L-Acoustics improves speech intelligibility at the University of Liège

This Belgian research university has partnered with XLR to install Syva audio systems, Soka, 5XT and X6i L-Acoustics and provide accurate vocal clarity in your training spaces and historic buildings.

Founded in 1817, the University of Liège It is among the three best dedicated to research in Belgium, with more than 28.000 students on their main campus, located on the Sart-Tilman hill, in the historic center of the city and in other academic buildings distributed throughout the area.

The university has recently completed a project to modernize your sound infrastructure in eleven of its venues, including the Salle Académique, built in 1824 and declared heritage of Wallonia, and other important conference halls and amphitheaters.

The new sound installation includes altavoces L-Acoustics Syva, Soka, 5XT y X6i, combined with LA2Xi and LA4X amplified controllers, specifically selected for their speech intelligibility, collinear array technology and its ability to discreetly integrate in heritage architecture.

How do you explain Arnaud Frederix, audiovisual technician from the University of Liège, “just a few years ago, The audiovisual panorama we had was a disorganized mosaic, con up to twenty-seven different brands throughout the campus. It was really overwhelming”.

This fragmentation of audio brands generated operational inefficiencies, complicated maintenance and, the most critical, jeopardized voice clarity for both teachers and students. The solution was not limited to purchasing new equipment, but it required creating a specialized audiovisual department, set clear standards and select partners that could deliver consistent performance across diverse spaces.

The university's approach has been comprehensive: in each modernized headquarters All old equipment has been replaced to ensure full compatibility and consistent performance. The creating your own AV department It has been essential to manage all the teams, Ensure interoperability and monitor budgets.

The team included the university's in-house audiovisual staff, to the certified supplier XLR from L-Acoustics and local integrators such as ESI Informatique, Wave, Riva e Initiation, all working within the university's public procurement framework.

“The intended approach was to implement improvements wherever we could, working with what is available, creating an intelligent system that shared resources wherever possible”, points out Alexandre Aretz, XLR sales manager.

L-Acoustics was chosen as the preferred brand for the most important campuses of the university. The eleven installations cover key spaces, like the Academic Room, the Noppius amphitheater, the Kurth and Wilmotte amphitheaters, the De Méan auditorium, several conference rooms and the main auditorium of the Gembloux campus.

“In an academic environment, Clarity of speech is essential -Frederix emphasizes-. L-Acoustics speakers ensure that information is transmitted clearly and accurately, even in spaces with acoustic difficulties. “This level of audio quality directly contributes to improving the learning experience of our students.”.

Two technical requirements drove the selection of L-Acoustics: intelligibility and aesthetics. The Syva and Soka collinear arrays offer a vertical directivity highly controlled, which guarantees a uniform coverage in the stands, while minimizing ceiling and floor reflections that cloud conversations.

Los thin profiles of these L-Acoustics arrangements are integrated into architectural spaces, essential in historic sites, where bulky speaker systems would be visually intrusive.

“We wanted a system that offered exceptional sound quality, in compact and discreet formats, and that it adjusted to the technical and aesthetic limitations with which we worked -Aretz points out-. Implementing an aesthetically appealing solution was especially important in certain heritage spaces, such as the Salle Académique and several amphitheatres”.

Soundvision maps acoustics

Installing audio systems across multiple venues and campuses required precise modeling. The integration team used the software Soundvision from L-Acoustics for define each space, predict coverage patterns and optimize speaker placement. 3D simulation allowed them to visualize sound behavior in rooms with various architectures and adjust settings before installation.

“Soundvision allowed us carefully map spaces which we were working on, some of which were among the most important and historic of the university”, Aretz adds..

La Salle Académique and several other venues now have Syva and Syva Low arrangements, Powered by LA2Xi amplified drivers for uniform sound coverage and flexible mounting (flown, fixed to the floor or wall).

The amphitheater of the Gembloux campus of the University of Liège has also installed Syva and Syva Low, with six X6i speakers for coverage above and below balconies. Some amphitheaters have Soka arrangements, for coverage under balconies and with delay using 5XT speakers.

In the eleven headquarters modernized with this equipment, The university has installed a total of fifteen LA2Xi and LA4X amplified controllers to ensure optimal sound power and processing capacity constant in all spaces.

“The key to the success of this project has been our collaborative approach. the university, integrators and XLR work together as trusted partners, all trained and aligned with the L-Acoustics ecosystem”, concludes Louis Lukusa, XLR CEO.