The former locksmith's workshop has been family-owned for generations. After the actual locksmith's business moved to an industrial estate many years ago, the old premises were most recently used mainly for storage and were partly empty.

The client's wish: to preserve the historic building, which is a listed monument, and at the same time give it a completely new use.

The aim was to transform the formerly dark workshop and storage areas into a bright, open and modern residential building, without losing the history of the several hundred-year-old building.

Another important requirement was to sensitively integrate the new, modern technology into the existing architecture.

This also applied to the audio solution.

A modern audio system was desired that would provide different areas of the house with high-quality sound and at the same time offer the client as much freedom as possible in terms of music selection and operation.

The technology should not be the focus. Rather, it had to fit naturally into the overall architectural concept.

WHD therefore developed a multi-zone audio solution that combined amplifiers, streaming receivers, local audio connections and various wall and ceiling speakers.

The heart of the audio solution consists of two WHD AMP 4200 multi-zone amplifiers.

These network-capable Class D amplifiers enable individual supply to multiple loudspeaker zones and provide four separate output channels for this purpose. Different audio sources can thus be flexibly distributed to various areas.

For the client, this means that music does not have to be played identically throughout the entire building. The individual areas can be controlled individually according to their respective use.

For convenient operation, three TP 4200 touch panels were also installed. These control units integrated into the wall allow important functions of the audio system to be controlled directly and intuitively.

This ensures that operation remains simple and suitable for everyday use even with a technically extensive audio system.

The client should also remain as flexible as possible when choosing the music source.

Three WHD AirBridge Pro units enable wireless music playback via WLAN and Bluetooth. Music can thus be easily transferred from a smartphone, tablet or other compatible devices to the audio system.

In addition, an IR-19 BT Internet radio was integrated. This provides Internet, DAB+ and FM radio, among other things, as well as further network and playback options in addition to Bluetooth.

Three PREAMP 55 UP preamplifiers complement the installation with local connection options (e.g. cinch connection for TV) and enable reliable transmission of audio signals to the centrally installed amplifier system.

This resulted in a flexible audio solution that is not limited to a single playback method.

Different solutions were deliberately used for the loudspeakers.

Four black QB 300 wall-mounted loudspeakers combine high-quality music reproduction with a deliberately minimalist, modern design language and thus blend into the interior design concept.

A weather-resistant version of the QB 300 was also used for the terrace. This means that the audio solution can also be used outdoors.

In other areas, such as the kitchen on the ground floor, the loudspeakers were to be integrated into the architecture as discreetly as possible. Three M/R 180 2-way wall and ceiling loudspeakers were used for this purpose.

The result is a sound reinforcement solution that is not based on a rigid loudspeaker concept, but on the requirements of the respective room and architecture.