Just a stone’s throw from The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, a sprawling basement entertainment space has been transformed with L-Acoustics professional audio. But this wasn’t a typical client project. The homeowner – a longtime client of Surbiton-based integrator Lighthouse – presented a unique proposition: design and install the audio system of your choice, with complete creative freedom. The only constraint? It has to sound great.
In exchange, once completed, Lighthouse could use the space as their showroom, giving future clients a real-world demonstration of the possibilities of an exceptional audio system in a luxury residential setting.
The partnership between Lighthouse and the homeowner stretches back nearly a decade, with the integrator trusted to oversee and enhance multiple properties across Europe and the US. For this project, the brief was straightforward: install a great-sounding audio system.
Lighthouse was given free rein to design the space to suit their business needs as well.
“This is our first project with L-Acoustics,” says Jon Schaffer, Managing Director of Lighthouse. “We’ve been interested in the company for years but were waiting for the right project. Knowing we’d be using this install to show future clients what they’ll get when they team up with Lighthouse, there was only one option when it came to specifying the audio brand.”
L-Acoustics’ diverse product range perfectly suited the basement’s layout, with four distinct areas each requiring its own acoustic approach.
The basement presented significant design challenges. As a retrofit project, Lighthouse had to work within the constraints of existing cabling and architectural features. The space includes extensive reflective surfaces, particularly in the bar area, where hundreds of bottles created potential for unwanted reverberation and resonance. The team also had to ensure the different zones wouldn’t clash acoustically while maintaining sonic cohesion across the entire basement.
The entertainment space comprises four distinct areas: a gym separated from the main space by chain curtains, a bar and meeting area perfect for relaxed gatherings, a sports lounge with large-screen viewing, and a dance floor designed for high-energy entertainment. Each zone needed its own solution.
Lighthouse turned to L-Acoustics Soundvision audio modelling software to tackle the complexity. “Soundvision was crucial in providing us with multiple design options to consider,” explains Jon “Combined with the support from the L-Acoustics team, we could narrow down the possibilities and find the right solution for each space.”
The gym area features two black ceiling-mounted L-Acoustics X6i speakers. The X6i were chosen specifically for their ability to deliver even coverage without overwhelming bass in a smaller, partitioned space, eliminating the need for a subwoofer while keeping the aesthetic clean.
For the bar and meeting space, two L-Acoustics X4i speakers paired with an L-Acoustics SB10i subwoofer provide rich, clear sound whether someone’s relaxing alone or hosting a group. The SB10i is cleverly concealed behind joinery with appropriate ventilation. “This setup ensures visitors can enjoy the clarity and resolution the speakers offer even at low volumes, so conversation flows naturally above the music,” notes Jon. “That was critical for a space designed for socialising.”
Two L-Acoustics X4i speakers sit subtly above the screen in the sports lounge, disappearing into the architecture, paired with an L-Acoustics SB10i subwoofer. The system delivers impactful audio for viewing parties and live sports screenings without dominating the visual space.
For high-energy entertainment on the dance floor, four white L-Acoustics X8i speakers and two L-Acoustics SB10i subwoofers on the back wall ensure dynamic, club-quality sound. The X8i were selected for their ability to handle the power and sonic clarity needed when the space transforms into a party venue.
Throughout the design process, Lighthouse planned for future expansion. The infrastructure supports additional subwoofers and larger amplifier configurations if the homeowner decides to upgrade later.
The installation has already proven successful in its dual role. “The flexibility that the amps provide makes the audio sound really tight, and the quality of the calibration is excellent,” says Jon. “Products aside, the support from the L-Acoustics team during the planning and calibration stages was fantastic. It helped ensure every speaker was perfectly tuned to the space.”
Now the showroom welcomes future customers, architects and interior designers to experience what Lighthouse and L-Acoustics can deliver in a real home environment. Visitors can hear how a properly designed entertainment space provides families with a multifunctional area where everyone’s interests, from fitness to film nights to dance parties, can be enjoyed in one cohesive space.
“We’re excited to show clients what’s possible,” Jon concludes. “And there’s nothing quite like experiencing L-Acoustics in a real-world, luxury residential setting.”