7 July 2026
Renkus-Heinz used InfoComm 2026 to preview RH4D, a new approach to beam steering that moves beyond traditional coverage design into full spatial control of audio. It is still in development, but it signals where installed sound is heading and what integrators will soon be expected to deliver.
Beam steering has always been about control. You direct sound at the audience and keep it off reflective surfaces to improve intelligibility in difficult spaces.
RH4D extends that model. Instead of working mainly in the vertical plane, it adds horizontal and time-domain control at the same time. The result is not just better aiming, but the ability to shape how sound behaves across a space.
At InfoComm, this was demonstrated through a controlled sound field that existed only in specific areas and disappeared as you moved out of them. There was no visible source and no conventional coverage pattern. The system was not simply distributing sound. It was defining where sound exists.
RH4D is relevant because it addresses issues integrators deal with constantly.
In acoustically challenging spaces, beam steering already reduces reflections by keeping energy off walls and surfaces. RH4D builds on that by allowing more precise control of where sound energy sits within the room. This shifts the approach from managing the room to actively shaping how it behaves.
In multi-zone environments, controlling audio bleed is always a compromise between coverage, system complexity and aesthetics. Traditional solutions rely on adding more loudspeakers and tighter zoning. RH4D offers a more controlled approach, containing sound within defined areas without increasing system visibility or density.
For clients asking for immersive audio, the main barrier is usually infrastructure. Object-based systems and large speaker layouts increase cost and complexity quickly. RH4D points towards a more practical approach by using controlled directivity to create spatial separation and movement without requiring a full immersive ecosystem.
Architectural constraints are another constant pressure. Designers want less visible hardware, while performance expectations continue to increase. RH4D supports a model where sound can be positioned independently of visible speaker placement, reducing the need to prioritise hardware locations over design intent.
RH4D fits clearly into environments where control, flexibility and experience matter.
In experience centres and branded spaces, it allows audio to change as users move through different areas, supporting layered content without physical separation. This aligns with the wider shift across AV towards experience-led environments rather than static system design.
In museums and exhibitions, it enables isolated audio per exhibit without the need for headphones or heavy infrastructure. Visitors can move naturally through a space while receiving distinct, controlled audio in each zone.
In transport hubs and large public spaces, beam steering is already well established for intelligibility. RH4D adds another layer of control, allowing announcements and messaging to be tightly defined without unnecessary spill into surrounding areas.
In corporate and multi-use environments, where rooms need to adapt quickly, RH4D introduces the ability to redefine spaces through audio behaviour rather than physical reconfiguration. Different use cases can coexist within the same footprint.
Hospitality and retail are also clear use cases, where atmosphere and zoning are key. RH4D supports controlled transitions between areas, allowing audio to contribute directly to how a space feels without overbuilding the system.
RH4D is still at demonstration stage, with commercial availability expected further down the line.
The applications outlined are extensions of existing beam steering use cases, particularly in reverberant spaces, speech-critical environments and architecturally sensitive installations.
The difference is the level of control available within those same scenarios.
The key shift is not technical but conceptual.
Installed audio is moving away from coverage as the primary goal. Clients are increasingly focused on how spaces feel and function, not just how clearly they can hear speech.
RH4D supports that shift. It builds on technology integrators already understand but extends it into spatial control and experience design. It does not replace existing approaches, but it changes what is possible with them.
We’re keeping a close eye on Renkus-Heinz RH4D. In the meantime, explore the current Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker and beam steering solutions available through CUK.