APG Speakers Deliver 360° Sonic Immersion At Magasins Généraux

Nantes (France) – In early 2026, the Magasins Généraux near Paris, a former century-old industrial warehouse on the banks of the Canal de l’Ourcq, played host to HORS-SOL’s [extended day+night], an all-night anniversary event running from late afternoon through to the following morning. The event centered on a 360° stage, a carefully curated lineup of international and resident electronic music artists, and a commitment to sonic immersion that placed genuine demands on the sound system. That system was designed and deployed by MOOV’EVENT, using a full APG rig built around the Uniline Max line array.

HORS-SOL is a Paris-based electronic music collective with eight years of event experience, known for creating inclusive, community-focused spaces around electronic music. The Magasins Généraux, their chosen venue for the anniversary celebration, presented both an aesthetic opportunity and a significant technical challenge. Originally a key logistics hub supplying Paris from the canal network, the site was renovated from 2013 and reopened in 2016 as the headquarters of advertising agency BETC alongside a public cultural venue. Its preserved industrial character, including low ceilings, concrete pillars and highly reflective floors and walls, makes it one of the most acoustically demanding spaces in the greater Paris area.

MOOV’EVENT is a technical services provider specializing in live music since 2014, with a particular focus on electronic, dub and reggae productions. The company was selected for the project based on a long-standing relationship with HORS-SOL and prior experience at the same venue in 2022. MOOV’EVENT holds Advanced Developer status with APG, and they are one of only a small number of operators to do so. They were also among the first in the industry to invest in the Uniline Max ahead of its commercial release in December 2024.

The brief for the HORS-SOL event was ambitious and precise. Place the artists at the centre of the room, diffuse sound outward from that point, ensure uniform coverage across the full space, keep the setup visually discreet to preserve sightlines to the stage, and complete the rig in a single morning. “The configuration was entirely atypical,” says Felipe Araya, founder and manager of MOOV’EVENT. “There was a central stage with unconventional speaker placement, housed within a very acoustically challenging environment. The venue presented numerous obstacles, like concrete pillars, highly reflective surfaces and a low ceiling. And that made sound diffusion particularly complex.”

“The layout was designed to create circular sound diffusion around the central stage,” says Araya, “optimising coverage while limiting negative interactions with the venue’s acoustics.” To achieve this, MOOV’EVENT developed a configuration that placed the main system above and around the performance area, directing sound outward from the centre rather than projecting it across the room from a front-of-stage position.

12 APG Uniline Max cabinets formed the heart of the system, flown in four clusters of three and positioned symmetrically around the central stage. The Uniline Max is a line array drawing on APG’s four decades of experience in diffraction control and coaxial assembly, with an integrated rigging system supporting both tension and compression mounting. Its compact form factor was a key practical consideration given the constraints of the space and the tight setup schedule.

12 APG DX15 two-way full-range loudspeakers were mounted on the central grid above the stage, while four DX12 units and two SPOT 2.6 compact full-range speakers were deployed on stands around the performance area. APG subwoofers were positioned on the floor surrounding the stage, reinforcing the low end without interrupting the 360° layout. The system was driven by APG DA12 amplifiers, four-channel units with full signal processing, Dante/AES67 connectivity and ArmoníaPlus remote control capability.

“The Uniline Max was the clear choice for this project because of its high acoustic precision, compact form factor and ease of deployment,” states Felipe Araya. “Moreover, being an ‘Advanced Developer’ partner with APG drives us to explore new fields of application for these systems, especially in environments where they would not typically be used.”

The circular diffusion design was developed specifically for the venue and format, with the system tuned via ArmoníaPlus to manage coverage uniformity and contain unwanted reflections from the space’s hard surfaces. “APG’s systems made it possible to meet every demand on this project, thanks to the precision, modularity and speed of deployment of their products,” says Araya. “This enabled us to achieve a successful installation despite the challenging conditions.”

“The client warmly congratulated us on the overall success of the project,” says Araya, “all the more so because this sound system configuration had never been attempted before at the venue. Audience feedback was also excellent, particularly surrounding the quality of sonic immersion at the event.”

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About APG
Created in 1978, APG is a manufacturer of high-quality professional loudspeakers. Today APG is continuing in its drive for excellence and controlled growth, based on the development of a new line of innovative products, a global strategy and core values of ethic and respect for its customers, its suppliers and its environment. 45 years after its creation, APG has left a mark on audio history with the creation and achievement of major acoustic and electronic innovations: Appolito's baffle (1982), coaxial loudspeakers (1991), ISOTOP™ driver, Bandpass and K-Horn loads, cone drivers' dynamic protection. The performance and versatility of APG systems have earned the recognition of the most demanding professionals all over the world, from sound engineers to systems engineers and from sound designers to artists themselves. APG and sister company Active Audio, a French manufacturer of professional PA system equipment are both companies of Arbane Groupe.

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