Sweden - For nearly 140 years, Nalen has been hosting the performances that shaped Swedish culture – from the artists who graced its stage in the 1950s and 60s, to the diverse roster of contemporary acts that keep its calendar packed with over 100 concerts and events annually.
The 19th-century Stockholm concert hall's architectural constraints – strict weight limits, sightline restrictions, and a protected building status – meant that the aging sound system needed replacing with something both powerful and ingenious.
Working with consultant Fredrik Martinsson of Comet Audio, Nalen assessed these challenges and identified the requirements for a premium solution. Several integrators were asked to propose systems. JLE Audio AB, an L-Acoustics certified provider with over 20 years of experience with the brand, was selected based on the strength of their proposal and the confidence Nalen and Comet placed in their expertise. JLE recommended the L-Acoustics L Series, a system engineered to overcome what conventional installations couldn't: delivering premium audio coverage while respecting the very constraints that make Nalen architecturally irreplaceable.
The system in the main concert hall – well over a decade old – had reached the point where an upgrade made sense. Nalen needed something that could handle the demands of modern touring artists, control the problematic reflections bouncing off the side walls, and do it all within a 200kg ceiling weight limit.
“We needed a premium solution that could deliver maximum output with minimum footprint,” explains Johannes Jonsson, CEO and sound engineer at JLE Audio AB, who led the installation. “The system had to be sustainable, long-lasting, and capable of meeting the complex needs of a wide range of artists.”
The original project timeline was affected by the pandemic, but this delay ultimately proved favourable. When the project was initially conceived, L-Acoustics had not yet launched the L Series. By the time work resumed two years ago, however, the L Series was available – and turned out to be the solution. “Nalen was specifically interested in the L Series from the outset,” notes Jonsson. “They’re tech enthusiasts and were aware that it would tick all of their boxes.”
JLE used Soundvision to assess the viability of L2D, carefully mapping every possible option to find the perfect placement. With a proposed Soundvision design approved, the team went on to arrange a demonstration. Because JLE also rents L-Acoustics equipment, it was able to temporarily install the exact proposed configuration in Nalen’s main hall in January 2025. The results were immediately convincing – and, with that, the project was underway.
The final deployment comprises one L2D per side, four KS21 subs in cardioid, and an additional two A10 Wide for impact in the front. It was designed to ‘address every challenge and to be reconfigured with ease’.
The controlled cardioid dispersion of the L2D focuses sound energy on the audience, ensuring full coverage while dramatically reducing energy directed at the side walls.
Four KS21 subwoofers in cardioid configuration minimise low-frequency energy bouncing off the rear and side surfaces and provide powerful bass response. Finally, the two A10 Wide offer enhanced front-of-stage impact during rock concerts, and because they can be pole-mounted over the KS21 subwoofers, they’re easy to adjust for different types of events.
The new system is Nalen's first Milan-AVB installation, and is indicative of a significant step forward in the venue’s audio networking technology. The complete system runs through a P1 processor and three LA7.16i amplified controllers, a compact configuration that delivers exceptional power and control. All audio distribution uses AVB protocol via an LS10, providing reliable, low-latency digital audio transmission with built-in redundancy.
“Nalen is the second L2 installation we’ve completed,” says Jonsson. “The first was in 2024 at Jönköping Concert Hall. There is huge interest in this system throughout Sweden and we’re pleased to be meeting this demand.”
