acousmonium

instrument de diffusion

Diffusion is not the end of music; it is part of its writing.
I choose speakers and amplifiers the way one chooses an instrument, for their color, their breath, and the way they hold space.
Listening then becomes a place to inhabit, where electronic music takes on body, relief, and presence.

This project starts from a simple idea: to think of sound diffusion as part of musical writing. Rather than seeking a uniform and neutral system, I imagine a hi-fi acousmonium made up of different speakers and amplifiers, each with its own character, response, and way of filling a space. Listening is then no longer just a matter of reception, but a form of presence.
Like a guitarist choosing an amp for its color, its response, and the way it projects or breaks up, I want to choose each diffusion element as a playing partner, and turn that diversity into a compositional tool.

This approach is part of a broader research into attention, slowness, and the relationship to place. The acousmonium becomes an instrument somewhere between installation and concert, allowing for more situated, physical, and embodied forms of listening. I am looking for a diffusion system that does not flatten the space, but reveals it; that does not aim for uniformity, but for the right balance between music, architecture, and audience.
The goal is to bring sound back into play as a sensitive material, with its contours, distances, accidents, and silences.

Amplifiers

NAD 3240PE
Power : 2 x 40 W sous 8 Ω
Frequencey respond : 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Weight : 6,7 kg
Year : 1989

NAD C326 BEE
Power : 2 x 50 W sous 8 Ω
Frequencey respond : 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Weight : 6,9 kg
Year : 2010

SONY 55ES
Power : 2 x 110 W sous 8 Ω
Frequencey respond : 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Weight : 12,2 kg
Year : 1989–1990

TECHNICS SU-V3
Power : 2 x 40 W sous 8 Ω
Frequencey respond : 2 Hz – 100 kHz
Weight : 6,0 kg
Year : 1981–1983

Enceintes

3A AUBADE IX
Type : 3-Way Passive Speaker with Bass-Reflex
Size : 67 x 34 x 26 cm
Sensibility : 91 dB
Bandpass : 40 Hz – 20 kHz

3A ALLEGRETTO MK2
Type : 3-Way Passive Speaker with Bass-Reflex
Size : 63 x 31,5 x 26 cm
Sensibility : 94 dB
Bandpass : 55 Hz – 20 kHz

ALTEC VOTT A7
Type : 2-Way Passive Speaker with 511B Horn
Size : 132 x 80 x 76 cm
Sensibility : 103 dB
Bandpass : 35 Hz – 20 kHz

CABASSE GOÉLETTE 300
Type : 2-Way Passive Speaker
Size : 26 x 50,2 x 30 cm
Sensibility : 93 dB
Bandpass : 60 Hz – 20 kHz

ACOUSTICIAN DIY
Type : DIY Speaker
Size : 60 x 45 x 40 cm
Sensibility : 92dB
Bandpass : 50Hz – 20kHz

This diffusion setup forms an evolving whole, designed to work with the specific constraints and qualities of each venue. Depending on the context, it can support a concert diffusion, a sound installation, or a spatialized listening system, with particular attention to definition, dynamics, and overall balance.

This approach is also more resource-conscious. By relying on vintage hi-fi components and repurposed equipment, it extends the life of existing material instead of replacing it systematically, and it usually draws less power than a conventional PA system. It is a practical way to combine sound quality, character, and a lighter footprint — with less waste, fewer new products, and a more repairable, adaptable setup.

For any request involving system deployment, custom creation, or adaptation to a specific space, I am available to discuss and define the most appropriate configuration.