Independent Finnish cinema Kino Piispanristi competes with major chains thanks to Genelec sound system

Kino Piispanristi - a full-service 286-seat independent movie theatre close to Turku, Finland - recently equipped its luxury new premium screen with a Genelec sound system comprising the brand’s smart active studio loudspeakers and subwoofers.

The venue is a long-time passion project of Henry Erkkilä, a film lover who wanted to create a modern cinema that transcends tradition when it comes to audio-visual technology.

Erkkilä discovered his love for the film industry as a young boy. His father had a film projector that he travelled around Sweden with, bringing the latest screen favourites to audiences in his home country. Prior to the screening, Erkkilä would be tasked with dropping off advertisements in the local area, showcasing the movie on offer that evening and encouraging people to attend.

Inspired by his father, he set up his very own touring movie theatre concept in 1998, but it wasn’t until 2017 that Erkkilä finally opened his first permanent space. Kino Piispanristi began with two theatres, but now the cinema boasts five screens, as well as additional venues in Turku, Salo and Laitila.

“We strive to offer all the perks of a modern cinema without being a faceless corporation,” said Erkkilä. “We react to trends quickly and make moves boldly so that our customers can walk in and out feeling happy. Having the greatest theatre sound system in Finland is an excellent way to help us light up people’s faces!”

Kino Piispanristi’s newest screen is a premium, more intimate space with exceptional picture quality and a 7.1 audio system based around Genelec’s ‘The Ones’ family of coaxial three-way studio loudspeakers – which deliver extended frequency response, controlled directivity and fatigue-free listening.

Three 8361s – the flagship of The Ones range – are deployed for LCR, with six of the more compact 8341s in the surround positions, complemented by two 7380 subwoofers for clean, controlled LF performance.

“For our premium space, sound is everything. Theatre technology, be it projectors, screens, audio or seats, is constantly evolving and unless you’re among the frontrunners, you might get left behind,” Erkkilä explained. “Genelec is widely known and admired as a wonderful example of Finnish engineering and design. As a local business, we try to emphasise the importance of using locally sourced products, and Genelec’s quality is unmatched. This was a pilot project for us and we’re looking into expanding our other spaces – since it’s been such a hit. We charge a few Euros extra for the premium screen, but the movie experience is so good that our customers still see it as excellent value.” 

Usually found powering the world’s most notable music, broadcast and film studios, Genelec’s studio loudspeakers are now being specified for an increasing number of high-end residential and boutique commercial cinemas around the world – thereby allowing customers to experience the same kind of sonic detail and clarity as the movie creators themselves.

The Ones models provide optimised performance by intelligently adapting to the acoustics of the room, achieved by a combination of GLM software and internal DSP within each loudspeaker and subwoofer.

“GLM calibration allowed us to achieve a better balance with the lower and higher voices on screen,” explained Erkkilä. “Without it, it’s likely that the room would’ve changed the natural feel of the audio. It gave us full control over the system.”

GLM offers precise calibration of each loudspeaker’s in-room frequency response, playback level and distance delay, minimising unwanted room influences and ensuring the best possible audio quality.

In addition to the Genelec system, Kino Piispanristi uses Dolby Cinema processors which bring a natural feel to film soundscapes – immersing the audience in the true excitement of cinema.

“Our expertise in cinema and Genelec’s legacy in sound was the perfect match, and the collaboration was even more meaningful because of the local connection,” concluded Erkkilä.

“The Ones loudspeaker series has completely transformed the cinema, and now we can offer audiences everything that the big players can – and more. The cinema is a result of a lot of hard work and dedication, and the Genelec system feels like the icing on the cake. It’s reinvented what we show on the screen.”