This single-screen independent arthouse cinema specializes in classic film screenings and independent premieres, housed in a converted historic storefront with a compact, vaulted screening room. The original masonry walls and bare ceiling created severe mid-low frequency reverberation and uneven sound distribution, resulting in muddy dialogue, bloated bass and inconsistent audio quality across seating rows. Standard off-the-shelf cinema acoustic kits could not adapt to the room’s irregular dimensions and historic interior constraints, and the theater required a precision solution that would preserve the venue’s intimate, vintage character.

We engineered a fully custom grooved and perforated resonant acoustic system, discreetly installed along the side and rear walls of the screening room. Based on Helmholtz resonance principles, we calibrated the slot and hole ratios specifically for the room’s volume and seating layout, targeting the stubborn 250Hz–1000Hz mid-low frequency standing waves that dominate small enclosed screening spaces. Paired with rear air cavities and high-density acoustic fill, the system achieves an overall NRC of 0.90 for balanced full-band sound absorption. Custom dark wood veneer finishes were selected to blend with the theater’s classic, intimate interior aesthetic.

Upon completion, acoustic testing confirmed flat, uniform frequency response across all seating positions, with reverberation time optimized for film playback. Film dialogue is now crisp and intelligible, and soundtrack dynamics feel full and controlled without boomy low-end resonance. The cinema’s programming director noted that both audiences and visiting filmmakers have praised the improved audio quality, and attendance for repertory screenings has increased. The project delivers professional cinema-grade acoustic performance in a compact, historic space without compromising its unique architectural character.