KV2 enhances Muay Thai's first immersive experience

An integrated design has been created by 24 Speakers KV2 EX28, with eight 2.18J VHD subwoofers as bass boost and eight VHD amplifiers 3200 that maintain sound integrity even at high volumes. For control and distribution, it has four NST Audio VMX88 processors, Two network switches Netgear M4250 12M2XF and a distribution amplifier Drawmer DA6.

To celebrate his 80 anniversary of the Rajadamnern Stadium, The management team conceived the idea of creating the first ‘Immersive Muay Thai‘ of the world. To make this vision a reality, They hired the production specialist Andrei Mazuruc, of ShowOne Productions in Canada, to lead the project.

Rajadamnern and Mazuruc chose to work with KV2 Audio for the audio system, which was supplied and installed by its distributor in Bangkok, Audio Gears.

Opened in 1945, the Rajadamnern of Bangkok, first stadium dedicated exclusively to Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) and the oldest in Thailand, stands as one of the most revered sports venues in the country. It has played a fundamental role in defining the rules, Culture, The traditions and global reputation of the sport. The venue also stands out for its unique circular design, ensuring an unobstructed view from every seat.

While the stadium's historical significance remains unchanged, The vision of its management team was to make it a global destination for sports and cultural experiences. Their mission was to create something unique and to do so it had to be reinvented and adapted to modern expectations, especially its audiovisual systems.

According to Leo Tanzil, KV2 Technical Support Manager for Asia Pacific, The design turned out to be a bigger challenge than I had anticipated. “Rajadamnern had a truly bold vision to transform the stadium and deliver a unique sporting and cultural spectacle, the world's first fully immersive Muay Thai experience. Theoretically, The audio design seemed pretty straightforward. We only needed to hang four speakers above the boxing ring, oriented towards each of the four quadrants, but no... Andrei quickly dismissed the idea, Since I didn't want anything about the ring. Even the support of the previous audio and lighting system had to be removed. So we started again from scratch”.

The design of Rajadamnern and Mazuruc conceived the dome as a giant screen, like a planetarium, which meant that visually there could be nothing to obstruct vision or cast shadows on the projection. However, The audio system needed to be powerful enough to provide crisp feedback on all seats, as well as immersive surround sound that enhanced the atmosphere and energy of the fight.

"It was a real challenge", Tanzil admits. “A design based on a distributed system of perimeter speakers around the dome wasn't going to work either, as Andrei wanted the emcee's comments to sound like they emanated from the ring; I mean, that were correctly located at the source, as well as offering excellent surround and immersive sound. And, of course, The system had to be as compact and unobtrusive as possible”.

After analyzing several options, It became clear that a solution based on the EX28 Active Full-Range Speakers of 2,5 KV2 tracks would solve all the problems.

“The EX28 speaker is small enough to sit in the corners of the ring without interrupting the action, but powerful enough to cover the entire stadium. Combined with surround sound speakers (EX28) and proper processing, We managed to create the illusion that the sound is coming from the ring and minimize the effect of reflection in the room”, says Tanzil.

A total of 24 KV2 EX28 loudspeakers throughout the stadium. A pair mounted on custom poles at each corner of the ring, along with others 16 distributed around the perimeter, deliver a crisp, dynamic audio experience at every seat. Eight KV2 VHD 2.18J subwoofers They provide high-energy bass boost, and the system is powered by eight VHD amplifiers 3200 that maintain sound integrity even at high volumes.

“In Surround Mode, each of the Perimeter speakers EX28 offers wide enough coverage for all viewers to hear surround sound, No matter where they sit”, Tanzil continues. “When combined with the distributed subwoofer configuration, Even mid-low frequencies can be located in surround mode; however, in stereo mode, Subwoofer configuration provides uniform coverage throughout the venue”.

For control and distribution, Audio Gears installed four NST Audio VMX88 processors along with two network switches Netgear M4250 12M2XF and a Drawmer DA6 distribution amplifier, which ensured flawless communication between all system components. The Digital Console Midas M32 Live of the stadium was equipped with a Dante DN32 expansion card and integrated into the new system, which eased the transition for sound engineers who were already familiar with the equipment.

Installation completed, Just in time for the stadium's grand reopening and celebration of the 80 Stadium Anniversary. With the audio update, the Rajadamnern has cemented its reputation as the best destination for Muay Thai, while consolidating its position worldwide. The transformation was immediately evident, and spectators can now experience the fights with unrivalled auditory immersion.

“KV2 system delivers unprecedented sound experience: It has opened up a new world of possibilities for the Rajadamnern Stadium.", Confirms Sarun Ladawon, Marketing Director of Global Sport Ventures. "Sound has always been a challenge in our circular dome, but with KV2, We can now hear details that were previously impossible to capture. Clarity, The depth and power of audio have transformed the atmosphere, elevating the experience completely".