Royal Albert Hall Installs New Cardioid Sound System
“It’s one of those moments where, once you hear it, you never want to go back to the old way,” d&b Education and Application Support EMEA team leader Steve Jones told dbaudio.com regarding the audio upgrade at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The 5,270-capacity London venue upgraded its house sound system with a new cardioid solution from d&b audiotechnik, Mixonline reported November 9, 2026. The installation builds on a previous audio overhaul completed in 2018.
New d&b loudspeaker elements enhance venue audio
The new installation draws on more than 140 new loudspeaker elements from d&b’s KSL, XSL, and CCL lines. Main left and right hangs feature twelve-deep KSL arrays, while XSL arrays serve outfills, choir positions, and two new central hangs dedicated to Soundscape use, according to Mixonline.
Low-end capabilities are handled by a reconfigured central hang of SL-SUBs alongside new XSL-SUBs placed on the ground. Circle delays rely on CCL arrays, and 42S speakers operate as front-fills for orchestral performances, replacing older 16C column speakers.
Venue acoustic hurdles drive staff and system growth
The 2018 distributed system initially addressed the protected building’s acoustic hurdles by utilizing over 400 d&b loudspeakers. Before that installation, the hall employed no full-time sound personnel, but audio operations manager Richard Sally-Lower noted that the house sound team has since expanded to eight full-time staff members supported by roughly 30 freelance crew members.
“The distributed system of 2018 was remarkable—way better than anything we’d had before,” Richard Sally-Lower said, as reported by Mixonline. “The new system improves even further on that. We’ve not redesigned anything, it’s mostly like-for-like, but with newer technology.”
Amplifiers and ArrayProcessing direct sound toward audiences
According to dbaudio.com, d&b installation amplifiers power the left, center, right system and Soundscape hangs using 40D models. D90 amplifiers run the flown subwoofers, while existing infrastructure utilizing D80, 30D, 10D, and 5D amplifiers powers the remainder of the equipment.
Steve Jones explained to dbaudio.com that ArrayProcessing combined with the new cardioid advantage ensures sound energy directs toward the audience and gets absorbed by them. Boxes and gallery speakers remain largely unchanged, with 4S speakers providing delays and depth to the venue’s isolated boxes.
Why the Royal Albert Hall upgraded its audio system
Why did the Royal Albert Hall need a new audio system?
The historic venue required advanced directivity and clarity to manage its complex acoustics. The new cardioid configuration ensures sound energy points directly at audiences rather than bouncing off the reverberant hall surfaces.
Which specific loudspeaker models were installed?
The upgrade features KSL for main left and right hangs, XSL arrays for outfills and choir positions, CCL arrays for circle delays, and 42S front-fills alongside SL-SUB and XSL-SUB low-end units.
How many loudspeaker elements are in the new system?
The installation incorporates more than 140 new loudspeaker elements from d&b audiotechnik.
Who managed the design of the audio installation?
Steve Jones, team leader of d&b’s Education and Application Support EMEA, led the designs for both the 2018 infrastructure and the 2026 upgrade.
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