This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Burnaby, British Columbia | October 2024 — Simon Fraser University (SFU), consistently ranked among Canada’s top research institutions, has taken a pioneering step into immersive communication and spatial acoustics processing. Thanks to a recent grant, SFU established a cutting-edge acoustics lab equipped with 128 Renkus-Heinz C Series loudspeakers to support its innovative research in the field.
Located across British Columbia’s three largest cities – Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver – SFU offers diverse programs ranging from Anthropology to Marine Science. The university’s drive to leverage technology for societal benefit led to the creation of a new lab focused on 3D multimedia applications, including surround sound, video, and spatial acoustics, commonly referred to as “immersive communication.”
Senior professor Rodney Vaughan spearheaded the project and partnered with TiMax, Advanced Audio, DirectOut, Innosonix Technologies, and Renkus-Heinz to bring his vision to life. Renkus-Heinz’s Canadian Distributor, Contact Distribution also played a pivotal role in the project, supplying all technology involved, aside from the microphones. “Rodney came to me over 10 years ago with a bold idea for an acoustic lab where we could push the boundaries of sound research,” recalls Tim Bartoo, TiMax senior developer. “He talked about creating spaces where, for instance, you could have a bedroom on a noisy street that feels as quiet as the countryside.”
While the project took several years to secure funding, the grant ultimately came through, and Vaughan and Bartoo began assembling a team to execute the ambitious vision. “Rodney is known for his expertise in radar and advanced antenna design,” Bartoo notes, “and he was confident that the equations for sound, though a different medium, would work similarly to those used in his previous research.”
The lab, now a reality, is centered around two TiMax spatial processors, which were selected for their exceptional spatial functionality and flexibility. This technology is vital for the range of experiments planned in the lab, such as simulating complex sound fields and testing noise-canceling concepts. In addition to the 128 Renkus-Heinz CX41 speakers, 128 Advanced Audio microphones were installed, all integrated via a Dante network to allow for seamless communication between components.
Fred Gilpin, a prominent acoustic consultant, was brought in early to help design the physical setup of the lab. “Fred handled the precision of the speaker placement,” Bartoo explains. “We have about five miles of custom cabling in that room. His attention to detail was critical because every microphone and speaker needed to be precisely located to ensure accurate sound replication.”
The Renkus-Heinz CX41 four-inch coaxial two-way loudspeakers were an ideal choice for the lab, given their compact size and superior sonic performance. Featuring extended-range soft-dome tweeters, these speakers deliver smooth, low-distortion sound, capable of reaching frequencies beyond 20 kHz. “I had worked with Renkus-Heinz before, and I knew the CX41s would be perfect for this project,” said Gilpin. “Phase response was crucial, as much of the sound being tested is off-axis, and the CX41’s natural, transparent sound made it a great fit.”
As the lab neared completion, the team was eager to put the space to use. “One of the most exciting projects we’re working toward is creating a sound-canceled room,” Vaughan explained. “Imagine a corner of the room where two people can have a conversation, and no one outside that space can hear it, thanks to acoustic isolation. Or a space where you hear nothing, even in a noisy environment. This kind of innovation hasn’t been done before.”
Another area of interest for the lab is enhancing room acoustics, particularly in overly reflective environments. By using advanced modeling and soundfield control, researchers hope to develop systems that analyze a room’s acoustics and compensate for excessive reverberation, improving intelligibility and sound quality in challenging spaces.
Beyond these groundbreaking research projects, Bartoo is particularly excited about testing TiMax’s new reverberation subsystem in the lab. “We’ve incorporated four reverb engines that can create dynamic, localized reverberation in different parts of the room,” he said. “With the lab’s configuration, we can simulate anything from a cavernous cathedral to a tight, controlled acoustic space. It’s going to be fascinating to see how well these reverberation patterns replicate reality in such a controlled environment.”
The lab has already drawn significant interest from the academic and research communities, with numerous proposed projects on the horizon. “We recently completed our first 128-channel recording,” Bartoo shared. “We walked around the room, talking and clapping, and when we played it back, you could pinpoint exactly where the sounds were coming from. When you closed your eyes, you could visualize who was where in the room. It’s pretty neat.”
As the lab continues to evolve, the potential for immersive communication research at SFU is immense. With a focus on understanding and manipulating sound fields, and the help of industry-leading technology from Renkus-Heinz, this facility is poised to make significant contributions to the future of acoustic technology and its real-world applications.
Technical information
128x Renkus-Heinz CX41 loudspeakers
Download case study PDF and high-res photos here