Switzerland’s public broadcast SRG-SSR has launched three outside broadcasting vans with immersive audio monitoring systems from PSI Audio, with another due to launch soon.
The vans are used on OBs for sport and entertainment events with each one working on the different languages produced by the broadcaster (French, German and Italian).

The team at SRG-SSR undertook a blind test to decide which speakers would work for the vans. “About 40 sound engineers were given 40 minutes each to judge the speakers,” said Fabrice Mossuz, audio specialist. “They could use their own reference tracks, from classical music to TV shows, and would judge the speakers on several criteria.”
The criteria included acoustic design, phase cohesion, spatial imaging, headroom, accuracy and ear fatigue.
Following the tests, the decision was taken to work with PSI Audio. All of the vehicles include three PSI Audio A23-M speakers at the front, two A14-M surrounds, four A14-M on the ceiling and a Sub A125-M for LF. All of the speakers have been integrated by Broadcast Solutions.
Because of the size of the vans. every detail of the fit-out was meticulously planned, from the acoustics to the position of the side speakers, said PSI Audio. The A23-M were cut in the back with the amplifiers moved out of the speaker cabinets, so they could be soffit-mounted as needed.
At the heart of the system lies a Stagetec Avatus console with 36 faders, enabling the engineers the flexibility required to cover the different genres produced by the trucks. All M- and L- sized OB vans in the broadcaster’s fleet are capable of mixing immersive audio.