Germany - Vilco is a modern convention centre located north of Frankfurt in Bad Vilbel. Since opening in 2023, the versatile space has become a cultural hub for the local area, hosting events of all sizes from live music, theatre and classical concerts to lectures and conferences.
At the heart of Vilco is the Great Hall, which seats up to 1,200 people. The multipurpose space can be divided into three smaller halls for different event formats and comes equipped with a retractable stage, mobile and divisible grandstand, and an orchestra shell. For integrator AVEO GmbH, the task was to implement a variable acoustics system for classical concerts that could adapt instantly to varied genres while consistently delivering concert-hall quality acoustics, without the need for complex manual or architectural adjustments.
To meet this challenge, 64 Renkus-Heinz C Series point-source loudspeakers and eight Renkus-Heinz CX112 subwoofers were installed throughout the hall’s ceilings and walls, supporting the already installed Amadeus Active Acoustics technology.
“The result is a very natural sound experience, so the audience feels fully enveloped by the sound,” explains Thorsten Rohde, co-founder of Amadeus Acoustics. In addition, the signals from the stage are also used to increase the proportion of early reflections in the overall reverberation. “This is crucial for the spatial perception, transparency and speech intelligibility of choirs, for example.”
The acoustic system supports three full hall configurations and one smaller hall option, each with presets ranging from chamber ensembles to choir and sacred music. The system also includes an optional Immersive Audio module for 3D formats such as Atmos, 5.1 or 7.1.4, ensuring the hall is prepared for future productions.
“We have used Renkus-Heinz loudspeakers successfully in several Amadeus Acoustics projects, including the congress centres in Suhl and Alpbach, so we knew they would work well for Vilco,” says Michael Voessing, managing director at Medias Pro Medientechnik, project distributor. “Their unobtrusive design and natural sound make them ideal for variable acoustics systems. They disappear visually yet deliver the performance needed.”
A total of 42 CX41 loudspeakers were integrated into the front, side and back walls to reinforce the room’s sound without intruding on its modern architecture. 18 CX81 loudspeakers were suspended between ceiling panels, their compact size allowing them to fit into the limited space while diffusing sound evenly across the hall. Additionally, eight CX112S subwoofers were distributed across the ceiling to provide deep, controlled bass and consistent low-frequency coverage.
When the smaller hall option is used, four compact CX61 loudspeakers provide smooth rear-wall coverage. This ensures that the smaller hall delivers the same level of audio clarity and balance as the full hall - a key requirement for a venue designed for quick changeovers.
“Playing music here is pure joy,” reflects Benedikt Bach, choir director and violinist. “The sound of the violin alone was enough to fill the hall.” Bach supported the Amadeus team as a violinist during the tuning of the acoustic system and later served as choir director for the first joint project in the Vilco - Great Cinema – Film Music: Zusammenklang (Harmony) - which brought together six choirs and four orchestras. “You would never guess that an electroacoustic system is being used,” he adds. “Such a result is only possible when sound engineers and acousticians truly understand how a symphony orchestra should sound in a concert hall.”