacity main hall to incorporate state-of-the-art spatial audio capabilities.
Delivered by More AV in collaboration with Funktion-One and Holophonix, the new system expands the existing Funktion-One installation to create a fully immersive audio environment for the venue’s programme, which includes live music, club events and artistic performances.
The project builds on a long-standing relationship between Neushoorn and More AV, dating back to the original Funktion-One installation in 2015. When the venue began planning the next phase of its development, the goal was to enhance the existing system and deliver an even more engaging audience experience.
We are the first core venue in the Netherlands to equip a main stage in this way. The desire to renew the PA, upgrade it and future-proof it led us to the idea of immersive audio, says Michiel Cornelisse, Head of Technical at Neushoorn.
At that time, there was no Funktion-One approved spatial audio system. However, this began to change at ISE 2025 in Barcelona, where Funktion-One founder and R&D Director Tony Andrews first encountered Holophonix. At the same time, Funktion-One was finalising development of the PSM15 stage monitor, which would prove to be the perfect loudspeaker for this project.
Andrews had been sceptical about the recent popularity of immersive audio, due to the heavy reliance of many systems on intensive processing and the resulting degradation of the audio signal. Having pioneered work in this area with his explorations into ambisonics in the early 1990s, his view has always been that clarity, low distortion and accurate reproduction allow left-right stereo systems to deliver immersive experiences through convincing stereo imaging.
When Andrews first heard the Holophonix spatial audio platform, he was surprised: "What struck me first was the audio quality, particularly the transparency of the high frequencies. Furthermore, it is not a geometry-dependent system; the venue was able to retain the Funktion-One stereo configuration and add additional loudspeakers without having to build a geometrically perfect array. It soon became clear that the Holophonix team are serious, technically solid and open in their approach. When we set up a demo in our workshop and ran it with a live multi-track recording, I was very impressed. At that point, we knew we had what the venue was looking for: a universal platform that preserves sonic integrity while extending what is physically possible in the room. We only pursue something when real progress is possible. With this system and the people involved, that is what is happening".
As the project progressed, Funktion-One was in the final stages of developing its new stage monitor, the PSM15.
It perfectly met the requirements of an immersive system. More AV then played a crucial role. In May last year they took us to England, where we were the first people outside Funktion-One to hear and see the new loudspeaker. That confirmed our belief: it was incredible, says Cornelisse.
To expand the system at Neushoorn, 12 PSM15 loudspeakers have been installed throughout the venue. Five are positioned above the stage for the main floor, while seven more cover the balcony and sides. Front fill is provided by five F61 loudspeakers, with four F1201.2 units across the rear of the hall and 13 F61 loudspeakers providing balcony backfill.
The PSM15 combines several features that make it an excellent stage monitor and, at the same time, a highly effective component within a spatial audio system. Remco van der Werff, founder of More AV, explains: “It is full-range with excellent low-frequency performance, combines a compact form factor with high output, and delivers an ideal dispersion pattern with very consistent directivity. In this type of application, that consistency is essential”. At Neushoorn, the waveguide has been rotated to provide 70° horizontal and 50° vertical dispersion, ensuring broader lateral coverage while maintaining control of vertical directivity.
More AV coordinated the system design and delivery in collaboration with Funktion-One and Holophonix. The project was completed in under a year. "This is due to the perfect synergy between Funktion-One, More AV and Holophonix", says Cornelisse. "All three parties go beyond the conventional and are not afraid to challenge the status quo".
A key requirement was to preserve the character of the existing Funktion-One system while introducing spatial capability. "The venue already loved the system it had", says Will Wright, Live Sound & Product Support Engineer at Funktion-One. "The goal was to keep that left-right system and add another layer on top".
The Holophonix processing platform supports this approach. "Our processor does not alter the loudspeaker sound signature", explains Justin Bacle, Head of Education and Training at Holophonix. "You retain the recognisable Funktion-One sound while adding spatial control".
This is a very special project, both for Neushoorn and for us. We installed the Funktion-One system in the hall 11 years ago, when it first opened, and it is inspiring to now take that experience to the next level. Neushoorn’s passion for offering something extraordinary to its audience makes this collaboration a pleasure, concludes van der Werff.
Photo by Linda Koster
