Elevating Luxury: Holt Renfrew Expands Premium Audio Experience with 1 SOUND

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When luxury retailer Holt Renfrew saw a noticeable boost in sales and event engagement after upgrading the audio on their experiential floor, ON 3, the takeaway was clear: great sound is good for business.

Encouraged by these measurable results, Holt Renfrew has once again partnered with audio integrators GAV MGMT to deploy a second premium 1 SOUND installation at their flagship 50 Bloor Street East location in Toronto. The goal? To seamlessly integrate world-class audio into a high-end retail environment, elevating the customer journey without disrupting the store's striking aesthetics.

Cannon series in action on the retail floor.

Designing for a Luxury Environment

Luxury retail presents a unique set of design challenges. Every single element of the customer experience is highly intentional, meaning any technology introduced must enhance the environment rather than visually compete with it.

Working within the clean architectural vision developed by STUDIO PAOLO FERRARI, GAV MGMT balanced acoustic performance with aesthetic discretion.

• Precision Planning: The design process kicked off with a meticulous evaluation of the floor's layout, merchandising zones, ceiling conditions, and customer circulation.

• 3D Acoustic Modeling: Using 1 SOUND's Auralis prediction and 3D design software, the team modeled the loudspeaker coverage prior to installation.

• Custom Integration: Rather than forcing a standard speaker layout into the room, the system was custom-tailored to the architecture and the natural flow of the customer journey.

"The objective was to deliver clear, full-range sound with balanced low-frequency support and consistent coverage throughout the space—without drawing attention to the technology itself."

The Tech Behind the Ambiance: Clear, Consistent Coverage

To achieve an audio environment that feels natural and sonically intelligible, the team deployed a specialized distributed audio system.

The setup pairs 1 SOUND Cannon C5i loudspeakers (column-mounted) with MiniSUB5 subwoofers. Remarkably, the ceiling-mounted subwoofers extend only five inches below the ceiling, keeping them visually unobtrusive.

The Result:

• Articulate, warm music playback.

• Controlled, even low-frequency support across the entire retail floor.

• A consistent acoustic atmosphere that doesn't overwhelm conversations or distract from the shopping experience.

  
  

Sound as a Driver of Business Performance

Within Holt Renfrew, audio is far more than just background music. It is a strategic tool that shapes how customers perceive the environment, influences how long they linger, and ultimately dictates how the brand is experienced.

By integrating premium sound seamlessly into the store's architecture, GAV MGMT has created a space where technology quietly supports the luxury retail experience. This second successful deployment proves that a thoughtful, strategic investment in high-quality sound creates lasting value that goes well beyond the technical performance of the speakers.

Project Specs at a Glance

Category	Details
Location	Holt Renfrew Flagship (50 Bloor Street East, Toronto)
Installation By	GAV MGMT
Architectural Vision	STUDIO PAOLO FERRARI
Audio Brand	1 SOUND
Products Used	Cannon C5i loudspeakers, MiniSUB5 subwoofers
Design Software	Auralis 3D prediction software