Genelec loudspeakers enhance storytelling at North Karelia’s new Museum Eliel in Finland

null Genelec loudspeakers enhance storytelling at North Karelia’s new Museum Eliel in Finland

Genelec loudspeakers enhance storytelling at North Karelia’s new Museum Eliel in Finland

26.2.2026

The immersive soundscape and Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers are an integral part of the museum’s three exhibition spaces.

North Karelia in eastern Finland is a region of breathtaking natural beauty with a rich cultural history. In the region’s capital, Joensuu, the old town hall was recently transformed into Museum Eliel, which now hosts three extraordinary exhibitions that explore the region’s cultural past and its journey through to the present. To maximise the immersive experiences it offers to visitors, the newly opened museum required a modern AV system that could be integrated into the historic building – a comprehensive Genelec loudspeaker system now plays a crucial role in telling the story of North Karelia.

Museum Eliel’s lead technician, Mikko Santaniemi, has been involved with the museum since its conception, overseeing the responsibility of caring for rare collections, as well as designing and constructing the exhibits. “A central announcement system was already installed in the city hall with ceiling-recessed loudspeakers,” begins Santaniemi. “It works fine for general announcements, but it was unable to deliver the precise sound experience that we were hoping for in an exhibition environment.”

Museum Eliel web image 1

Currently, Museum Eliel presents three distinctive exhibitions: River – Nature and History Along the River Pielisjoki explores how the river has shaped North Karelia’s environmental and industrial landscape; The Karelian Maiden – From the Land of Song to Digital Hillocks examines the diversity of Karelian people, the historic role of women, and the evolution of folk culture; and Live to Believe! – Folklorist’s Cellar invites visitors into an intimate cellar setting to discover objects and stories curated by contemporary folklorist Kuikka.

Each of these exhibitions required unique sound effects and a distinct atmosphere to support the immersive environments they are recreating. “Due to the age of the building, some areas, such as the lobby, are protected. This meant we weren’t allowed to install fixed loudspeakers,” explains Santaniemi. “Instead, we needed an adaptable, high-quality audio solution that would provide excellent coverage and clarity across the immersive spaces, while also maintaining the aesthetic design of the exhibitions.”

Museum Eliel web image 2

“Having worked with Genelec loudspeakers in the past, we knew their Smart IP series would be the ideal fit for Museum Eliel,” he reveals. “Genelec offers a wide range of loudspeakers, excellent sound quality, and reliable setup features that have allowed us to curate an immersive, atmospheric soundscape reflecting North Karelia’s identity.

Working closely with the exhibition architects, the technical team positioned a total of forty-nine Genelec loudspeakers throughout the three exhibits. The system was supplied and designed by Sebastian Räisänen of Advania Finland Oy, and features a combination of 1029 and 1031 studio monitors, a 7050 subwoofer, some 4000 Series installation loudspeakers, and four 4410 and thirty 4420 Smart IP loudspeakers supported by three 3440 Smart IP subwoofers. “The system combines some of our existing models, as well as the new Smart IP versions, which helped ensure the audio installation ran smoothly.”

Museum Eliel web image 3

Carried out by installation specialists, DG Ring Ring Oy, the overall implementation of the individual digital applications proved to be an extremely demanding task. “We had to ensure all audio, visuals, lighting, and the control system were operating correctly, requiring the team to cooperate closely with a number of different specialists,” Santaniemi notes. “Thankfully, there were no issues setting up the Genelec loudspeakers. Smart IP Manager was essential for controlling and managing volume and frequency response. As a result, we had one less problem to solve.”

To enhance the immersive experience in one of the exhibition rooms, audio was mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. “In some spaces, we deployed four or more Genelec loudspeakers as individual sound points – either in stereo or mono depending on the content,” he adds. “We also have two video artworks displayed via projectors, which are supported by two Smart IP loudspeakers and a Genelec subwoofer to fill the exhibit with immersive detail.”

“Sound plays such an important role in the new exhibitions. We are beyond pleased with how everything turned out and how well the audio atmosphere supports the content,” Santaniemi concludes. By blending Genelec’s exceptional audio quality with the cultural history and folklore of North Karelia Museum Eliel’s grand opening marked the beginning of a compelling, multi-sensory journey, inviting visitors to return and rediscover North Karelia’s stories time and again.

Museum Eliel exterior