Allen & Heath AHM-64 Enhances the Cinematic Experience at Tachikawa Cinema City

Cinema City opened in October 1994 as Tokyo’s first multiplex cinema and THX-certified theatre, aiming to create a space with a playful atmosphere. It has since gained popularity for its diverse projects that go beyond those of conventional cinemas, including Premium Sound Screenings and Premium Explosive Sound Screenings.

Continuing its legacy of superior audio and visual quality, Cinema City recently upgraded its sound management system by adopting the Allen & Heath AHM-64 matrix processor as the core speaker management system for their k studio in Cinema One. This installation, supplied by BE FREE Inc., represents a significant leap forward in delivering high-definition audio to moviegoers. 

The k studio seats 175 and has long been cherished for its lively acoustics. “The unique shape and materials of k studio create an incredible sound, which has garnered it a dedicated fan base,” said Koji Amemiya, head of Cinema City’s projection department. As the theatre frequently hosts special events like stage greetings, it required a flexible and high-performing audio system to manage complex sound configurations with precision. 

The AHM-64 manages the 7+1 channel output from the cinema processor, utilising the systems highly flexible 64×64 processing matrix and 12×12 local I/O to distribute audio to each speaker in the room. The previous speaker management system was showing its age with a lower sampling rate and dynamic range, so this has markedly improved sound quality. 

“Because of the nature of cinema operations, all equipment replacement must be completed during overnight hours.” Explained Koji Iwashita of BE FREE Inc. “Then, from the day after the equipment is replaced, operations resume with the new equipment. Because the same movie was played, I was able to very clearly hear difference in the sound.” 

Cinema City have also implemented an Allen & Heath IP8 remote controller, featuring 8 motorised faders and 23 assignable SoftKeys, for added convenience, allowing staff to easily adjust settings such as microphone levels for live events via simple fader control. 

Iwashita, who played a key role in the equipment selection and installation process, shared his thoughts on why the AHM-64 was the perfect choice: “I’ve worked with Allen & Heath digital mixers like the GLD and dLive before, and I was consistently impressed by their sound quality, user interface, and low latency. When it came to renovating Cinema City’s audio system, I knew the AHM-64 had the potential to deliver exceptional results.” 

Although the AHM series is regularly found in commercial audio scenarios, its high-end audio capabilities – such as 96kHz processing, advanced EQ control, and I/O scalability – also made it ideal for cinema sound management. “The AHM-64 offered more inputs and outputs than other models, which was crucial for the maintenance and inspection needs of a cinema,” added Amemiya. 

With the AHM-64 now firmly in place, Cinema City is eager to explore new possibilities for their sound system. Amemiya expressed interest in mastering Allen & Heath’s System Manager software for even more advanced applications. “The interface is intuitive and easy to use. We’re excited about the potential to configure Dolby Atmos with the AHM-64, bringing the next generation of immersive audio to our audience.”