Precision in Performance: Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Lady Andal, Chennai
Ansata and d&b audiotechnik enhance one of South India’s most prestigious performance venues
Setting the Scene
Located within the Lady Andal IB World School campus, the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall is one of Chennai’s finest performance spaces, a venue that seamlessly blends architectural elegance with acoustic precision. Part of the Madras Seva Sadan charitable foundation, the 1,200-capacity hall has hosted a wide range of national and international performances, from orchestral concerts to contemporary productions.
Originally designed by renowned acoustician Andy Munro, the hall has long been recognized for its excellent natural acoustics. Continuing its legacy of excellence, the foundation recently undertook a significant audio upgrade to ensure the venue remains at the forefront of live performance technology, all while maintaining the integrity of its original acoustic design.
Ambazari garden, located by the side of Ambazari Lake, shares a scenic surrounding and tranquil ambience with the people in Nagpur, India. The expanse of Ambazari lake and garden is quite large and hosts a statue of Swami Vivekananda on the eastern corner of the lake. Furthermore, the amphitheatre, with a capacity of 300 people, is created in RCC, mostly by using the contours of the land available. The control room contains two projectors, audio racks, and integration racks.
With the aim to provide visitors a descriptive view of Swami Vivekananda’s life, Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority planned to create a sound, light and multimedia Show on the life of Swami Vivekananda at the statue’s site. However, due to possible traffic around the junction of two major roads, the SEL show was shifted inside the Ambazari garden.
The Challenge
After years of continuous use, the venue’s sound system required modernization to meet the growing demands of contemporary productions: larger ensembles, expanded channel counts, and higher SPL requirements.
The goal was to improve coverage, clarity, and headroom while maintaining the existing loudspeaker infrastructure wherever possible. This approach aligned perfectly with the foundation’s sustainability ethos, upgrading for performance and longevity rather than replacement.
The Solution
To bring new life to the existing setup, Ansata, exclusive d&b audiotechnik distributor in India, supplied five d&b 40D amplifiers, providing the capability of array processing to be enabled in the system.
Originally equipped in 2018, the venue’s d&b Yi-Series system, comprising six Yi8 line array loudspeakers and two Yi-Sub subwoofers per side, a Yi10P for center fill, and three additional Yi10Ps as balcony delays, remained structurally sound and acoustically accurate. With the integration of the new 40D amplifiers and array processing to the system, the Ansata application specialist, Kendrick Robin, re-tuned the system to maximize its performance envelope.
The upgrade delivered greater coverage uniformity, enhanced dynamic range, and expanded system headroom, all without altering the hall’s architectural or acoustic integrity.
“We’ve been able to completely upgrade the sound in the hall without tearing out the existing d&b speakers or buying a new system,” says Krish Kumar, Head of Operations at Madras Seva Sadan. “The improvement in coverage and headroom has been remarkable, the hall and the sound system now feel like a single instrument.”
The upgrade also included an expansion of the venue’s Avid S6L mixing console, now upgraded with the E6L-112 engine and Stage 16 stageboxes, providing a 96-channel signal path and transparent stage connectivity for live productions. To complement the system, DPA 4488 CORE directional headset microphones were also supplied for stage use.
The Result
The concert hall now offers a renewed, high-performance sound environment that meets the demands of modern productions while preserving its acoustic legacy.
The combination of d&b 40D amplifiers, the Yi-Series system, and enhanced signal chain transparency has transformed the venue into a model of efficiency and sustainability, delivering international-grade sound without extensive reinvestment.
For audiences, the difference is immediate: every seat in the 1,200-capacity hall now experiences consistent clarity, warmth, and power. For performers, the stage feels responsive and alive, perfectly aligned with the room’s acoustics.
System Overview
- Yi8 Loudspeakers
- Yi10P Loudspeakers (Center and Balcony Delay)
- Yi-Subwoofers
- Yi10P Loudspeakers (Center Fill)
- d&b 40D Amplifiers
- d&b D80 Amplifiers
- Y8/Y12 Flying Adapters
- DPA 4488 CORE Headset Microphones
- Avid S6L Console with E6L-112 Engine and Stage 16 Stageboxes
