Avalon Hollywood has switched on a new custom-built sound system. The Los Angeles club's founder John Lyons designed it with Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella, and it made its debut on October 3 during the SIDEPIECE Hollywood Block Party afters before powering Alt8's headline show last weekend.

At a glance

  • Where: Avalon Hollywood, at Hollywood and Vine
  • Designed by: John Lyons and Pasquale Rotella
  • Partners: Void Acoustics and spatial audio company Areal
  • Debut: October 3, 2026
  • Next step: refinement at Avalon, then a rollout across Insomniac events

What we know

The system combines loudspeakers from Void Acoustics with technology from Areal, a company that converts stereo mixes into spatial audio. According to the press release cited by EDM Maniac, the goal is to keep the power and physical impact that electronic music needs while adding a more immersive listening experience.

Lyons, who runs John Lyons Systems, has designed and installed sound in more than 500 venues worldwide. In a statement he said the aim was a system that changes how people experience the music, not just what they hear. He added that walking into Avalon should feel like arriving at the right place.

Rotella said the system will be refined on the Avalon dance floor first. After that, Insomniac plans to expand it over time across its events around the world in collaboration with Lyons.

Why it matters

Avalon is one of the best-known clubs in Los Angeles, and Insomniac is one of the largest dance event promoters in the United States. Using the club as a testing ground means the technology could eventually reach far bigger stages. Insomniac is already building a large new venue in Las Vegas, so the timing is notable.

For club-goers, the new system can be heard at upcoming Avalon dates including Chromeo, GAG, Emo Nite, Innellea, Deathpact, Riot Ten, Barely Alive, Clawz and Andy C, running through November 26. Insomniac's own Hollywood programming continues too, such as JSTJR's Techno Playground II.

Source: EDM Maniac. Photo: Nano Erdozain on Pexels.