High-end d&b audiotechnik audio across a Grade II listed London landmark.
The Hippodrome Casino: London
This case study looks at how the Middlesex Sound & Lighting team delivered a premium, multi-zone audio system across one of London’s most famous entertainment venues, spanning several floors and a rooftop terrace, all while working within the constraints of a Grade II listed building.
About The Hippodrome Casino
The Hippodrome is one of the West End’s most famous entertainment landmarks, a historic venue that has been part of London’s nightlife for well over a century. Today it combines casino floors, bars, dining and live entertainment across multiple levels, including a dedicated live stage area and a rooftop terrace.
As a Grade II listed building, the venue carries genuine architectural significance, which made the choice of audio partner and the way the system was installed every bit as important as the sound itself.
The Project
The team behind the casino came to MSL with a clear ambition: they wanted a genuinely high-end audio system, and they wanted it built around d&b audiotechnik, a premium manufacturer known for exceptional quality.
MSL designed and delivered a distributed d&b system spanning three floors of the venue, with audio carefully zoned across the different spaces. This included the live stage area, where we provided distributed audio around the stage, a front-of-house left and right system, and subwoofers for low-frequency support. To give the venue full flexibility for live performance, we also supplied a digital mixing desk so that performers and operators could input directly into the system.
The brief extended beyond the interior to the rooftop terrace, where new structures were created that we were able to incorporate into the wider audio-visual scheme.
The Challenges
Working within a Grade II listed building was the central challenge. Heritage protections meant that installation had to be approached with real care, including handling and integrating speakers within existing infrastructure, working with established cable routes, and coordinating closely with the other trades on site rather than simply starting from scratch.
The scale of the venue added further complexity. Delivering consistent, high-quality audio across three distinct floors, a live stage environment and an external terrace required careful zoning and design, so that each space had the right sound for its purpose without compromising the building or the guest experience. The project was also delivered during the COVID period, adding a layer of logistical planning to an already demanding installation.
The Solution
MSL delivered a fully distributed d&b audiotechnik system, zoned across the venue’s multiple floors and spaces to give each area its own identity and appropriate energy level.
In the live stage area, the system was built for performance, with distributed audio around the stage, a front-of-house left and right configuration, subwoofers for low-end support, and a digital desk allowing direct input for live use.
Elsewhere across the floors, distributed audio provided even, high-quality coverage suited to the casino and hospitality spaces, while the rooftop terrace extended the experience outdoors.
Because the client had specified a premium system, MSL worked in close partnership with d&b’s own application engineers, meeting on site to design and deliver the installation together. That collaboration ensured the system performed to the standard the venue and the brand demanded.
Training and Support
The system was designed for reliable, straightforward day-to-day operation, with the flexibility for live and event use where needed. MSL continues to provide ongoing support, ensuring the installation remains dependable in a busy, high-profile environment.
Why Middlesex Sound & Lighting?
The Hippodrome chose MSL on the strength of a relationship built through earlier high-end audio work and a clear track record of delivering premium systems. The project reflects our:
- Experience delivering high-end, multi-zone audio in landmark venues
- Confidence working within Grade II listed and heritage-sensitive buildings
- Close working relationship with premium manufacturers such as d&b audiotechnik
- Ability to integrate with existing infrastructure and coordinate multiple trades
- Reputation for reliability on high-profile, high-footfall sites
Want to deliver high-end audio in a landmark or listed building? Get in touch to explore how we can blend heritage and performance, seamlessly.