Sphere Immersive Sound, designed and
customized by Sphere Studios in partnership with HOLOPLOT for
Sphere in Las Vegas,
revolutionizes the immersive audio experience
Next-generation audio
technology delivers crystal-clear,
concert-grade sound to each seat in Sphere through 3D
Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis
LAS
VEGAS, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sphere
Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) today unveiled Sphere Immersive
Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, the world's most advanced audio
system, which provides crystal-clear, individualized sound to every
seat in Sphere, a next generation entertainment medium opening in
Las Vegas this fall. Sphere
Studios, which develops groundbreaking technologies and content,
partnered with HOLOPLOT, a global leader in 3D audio technology, to
create Sphere Immersive Sound – the world's largest, fully
integrated concert-grade audio system that revolutionizes immersive
audio experiences.
![Sphere Entertainment Co. (PRNewsfoto/Sphere Entertainment Co.) Sphere Entertainment Co. (PRNewsfoto/Sphere Entertainment Co.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2098473/Sphere_logo_NEW_Logo.jpg)
U2's The Edge said, "The beauty of Sphere is not only the
ground-breaking technology that will make it so unique, with the
world's most advanced audio system integrated into a structure
which is designed with sound quality as a priority; it's also the
possibilities around immersive experiences in real and imaginary
landscapes. In short, it's a canvas of an unparalleled scale and
image resolution, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We all
thought about it and decided we'd be mad not to accept the
invitation."
"Sphere Immersive Sound is a cornerstone of the custom-designed
technology that will make Sphere unlike any venue, anywhere in the
world, providing audio with unmatched clarity and precision to
every guest, no matter where they are seated," said David Dibble, CEO, MSG Ventures, a division of
Sphere Entertainment. "Creating this experience required us to go
far beyond existing audio technology, and in HOLOPLOT we found a
partner at the forefront of innovation to help achieve our vision
and truly transform what is possible with audio."
"From the beginning, HOLOPLOT has been focused on radically
transforming audio technology, rethinking the underlying physics of
sound reproduction as we know it," said Roman Sick, CEO, HOLOPLOT. "Working alongside
Sphere Studios on Sphere Immersive Sound has been a truly thrilling
opportunity for our team – challenging us to extend the boundaries
of our technology at an unparalleled scale and create a
revolutionary listening experience."
Sphere Immersive Sound is the world's largest concert-grade
audio system and was specifically developed for Sphere's unique
curved interior. The system consists of approximately 1,600
permanently installed and 300 mobile HOLOPLOT X1 Matrix Array
loudspeaker modules and includes a total of 167,000 individually
amplified loudspeaker drivers. The system utilizes HOLOPLOT's
next-generation 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis
technology to transform how audio is delivered in large-scale
venues. This results in controlled, consistent, and crystal-clear
concert-grade audio for audiences of up to 20,000 people, providing
each audience member with a truly exceptional and personalized
listening experience. The entire sound system is completely hidden
behind Sphere's 160,000 square foot interior LED display plane. Any
audio transmission losses are fully compensated for by HOLOPLOT's
algorithms in the optimization engine, resulting in clear,
full-range sound with virtually no coloration and a completely
unobstructed visual LED surface – which wraps up, over and around
the audience and combines with Sphere Immersive Sound to create a
fully immersive environment.
Traditional loudspeaker technology in large-scale venues can
result in audio quality that diminishes as distance from the
speakers increases, due to the uncontrolled nature of sound wave
propagation. HOLOPLOT's patented 3D Audio-Beamforming technology
uses intelligent software algorithms to create unique, highly
controlled, and more efficient soundwaves than conventional
speakers, ensuring that levels and quality remain consistent from
point of origin to destination – even over large distances.
HOLOPLOT's propriety beamforming technology can also simultaneously
send unique audio content to specific locations in the venue,
creating the possibility for different sections to hear completely
different content – such as languages, music, or sound effects –
offering limitless opportunities for truly customized and immersive
audio experiences.
Sphere Immersive Sound will additionally utilize HOLOPLOT's
unique Wave Field Synthesis capabilities, a spatial audio rendering
technique that leverages virtual acoustic environments. With
conventional audio technology, the perceived origin of a sound has
traditionally been the location of the loudspeaker. Using Wave
Field Synthesis, sound designers can create a virtual point of
origin, which can then be placed in a precise spatial location.
This enables audio to be directed to the listener so that it sounds
close, even though the source is far away – for example, an
audience member could hear a whisper that sounds like someone is
talking directly in their ear.
Since its founding in 2011, Berlin-based HOLOPLOT has been at the
forefront of audio innovation, using 3D Audio Beamforming and Wave
Field Synthesis technology to develop groundbreaking audio systems.
The multi-award-winning company has received global recognition for
its patented technology, and with its unique 3D sound
capabilities drew the attention of MSG Ventures – which is
responsible for developing the advanced technologies used to create
immersive experiences for Sphere.
Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, was first
introduced last summer at the Beacon Theatre in New York ahead of being further customized and
scaled for Sphere – which leverages the full capabilities of the
cutting-edge technology. The introduction of this audio innovation
at The Beacon brought a nearly 100-year-old venue into the next
generation, setting a new standard for sound quality in performance
venues. Since its debut at the Beacon Theatre, Sphere Immersive
Sound has offered artists and audiences a glimpse of what the
system is capable of delivering, before Sphere opens this fall.
Sphere Immersive Sound is just one aspect of the 22nd
century technologies that will work together in Sphere to create
extraordinary immersive experiences that activate the senses. In
addition to Sphere Immersive Sound and the interior LED display
plane, Sphere also features patented 4D technologies such as
infrasound haptic seating, and various atmospheric and
environmental effects, such as warm breezes, evocative scents and
changing temperatures, to create multi-sensory experiences that
take storytelling to an entirely new level.
Sphere will open its doors on September
29 with the first of U2's 25 performances of "U2:UV Achtung
Baby Live At Sphere," and the Darren
Aronofsky-directed Sphere Experience, Postcard from
Earth, will debut on October 6.
Tickets are currently on sale at thespherevegas.com.
For visual and other assets, please click here.
About Sphere:
Sphere is a next-generation
entertainment medium that will bring wonder to the world and
redefine the future of live entertainment. A venue where the
foremost artists, creators, and technologists will create
extraordinary experiences that take storytelling to a new level and
transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue
will host original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood directors; concerts and residencies
from the world's biggest artists; and premier marquee events. The
first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas and expected to open in September 2023. It will be a new Las Vegas landmark, powered by cutting-edge
technologies that ignite the senses and enable audiences to share
experiences at a never-before-seen scale. More information is
available at thespherevegas.com.
About Sphere Entertainment Co.
Sphere Entertainment
Co. (NYSE: SPHR) is a premier live entertainment and media company.
The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium
powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of
entertainment. The first Sphere venue is currently under
construction in Las Vegas. In
addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two
regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG
Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated
streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports
content and other programming. More information is available at
sphereentertainmentco.com.
About HOLOPLOT:
HOLOPLOT is a pro audio company based
in Berlin on a mission to
radically transform how society interacts with sound. By designing
and developing revolutionary audio products and tools, including
the award-winning X1, HOLOPLOT is changing the fundamental
capabilities of sound reproduction and enabling a new era of audio.
With science-based, software-driven, and hardware-enabled
technology, HOLOPLOT provides unmatched tools for ultra-precise
control over sound propagation and localization. Catering to a
broad range of applications, HOLOPLOT delivers unparalleled
advantages for sound reinforcement needs in multipurpose arenas,
concert halls, immersive venues, clubs, and places of worship. With
numerous accolades, including the prestigious AV Award "Audio
Technology of the Year", TIME's Best Inventions list of 2022, and
features on both ISE and InfoComm 2022's "Best in Show" lists,
HOLOPLOT continues to lead the industry in innovation.
Media Contacts:
Andy
Fixmer/Sphere Entertainment –
spherepr@spherentertainmentco.com
Jana De Brabant/HOLOPLOT–
jana.debrabant@holoplot.com
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SOURCE Sphere Entertainment Co.