Music Box Theatre Chicago Upgrades Cinema Sound

One of America’s most beloved historic cinemas has entered a new era of sound reproduction with the installation of a custom Alcons Audio cinema sound system at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Originally opened in 1929, the Music Box Theatre is renowned for its distinctive architecture, extensive film programming and dedication to preserving the authentic cinema experience. As part of an ambitious audio upgrade, the venue sought a solution capable of delivering state-of-the-art performance while respecting the architectural and acoustic constraints of the historic building.

The installation was completed by cinema specialist dealer and integrator Kinora, with system design recommendations provided in collaboration with industry veteran Bill Steel of Hollywood’s Post 43.

Justin Dennis of Kinora: “The Music Box team was looking for a premium cinema audio solution that could seamlessly integrate within the historic architecture while significantly improving coverage, dialog intelligibility and overall audience experience,” explains Justin. “At the same time, the system needed to overcome the acoustic challenges typically associated with heritage venues.”

“Installing an Alcons system put an end to complaints about dialog intelligibility and listener fatigue, and was one of the best investments we’ve ever made in our theater.”, Julian Antos, Technical Director Music Box Theatre

The theatre’s new Alcons Audio system features a front-stage configuration consisting of two CRA24N/90bi and one CRA24W/120bi pro-ribbon screen systems for the center channel, complemented by left and right channel arrays comprising 4x QR24 line-source columns with 1x QB242 low-frequency extensions each. Low-frequency reproduction is provided by two CB362 high-output double 18” subwoofers, powered and managed by a combination of Sentinel10 and Director6 4 and 8-channel amplified loudspeaker controllers.

A key requirement was maintaining the visual integrity of the theatre’s historic interior. All left and right loudspeakers were custom colour matched to blend discreetly into the venue’s architecture, ensuring minimal visual impact while delivering maximum sonic performance. The subwoofers and CRA cluster live in a center channel alcove behind the projection screen.

The project presented a variety of technical challenges. The room’s historic construction, demanding acoustics, and the physical placement constraints created by architectural elements—including the theatre’s iconic organ—required precise pattern control and highly accurate system deployment.

Alcons’ proprietary pro-ribbon technology and controlled directivity characteristics proved particularly valuable in addressing these challenges. By focusing sound energy precisely where it was needed and minimizing unwanted reflections, the system achieved exceptional clarity and consistency throughout the auditorium.

For Music Box Theatre Technical Director Julian Antos, the results have exceeded expectations; “Alcons worked with us to come up with a system that could present state-of-the-art sound in our historic (and historically acoustically challenging) theater while also working seamlessly with the architecture,” says Antos. “The system reproduces the wide variety of soundtracks we play beautifully and accurately, from sweeping 70mm epics, to blockbusters, to films recorded at the very dawn of sound. We’re particularly thrilled with the system’s handling of older mono optical soundtracks, delivering clear, warm, and intelligible audio.”

He continues: “Installing an Alcons system put an end to complaints about dialog intelligibility and listener fatigue, and was one of the best investments we’ve ever made in our theater.”

The successful installation demonstrates how modern cinema sound technology can enhance the audience experience while preserving the character and heritage of historic venues. By combining exceptional intelligibility, dynamic range and sonic accuracy with discreet architectural integration, the Alcons Audio system ensures that audiences at the

Music Box Theatre can experience every soundtrack exactly as intended by its creators.

For more information, visit www.musicboxtheatre.com .

• Share
• Tweet
• Share
• WhatsApp
• E-mail