Genelec helps power change for Eidra

Born in the Nordics and headquartered in Stockholm, Eidra is a consultancy collective that brings together a unique group of 17 leading companies and over 1200 consultants, creatives and engineers. Following significant growth, the company required a new HQ that would better reflect its identity and create an inspiring environment for both employees and visitors. Specialist corporate technology solutions specialists, Ximple AB, were contracted to design and deliver the AV solutions throughout the building – including a sophisticated Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker solution for the common and social areas.

“We were fortunate to have been involved at the planning stage to work with the client to create an office that went beyond the ordinary,” explains Ximple co-founder, Andreas Savela. “The goal was to develop technical solutions that enhance a modern and dynamic office with a focus on user-friendliness. We were also mindful of delivering solutions that reflect the client’s brand and culture of forward-thinking and sustainability. It was for these reasons that we selected Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers for all the open-plan areas, lounges and main entrance.”

The challenge for Eidra was to find a product that worked in all types of environment –especially in open areas where acoustics and aesthetics needed to harmonise. The audio also needed to be zoned to suit different applications in different areas. For example, the entrance area isn’t playing the same kind of music as the bar, which is different again from the espresso bar or indeed the training room lounge or the board room lounge.

Smart IP fits Eidra’s sustainability goals with its environmentally friendly build process.

“Genelec was a natural choice for us, and in particular the PoE-powered Smart IP series,” says Savela. “In addition to the long lifespan and high-quality audio, the ability to deliver power, audio and control through a single network cable massively simplifies installation. Smart IP is also a perfect fit for Eidra’s sustainability goals with its environmentally friendly build process, long life span and significantly reduced power consumption.”

Ximple installed a total of 51 Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers across 15 zones. “We used the 4430 model throughout, as it’s sufficiently powerful to deliver high-quality, crystalline audio even at higher SPLs – including special events or evening functions needing a bit more buzz – yet still sufficiently compact and discreet to blend harmoniously with the Eidra aesthetic. For even more seamless integration, most of the speakers were finished in RAL 7047 – an elegant shade of grey-white which looks beautifully understated,” Savela explains.

Once installed, the Ximple team used Genelec’s Smart IP Manager software to configure the system over the Dante network. “This saved us both time and resources in a fast-paced project with many parties involved,” recalls Savela. “However, thanks to efficient planning and close collaboration, everything was completed smoothly and to schedule.”

Genelec was a natural choice for us, and in particular the PoE-powered Smart IP series.

Genelec’s Smart IP Manager allows the configuration of an almost unlimited number of rooms, zones, loudspeakers and audio channels, and includes device discovery, room EQ, system organisation and status monitoring. Once each space has been defined and each loudspeaker optimised to that space, a public API command set allows Smart IP loudspeakers to be integrated with third-party control systems – which is exactly what Ximple did for Eidra.

Ximple selected a Q-SYS control system with a straightforward user interface that can be controlled from an iPad or similar, and allows Eidra staff to manage level control and source selection across any zone at the touch of a button. “A nice detail is that at the end of the working day, all the presets revert to their default settings. This means that when staff return in the morning, the music is playing at the correct volume regardless of how it was left the night before,” adds Savela.

Savela is very proud of what his team has achieved at Eidra. “The mission was to create a workplace where aesthetics and function work together and where the technology is as well thought out as the architecture,” he says. “Eidra’s new office enables the entire company to gather in a single location whilst also creating flexible spaces for collaboration, focus, and creativity. The Genelec solution in the open areas combines perfectly with the technology in the meeting rooms to create a seamless and inspiring audio experience throughout the building – and it’s a perfect example of how the combination of advanced technology and thoughtful design enables the sound environment to become a natural part of a brand’s expression.”