Dating to the 13th century, the Church of Ognissanti in Florence serves as both an active parish and a destination for visitors drawn to its architecture and Renaissance artwork, including Sandro Botticelli’s St. Augustine in His Study. Its regular schedule of liturgical services, concerts and cultural events required clear speech reinforcement throughout the 35-meter central nave. However, high vaulted ceilings and reflective masonry surfaces created long reverberation times that reduced intelligibility, while preservation requirements limited the number and placement of visible loudspeakers. The church needed an audio solution that could overcome these acoustic challenges without disrupting the visual character of the protected historic interior.
Working with the project architects and system designers, Exhibo conducted acoustic measurements, three-dimensional modeling and beam-steering simulations before specifying a system centered on two JBL Professional Intellivox column loudspeakers. Positioned on either side of the central nave, the Intellivox loudspeakers use Digital Directivity Synthesis technology to focus sound toward the congregation while reducing reflections from the walls and vaulted surfaces. With only two loudspeakers, the system provides controlled coverage across approximately 35 meters of the nave while minimizing variation in sound pressure between listening areas.
JBL Professional COL800 column loudspeakers installed behind the altar provide localized reinforcement for the presbytery while maintaining a discreet visual presence. Following installation, the system underwent on-site tuning to refine beam steering and optimize performance for the church’s acoustic environment.
“The goal was clear: improve speech intelligibility throughout the central nave without introducing invasive elements or multiplying sound diffusion points,” said Andrea Ficara, Exhibo S.p.A Product Specialist. “Acoustic simulations enabled us to identify the optimal positions for the JBL Intellivox loudspeakers and predict how sound would behave within the liturgical space. The final solution used just two loudspeakers to effectively cover approximately 35 meters of the central nave while maintaining minimal variation in sound pressure across the different listening areas.”
The completed JBL Professional system delivers consistent speech intelligibility throughout the Church of Ognissanti while requiring only two Intellivox loudspeakers to cover the 35-meter central nave. Controlled beam steering directs sound toward worshippers and away from reflective architectural surfaces, reducing the effects of reverberation while providing natural speech reproduction for sermons, spoken liturgy and other events.
Dedicated JBL Professional COL800 loudspeakers provide complementary coverage around the altar, allowing the main nave and presbytery to maintain appropriate reinforcement without adding unnecessary loudspeaker positions throughout the sanctuary. By combining JBL Professional beam-steering technology with detailed acoustic planning, Exhibo delivered a minimally invasive system that improves clarity while preserving the architecture and visual character of one of Florence’s historic churches.
