Tucked away in Highgate, London, the L-Acoustics showroom isn’t your typical demo space – it’s a playground for sound and creativity. Featuring HYRISS (Hyperreal Immersive Sound Space) technology, the venue has been wowing visitors since day one, whether they’ve come to listen to the manufacturer’s equipment or for the raft of events like an exclusive album listening session, an intimate live performance, a cinema screening evening or an immersive art installation. Every inch of the space has been designed to feel premium, flexible and futureproof, an environment where world-class technology meets artistry and luxury.
Behind the scenes, that magic relies on something most people never notice: the cabling. To make the showroom truly seamless, the engineering team needed an infrastructure that could deliver flawless audio, video and lighting without breaking stride. That’s where Van Damme came in, providing the hidden backbone that ensures everything runs smoothly.
“The product hybrids needed a flexible infrastructure,” explains Kevin Groom, Application Engineer of Showroom Solutions and one of the key players behind creating the space. “Any activity – cinema, fashion show, ballet or performance – had to work in the room. We designed it so that every conceivable use case could be supported without retrofitting.” That meant building a comprehensive network of connection points across two rooms, allowing equipment to be plugged in wherever needed while ensuring zero signal loss.
Futureproofing was also crucial, as Groom notes: “We had to plan for products we didn’t even know about yet. For example, the DJ decks we can now roll in and plug directly into the central rack to demonstrate L-Acoustics DJ. That flexibility is built into the cabling.”
When it came to choosing a cable partner, Van Damme stood out immediately. “We needed a solution for all our cable needs – audio, video, lighting and power. Van Damme had 75% of our requirements covered straight from their portfolio. Why would we buy from anyone else? Buy once, buy the proper grade. Van Damme is legacy – the best in the business.”
Locality played its part too. The cable manufacturer’s headquarters are just minutes away from the L-Acoustics Creative Hub in Kentish Town, making logistics efficient and sustainable. “Even sustainability was important. Why ship cables from overseas when the best in the business are right on our doorstep?” says Groom. “If we forgot something, it was a five-minute trip. That responsiveness saved us weeks of delays.”
Support from Van Damme’s team extended well beyond delivery. Groom adds: “There are always moments in complex projects where you overlook something. Van Damme were always there with the right component at the right time. Without that, the build could have been delayed for weeks. They really held our hand through the process.”
The results speak for themselves. In just under a year, the space has hosted more than 500 high-profile demonstrations for global clients and distribution partners – without a single failure caused by cabling. “These are mission-critical rooms. We host super-VIP demos with people who scrutinise every detail. We’ve never had a failed demo due to cabling. There’s never been a missed beat.”
For L-Acoustics, choosing Van Damme was about ensuring that the invisible infrastructure matched the premium nature of the HYRISS technology itself. Groom adds: “We’re an engineering-first company. I’m an electronics engineer, so I know what proper connections should be and how critical they are to sound. Van Damme provides exactly that – the best versions available for our needs.”
The partnership has also been strengthened by close collaboration and flexibility. “Van Damme have been incredibly supportive with the inevitable changes that come with a complex project like this, adapting to our specific business needs. They’ve worked wonders to keep things moving.”
While the setup at L-Acoustics’ Highgate showroom will continue to evolve as the French manufacturer unveils its latest cutting-edge audio solutions, the team can be certain that they have the right infrastructure in place to make anything possible.
For more information, visit van-damme.com
