Guinness Storehouse gets a fresh pour of sound from d&b audiotechnik

Now the stout comes with a soundtrack, thanks to d&b Audiotechnik systems at the Dublin Guinness Storehouse

Images by Hannah Rowe

d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker systems have been chosen for installation in Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s leading visitor attraction. Acoustik installed three d&b systems for a new live music hub and two upgraded visitor zones, using ArrayCalc to design the setups and featuring xS-Series cabinets.

In 2024, the Guinness Storehouse aimed to enhance its visitor experience by adding culturally relevant activities without compromising quality or creating bottlenecks.

John Brady Events (JBE), an entertainment consultant, proposed a new live entertainment hub on the second-floor Arrol Suite. Reimagined, this room could keep up to 400 visitors entertained for 15 minutes before moving on to the next highlight of the experience.

However, the building’s industrial roots made for a difficult acoustic environment, with wooden floors, tiled walls, plenty of glass, steel and concrete. There were other requirements too. Additional needs focused on smaller, central performance platforms to enhance audience engagement, discreet yet powerful hardware and sound containment for two other areas.

The controlled directionality of the d&b loudspeakers was key in creating even sound coverage in the venue. ArrayCalc software from d&b enhanced this coverage by providing the best speaker configuration in the space.

Acoustik’s Will Fitzpatrick, who designed the system, said, “Through multi-source speaker systems, we created spaces where entertainment can happen as desired, without affecting the surrounding areas. ArrayCalc was amazing. It simulated exactly what we actually achieved with the installation.”

For the largest space, the Arrol Suite, Acoustik installed d&b’s xS-Series. Six 12S speakers made up the main PA, with four 10S used as delays. The other two upgraded areas have a mix of 12S-D and 10S-D speakers with matching subwoofers.

The whole system runs on d&b’s 10D amplifiers and is controlled via iPad with R1 software. This lets staff easily adjust sound and lower the volume in the bars.

The project has been a success, with JBE and Acoustik praising d&b’s reliability and sound quality. Other immersive experiences have also used this technology to enhance visitor experiences, including Underground Slate in London.

Find out more about d&b audiotechnik at dbaudio.com/global/en/