A Flagship Immersive Audio Demo with a System-Level Vision
At High End Vienna, Trinnov Audio, dCS and Perlisten Audio are joining forces for one of the show’s most ambitious immersive audio demos: a 15.8.8 surround sound system purpose-built to demonstrate what happens when processing, digital conversion, loudspeakers, room acoustics and spatial rendering are treated as one unified ecosystem. Rather than simply filling a room with hardware, the partners have specified a precisely proportioned, Vicoustic-treated space, including a fully treated ceiling, to maintain stability and coherence across multiple seats. The goal is immersive music reproduction that feels lifelike and controlled, not a channel-count stunt. By aligning core elements of professional audio technology into a single, tightly integrated installation, the collaboration aims to set a reference point for how object-based, high-channel-count systems can be executed in serious music-focused environments, from mastering rooms and post facilities to no-compromise residential theaters.
Trinnov AltitudeCI and WaveForming: The Brains Behind 15.8.8
At the heart of the immersive audio demo is Trinnov’s AltitudeCI platform, a native audio-over-IP processor engineered for high-channel-count environments where routing, calibration and spatial rendering must remain fully deterministic. Every channel in the 15.8.8 surround sound layout is measured, aligned and controlled digitally via AES/EBU, minimizing variability that often undermines immersive playback. Low frequencies are managed using Trinnov WaveForming bass control, which leverages the array of eight Perlisten subwoofers along the front and rear walls to improve bass consistency, timing and control across the listening area. Instead of conventional “room correction,” WaveForming treats the subs as a coordinated system, shaping low-frequency wavefronts to reduce seat-to-seat variation. Together, AltitudeCI and WaveForming illustrate how advanced processing and acoustic optimization can turn a complex speaker array into a coherent spatial instrument, particularly relevant for professional immersive audio installations.
dCS Multichannel Conversion and Perlisten’s 3D Loudspeaker Architecture
Signal conversion for the system is handled by the dCS MCD 16, a 16-channel DAC platform built around eight Ring DAC circuits. In an immersive context, its ability to maintain timing integrity, phase coherence and resolution across all channels simultaneously is critical to preserving the precision of the soundfield. On the acoustic side, Perlisten supplies a full-scale 3D loudspeaker architecture. S7t speakers anchor the left, center, right and wide channels, forming a high-dynamic-range, tonally matched front stage. S7i in-wall models provide eight discrete surround channels, while S4s speakers cover the eight overhead positions, creating a fully resolved three-dimensional soundstage optimized for music. This carefully layered design ensures that panning moves, object placement and ambient cues translate smoothly and accurately, giving mix engineers and listeners a more transparent window into sophisticated immersive productions.
Eight Perlisten Subwoofers and the Role of WaveForming Bass Control
For low-frequency reproduction, the demo leans on eight Perlisten D215s THX Dominus certified powered subwoofers, arranged as four units along the front wall and four along the rear wall. Each D215s employs dual 15-inch drivers in a push-pull configuration, combining high output with low distortion and precise bass definition. This physical firepower is then harnessed by Trinnov’s WaveForming bass control, which uses the distributed subwoofer array to actively manage how low-frequency energy propagates in the room. By shaping and timing the wavefronts, the system aims to deliver consistent, tightly controlled bass across the listening zone rather than a single “sweet spot.” For professional environments where reliable translation of low end is essential—from immersive music mastering to high-end postproduction—the combination of advanced subwoofer engineering and algorithmic bass management demonstrates a significant step forward in practical, large-scale low-frequency control.
Justin Gray’s ‘Immersed’ and the Push Toward Object-Based Audio
Content for the system is headlined by Grammy Award winner Justin Gray, who is presenting his album "Immersed" using the original high-resolution files from the mixing sessions. Conceived, recorded and produced specifically for immersive audio, the project features 38 artists positioned around the listener in a 360-degree orchestral environment. In the Vienna demo, this material is reproduced through the full 15.8.8 system, offering a rare opportunity to hear an object-based mix in a carefully controlled, reference-grade playback chain. For engineers, integrators and advanced enthusiasts, the experience underscores how artistic intent and technical infrastructure intersect in modern professional audio technology. As more studios and premium installations embrace object-based formats, collaborations like this one—spanning processing, conversion, loudspeakers and room design—signal clear industry momentum toward deeply integrated, end-to-end immersive systems.