The recently-opened Dubai Mall in Dubai, U.A.E., is one of the largest malls in the world, boasting 1,200 retail outlets, two department stores and more than 160 food and beverage vendors. The mall’s 220-store “Gold Souk” is an elaborately decorated area used for special events by the U.A.E. Royal Family and other dignitaries, in addition to serving as an impressive entertainment area for mall visitors. The Gold Souk features a 75-foot diameter domed super high-resolution projection screen (designed by Salt Lake City-based Evans and Sutherland Digital Theaters Group) raised 40 feet above the floor, which necessitated powerful and clear audio. The design of the area presented acoustical challenges, all of which were met with a custom system featuring EAW AX Series Loudspeakers and some unique architectural solutions. The system was designed by Indianapolis, IN-based firm Bowen Technovation.

Because of the visual nature of the space, loudspeakers needed to be as low-profile as possible, and this was accomplished by flying the units behind the perforated aluminum projection dome, completely out of sight. The system was engineered to include eight custom EAW AX Series “BWN” 2x15" enclosures, two EAW AX366 Arrayable Install Loudspeakers and eight EAW SB150z Compact Subwoofers. The system offers 5.1 audio powered by 38,000 Watts of QSC DCA amplification. Processing is accomplished via a networked BSS Soundweb London system.

The project presented sonic difficulties: “The throw from the top of the dome to the floor is 75 feet, and we needed to achieve very high impact SPL but with perfect pattern control and instrumental clarity,” stated Jeff Bowen, Bowen Technovation President and Creative Director. “In addition to the challenges of providing 5.1 audio inside a concave dome, the surfaces in the area are very high-end marble and custom-sculpted plaster. So keeping audio off the surfaces and focused on the listener was imperative, otherwise we would just have been exciting air needlessly and destroying intelligibility.”

EAW product specialists worked together with Bowen Technovation through design, prototyping and production of the custom AX Series BWN boxes, which have since been used on this install in addition to several other projects. Jeff Bowen could not be more thrilled: “The result is these loudspeakers with extremely high SPL yet incredibly detailed and accurate response. I can’t wait to get them out there in more spaces.”