Located in Ossów, Poland, the 1920 Battle of Warsaw Museum was designed to bring visitors closer to one of the country's defining historical conflicts through interactive exhibitions, multimedia storytelling and cultural programming. Within the newly constructed Polish Army Museum pavilion, the project required an audio system capable of creating realistic battlefield environments while supporting traditional exhibition audio and live events across multiple spaces. Architectural considerations added another challenge, with many loudspeakers positioned overhead, requiring a spatial audio solution that could create the perception of sound moving naturally around visitors rather than originating from the ceiling.
System integrator ESS Audio designed an integrated HARMAN Professional system centered on FLUX:: SPAT Revolution, allowing designers to position and move audio objects dynamically throughout the exhibition. Battlefield elements including aircraft, cavalry, explosions and troop movements could be placed within a three-dimensional sound field, while SPAT Revolution's spatial processing and reverberation tools allowed the team to alter the perceived acoustic character of individual spaces.
“One of the key advantages of FLUX:: SPAT Revolution was the ability to complete most of the spatial design work before arriving on site,” said Mateusz Nawrocki of ESS Audio. “We collaborated closely with the composer, building and reviewing spatial mixes in advance using binaural previews. This approach not only saved significant time during installation but also ensured the final sound experience was already well defined and aligned before deployment.”
The museum entrance hall features two JBL CBT 1000 column loudspeakers, four JBL CBT 70J + 70JE-1 column speakers, 10 JBL AC16 compact loudspeakers and four JBL Control SB2210 subwoofers arranged in two half-ring configurations. The main exhibition hall incorporates 14 JBL Control HST loudspeakers, six JBL CBT 70J-1 column speakers and four JBL Control SB2210 subwoofers. Additional JBL Control 25-1, Control 60PS/T and Control 67P/T loudspeakers provide localized reinforcement for individual exhibits.
For live programming, the museum's multi-functional performance space includes 14 JBL SRX906 line array loudspeakers and four JBL SRX915 subwoofers, complemented by JBL 9300 Cinema Surround Series loudspeakers. Crown DSi amplifiers provide system power, while BSS BLU-101 and BLU-160 processors with Dante integration handle routing, tuning and distribution. Soundcraft Si Series mixing consoles and 10 AKG microphones support lectures, presentations and cultural events. AMX NMX encoders and decoders, VARIA touch panels and TPControl integration provide centralized management across the exhibition and performance spaces.
The integrated system allows the 1920 Battle of Warsaw Museum to use spatial audio as part of the historical narrative, placing visitors within dynamic sound environments rather than relying solely on conventional loudspeaker playback. FLUX:: SPAT Revolution enables battlefield sounds to move naturally throughout the exhibition while overcoming the limitations of ceiling-mounted loudspeaker positions, helping maintain localization, clarity and spatial realism.
“In our exhibition, visitors can feel as if they are standing in the middle of a battlefield,” said Nawrocki. “This creates a much stronger emotional connection and helps them imagine the fear, tension, uncertainty, and determination that people experienced. Instead of simply observing the exhibition, they become part of it for a moment.”
By combining FLUX:: spatial processing with JBL Professional loudspeakers, Crown amplification, BSS processing, Soundcraft mixing, AKG microphones and AMX control, ESS Audio delivered a unified system that supports immersive exhibitions alongside lectures, performances and cultural programming. The installation gives the museum a flexible audio platform for using sound to support historical interpretation, education and public engagement.
