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Audiotonas outfits new live music venue in historic Daina cinema with Martin Audio WPC

Originally opened in 1936, the Daina is considered an important example of Lithuanian modernist architecture. With renovation work beginning in 2023, the project has transformed the long-abandoned cinema into a contemporary multifunctional cultural venue, while preserving its architectural identity and historical character. A Martin Audio sound reinforcement system is at the heart of the redevelopment.

Audiotonas, Martin Audio’s distributor in Lithuania, was the main audiovisual systems integrator and technology partner, responsible for designing and implementing the venue’s sound, stage lighting, and stage infrastructure systems. The project consists of both a main hall and an additional event space, conceived to operate flexibly independently or as a combined venue when needed.

The main hall is equipped with a Martin Audio WPC Wavefront Precision line-array system comprising two hangs of eight elements per side. “One of the key project goals was to minimise unwanted sound energy on stage and reduce reflections from the large balcony surfaces”, notes Vytautas Stasiukaitis, CCO at Audiotonas. “Because the building is protected heritage architecture, these surfaces could not be extensively treated with acoustic materials, making loudspeaker directivity and system optimisation critically important.”

The optimised WPC line-array configuration allowed Audiotonas to tightly control vertical coverage and significantly reduce unnecessary excitation of reflective architectural elements, particularly the underside and front surfaces of the balcony. The high-resolution amplifier configuration with two dedicated amplifier channels per WPC module gave the team the desired precision during system tuning and optimisation, allowing accurate control of phase alignment, frequency response, and coverage behaviour.

“We utilised Martin Audio’s Hard Avoid to minimise sound energy directed towards the stage area and to reduce reflections from the balcony surfaces”, says Stasiukaitis. Low-frequency reinforcement is provided by an array of eight Martin Audio SXH218 subwoofers. Due to physical limitations in the venue, a cardioid set-up was not possible. To improve boundary loading and system efficiency, a permanent rear wall was constructed directly behind the subwoofer position.

“This effectively created a controlled boundary condition, enhancing low-frequency coupling with both the floor and the rear surface”, reports Stasiukaitis. “While it is not a directional subwoofer array in the strict sense, the system still delivers strong control within the room due to the architectural reinforcement effects and system tuning.”

The main left/right arrays are supported by Martin Audio FlexPoint FP8 front-fill loudspeakers for the first audience rows, while FP15 systems were installed as delays beneath the balcony and within the balcony area itself. Stage monitoring is provided by eight XE300 stage wedges. The entire system is powered by a total of fourteen Martin Audio iKon series multi-channel amplifiers.

In the smaller hall, a Martin Audio THS point source system combines with SXC118 cardioid subwoofers. “The directional behaviour of the cardioid subs helped mitigate acoustic issues in the tighter space by reducing excitation of problematic reflections and smoothing overall low-frequency distribution”, says Stasiukaitis. Today, the renewed Daina venue hosts concerts, theatre productions, conferences, broadcasts, and other live events.

(Photos: Vaidas Stankus)

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