Chicago’s Music Box Theatre has completed a major audio upgrade featuring a custom Alcons Audio system to balance modern performance with historic preservation. According to a report from mixonline.com, the nearly century-old venue partnered with integrator Kinora and Hollywood’s Post 43 Bill Steel to design and install the new configuration.
The installation includes pro-ribbon screen systems for the center channel alongside line-source columns and low-frequency extensions for left and right arrays. High-output subwoofers and amplified controllers manage the low-end reproduction. To maintain the building’s visual integrity, the side loudspeakers were custom color-matched to blend into the architecture, while other components reside behind the projection screen.
Music Box Theatre technical director Julian Antos stated that the system accurately reproduces diverse soundtracks ranging from early mono optical recordings to modern blockbusters. Antos noted that the upgrade resolved previous issues regarding dialogue intelligibility and listener fatigue, calling the investment one of the best the theater has ever made. The project allows the historic cinema to continue presenting art house fare with audio quality meeting contemporary audience expectations.
For more information, visit mixonline.com.