A new venue in Chico is demonstrating how advanced spatial audio can redefine small performance spaces. The Breakbeat, a compact arts and music venue created from a former retail unit, has become the first site in the Americas to install the L-Acoustics DJ system, combined with a full L-ISA immersive audio setup.

Developed in collaboration with Brown Note Productions, the installation transforms a traditional stereo DJ environment into a dynamic, spatial audio experience. Using real-time source separation technology, L-Acoustics DJ enables individual elements within a track to be positioned and moved throughout the room, without requiring changes to a DJ’s existing workflow.

Purpose-Built Immersive System

The venue features a 12.1.4 surround configuration tailored to its footprint. An overhead ring of L-Acoustics X8i loudspeakers provides surround coverage, supported by X6i units above the audience area. Three Syva Sub in a horizontal array behind the stage anchor the low end with amplification handled via LA7.16i and LA2Xi controllers.

This configuration allows audio elements to move freely around the space, creating a consistent listening experience regardless of the audience position, something not achievable with conventional left-right systems.

Beyond DJ Performance

While the L-Acoustics DJ system is a key feature, The Breakbeat has been designed as a multi-purpose performance and arts space. The integrated L-ISA system enables a wide range of live content, from acoustic performances to electronic sets, to be presented in immersive sound.

Early events have shown the flexibility of the system, with both live musicians and DJs benefiting from enhanced clarity, spatial depth, and audience engagement. The result is a listening environment where audiences experience sound as a fully enveloping element, rather than something projected from a single stage direction.

Supporting Artists and Creative Exploration

A venue built around emerging technology brings with it the need to support artists in exploring new creative possibilities. At The Breakbeat, this has been approached as a core part of the venue’s identity.

The L-Acoustics DJ platform has been designed with accessibility in mind, allowing visiting DJs to engage with spatial audio without requiring specialist technical knowledge. While the interface is intuitive, the creative scope is significant, enabling performers to experiment with movement, positioning and spatial effects in real time.

Early feedback suggests that once performers begin using the system, they quickly find opportunities within their sets to enhance impact through spatialisation. The result is often an immediate and noticeable shift in both performance style and audience perception, as sound is no longer fixed to a stage but becomes an active, dynamic element within the space.

This combination of ease-of-use and advanced capability reflects a broader shift within the industry, where immersive audio is becoming increasingly accessible—not only in large-scale venues, but also in smaller, flexible performance environments.

Find out more here:

l-acoustics.com