A new addition to the Finnish health and wellbeing scene, XO Center is a versatile sports and fitness hub in Kerava, offering everything from personal training to padel courts, a traditional gym, group exercise, relaxation floating, massage, and a restaurant and cafe. A space to take care of both body and mind, Genelec says its Smart IP networked loudspeakers are helping to motivate members in all areas of XO Center.
Choosing Genelec
Finnish integration company Praecom Oy took on the responsibility for designing the entire AV platform at XO Center. “The solution covers different zones, including the padel courts, gym, spa and individual class spaces, all of which required different audio content at different playback levels,” explains Mika Mäkelä, account director at Praecom. “Genelec is a company renowned for excellence and sonic quality — so we knew that their loudspeakers would deliver exactly what we needed.”
According to the company, XO Center is a huge facility that’s divided by its different services. It offers the latest equipment for individual training, whereas group classes — including cross-training, dance and yoga – have their own dedicated rooms. The padel courts are state-of-the-art panoramic fields complemented by innovative lighting and acoustics. There’s also a spa comprising hot tubs, a cold pool, steam room and traditional saunas.
How the Solution Came Together
Photo courtesy: Genelec.
Praecom chose five Genelec 4420 Smart IP loudspeakers, 13 4430 models and two 4435 in-ceiling loudspeakers to power different zones across XO Center. “The padel courts are huge rooms that posed reverberation issues, which we considered when designing the system,” explains Mäkelä. “We decided to install three of the compact 4430 loudspeakers to provide clarity, uniform coverage and reduce echoing. We were worried that it would be difficult to achieve because of the size of the space, but it wasn’t a problem with the 4430s.”
Next to the padel courts is a restaurant and cafe that serves hearty Finnish meals for post-workout nutrition. Here, the team installed three 4420 loudspeakers, all connected to a Crestron C2NI keypad that provides simple control for all the AV elements inside the store and the padel courts. Additional 4430 Smart IP models are distributed across the fitness and conference rooms, as well as in the gym and the Skill XO room, a new fitness concept growing in popularity in Finland. Similar to a fitness bootcamp, Skill XO is a dynamic way to train, combining fast-paced muscle fitness with aerobic workouts using modern, high-intensity gym equipment. The 4430s deliver high-quality background music, with a Crestron C2NI used for control and an Audiophony Mi3 for mixing.
Addressing Specific Needs
“In the spa areas, we opted for two of Genelec’s in-ceiling 4435 models, mainly for their ease of installation,” adds Mäkelä. “We could integrate them discreetly without compromising on sound quality. In both the male and female changing rooms, we also installed a single 4420 loudspeaker. The Smart IP series is a dream to use, with power, audio and management all running off a single CAT cable. There are so many benefits, from sustainability to uncompromised performance and ease of installation. Using Smart IP made the whole installation seamless.”
The XO Center deployed a Smart IP loudspeaker system comprising 4420, 4430 and 4435 models. Photo courtesy: Genelec.
Genelec says its Smart IP Manager software also helped Praecom to address specific system needs. From device discovery to equalization, the software configures the system so that each individual Smart IP loudspeaker performs at its best. “It’s a great tool to utilize,” says Mäkelä. “It offers a detailed overview of the system, and it was extremely helpful in the padel courts, which posed many acoustic challenges. The sound system has completely reinvented the fitness center. Without this, the facility would be very different.”
Ensuring A Positive Outcome
Since it opened in 2024, XO Center has proven popular with locals for its comprehensive training and well-being services, says the company. The Genelec loudspeaker system provides uniform sound across all areas of the facility, delivering dynamic soundtracks to training sessions and relaxed soundscapes post-workout. According to the XO Center, the new facility shows how gyms of the future will look. The team thus commends the Genelec Smart IP networked technology for bringing power, clarity and aesthetic cohesion to XO Center.
