The W Hotel in Edinburgh stands out for its luxurious and contemporary design, its atmospheres, and its high-end amenities.

This exciting addition to the Scottish capital's hotel scene offers spectacular city views, a serene spa, and an impressive bar.

W Edinburgh is no ordinary hotel. The rooms are luxurious (some suites even feature fire pits), with a minimalist design and an elegant, exclusive atmosphere. On the 12th floor, there is a rooftop terrace offering unparalleled views of the city skyline, now equipped with a high-end multi-speaker sound system installed by Link Media Systems, a London-based company.

Sound is a fundamental part of the W brand. It is one of the key components of our identity, so getting the sound just right is extremely important, said Kevin Edwards, IT manager at W Edinburgh.

The technical team at Link Media designed a speaker system that fills the entire terrace with high-quality sound while maintaining a discreet aesthetic. The equipment is also well protected against adverse weather conditions thanks to its robust construction.

“We quickly realized that we couldn’t install a conventional sound system and expect the best results”, explained Eligio Castro, project manager at Link Media Systems. “Not only is it a large terrace requiring a significant sound pressure level, but the speakers had to be discreet and precisely oriented to contain the sound energy within the space”.

This acoustic challenge, due to exposure to the elements and proximity to neighbors, led Link Media to an innovative solution. They installed 43 linear speakers evenly distributed around the terrace's perimeter, integrated into a custom-designed copper-colored casing that enhances the W's architectural style. These speakers were placed at a uniform height, complementing the low profile of the chaise longue seating.

The sound system also includes 16 subwoofers distributed around the building's central core, partially hidden beneath the steel spiral that defines the hotel's modern architectural profile.

At the opening party, we had around 200 guests enjoying a sunset with a live performance, and the sound was incredible. The coverage is very well focused, brings a lot of energy, and creates a festive atmosphere. We have to be mindful of the neighbors, but here, on the 12th floor, the sound is well contained and does not disperse. We've turned up the volume without any issues, and the speaker system has performed flawlessly. The sound quality is excellent, crisp, and clear,  commented Edwards. 

The terrace sound system is powered via the Dante network, with amplifiers and DSP integrated into a central equipment room that also houses the signal processor. The system is controlled by a Crestron user interface, allowing staff to easily manage audio controls and required inputs.

On the ground floor, connecting the main reception area with an additional themed space, is the Cinematic Tunnel, a 10-meter-long hallway with luxurious seating facing a high-resolution 32 x 9-meter video screen. Vertical linear speakers are installed on either side of the screen, seamlessly integrating with it, while a pair of subwoofers are hidden beneath the seats to reinforce low frequencies. Additionally, more linear speakers are discreetly installed in niches above the seats, providing ambient audio reinforcement.