HARMAN delivers Asia-Pacific’s first immersive audio system for live cultural performance, redefining the audience experience through cutting-edge spatial sound and seamless AV integration
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM — HARMAN Professional Solutions, in collaboration with AV integration partner Ba Sao Audio, recently deployed one of the region’s first large-scale spatial audio deployments for live theater. The production CHÀO celebrates Vietnamese heritage through traditional music, narrative design and immersive technologies, all powered by a fully integrated HARMAN Professional Solutions system across the brand portfolio, including JBL Professional, FLUX::, BSS, and others.
Conceived by Nguyễn Khắc Anh, CEO of Ba Sao Investment, with technical direction by Vũ Hữu Thắng, CHÀO reimagines Vietnamese heritage through a compelling fusion of traditional music, dynamic visuals, and immersive sound design. The performance features an original orchestral suite with 30 traditional Vietnamese instruments, supported by a massive 150-square-meter LED screen and synchronized lighting.
From a technical standpoint, CHÀO posed a unique challenge. The performers and the audience occupy a shared acoustic environment, with no stage monitors or in-ear systems. This required precise spatial mixing and system tuning to maintain instrument fidelity while avoiding feedback. Ba Sao Audio deployed a 20.4-channel immersive sound system to deliver a fully three-dimensional sound experience, anchored by FLUX:: SPAT Revolution to provide precise spatial positioning and real-time control of sound sources throughout the venue.
“This collaboration has enabled us to create a powerful and engaging experience for audiences,” said Vũ Hữu Thắng, Technical Director, Ba Sao Audio. “Working with HARMAN’s integrated solutions allowed us to meet the technical demands of the production while supporting its creative goals.”
The immersive system was supported by 20 JBL AC18/95 loudspeakers for full-range coverage and four JBL STX818S subwoofers for powerful, well-controlled low-frequency response. Crown CDi Drivecore 4|600 and MA9000i amplifiers handled power and system control while 49 AKG microphones, including the C214, C519M, C411PP and C451B models, were chosen for their ability to capture the detail and texture of traditional Vietnamese instruments. Mixing and routing were managed using a Soundcraft Vi2000 digital mixing console paired with a 64-channel Dante stagebox. System processing and spatial audio rendering were handled by BSS Soundweb BLU-806 and BLU-BOB2 processors together with the SPAT Revolution real-time Immersive audio engine.
“This project exemplifies how our end-to-end solutions can elevate cultural storytelling,” said Amar Subash, VP & GM, Professional Solutions, APAC, “CHÀO is a model for how immersive technologies can preserve and amplify tradition in a way that’s both modern and moving.”
The result was a seamless fusion of tradition and innovation, setting a new benchmark for immersive cultural performance through integrated AV systems. Audiences were fully enveloped in sound and story, experiencing Vietnamese culture in a way that was both emotionally resonant and technologically groundbreaking.
ABOUT HARMAN PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS
HARMAN Professional Solutions (pro.harman.com) engineers and manufactures audio, lighting, and video and control products for entertainment and enterprise markets, including live performance, audio production, large venue, cinema, retail, corporate, education, government, hospitality, broadcast and more. With leading brands including JBL Professional®, AKG®, Martin®, AMX®, Soundcraft®, BSS Audio®, Crown®, dbx Professional®, and Lexicon Pro®, HARMAN Professional delivers powerful, innovative and reliable solutions that are designed for world-class performance. HARMAN Professional Solutions is a Strategic Business Unit of HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
