The Paley Center for Media
Founded in 1975 by CBS founder William S. Paley, The Paley Center for Media has long served as a cultural home for television, radio, and broadcast history. Originally established as the Museum of Broadcasting and later known as the Museum of Television & Radio, the institution was renamed The Paley Center in 2007 to reflect its expanding role in media education and preservation. In November 2025, the Paley Center marked its 50th anniversary with the reopening of its newly renovated theaters at its Midtown Manhattan location.
The renovation focused on two primary cinemas: the 200-seat Bennack Theater and the George J. Gillespie, III Theater. The updated interiors feature new seating, plush carpeting, rich wood paneling, and refined architectural finishes, supported by advanced lighting and a fully modernized technical infrastructure.
The new audio system was designed by DLR Group to meet Dolby Atmos cinematic standards, delivering immersive, three-dimensional sound. DLR Group worked closely with Post Lab One, who was selected as the integrator, to ensure precise loudspeaker placement within the broader architectural updates. Across both theaters, the system features K-array long-throw Python line array speakers for consistent front-to-back coverage, paired with Domino series loudspeakers to support high-performance Dolby Atmos playback.
“What's really exciting about this project is that the Paley Center cinemas represent the first commercial cinemas in the United States to achieve Dolby Atmos certification using K-array technology.” - Rusty Waite, President, K-array USA
Low-frequency reinforcement is provided by a combination of Rumble KU212 and KU210 subwoofers. For the full cinematic effect, multiple Thunder KSC18P cinematic infra-subwoofers were installed. The complete system is powered by Kommander KA68+, KA208+, and KA28+ amplifiers.
After the first screening, the end customer was extremely pleased with the sound and decided to expand the system to include additional full-range Kayman KY102s in each theater for PA purposes during presentations, live discussions, panels, and special events.
If you're interested in experiencing K-array in a Dolby Atmos-approved cinema, catch one of the daily screenings from the Paley Archives and enjoy an intimate atmosphere that brings television and cinema to life!
