Up Close & Personal with the CEO of Planetworld

Today we have the privilege to hear from the CEO of Planetworld, Maurice Van Heerden. Let’s find out more about the latest in Sonos technology with spatial audio capabilities and more about how Planetworld came to be…

Tell us about your background…

I am a music enthusiast and have been since I was a small boy. My dad always had the record player going and to this day, family gatherings always end with us all standing around a speaker, drinking too much wine, and singing to our favourite tunes. After a highly unenthusiastic university degree and some time as a sports teacher in the UK, it was inevitable that I would end up doing something related to music. That something turned out to b Planetworld.

What about the history of Planetworld and how that came to be?

In 2008, my brothers (I have 3), dad and I bought a small electronics distributor called Planet Electronics. Over time our mission became clear – we wanted to amplify every step of the music / entertainment experience. Our business today imports and distributes everything from instruments to the production and recording equipment, live performance gear all the way through to the actual speakers that listeners enjoy music on in their cars, homes, offices and everywhere in between.

What about your special relationship with Sonos speakers?

I was first introduced to Sonos by a friend in the UK and instantly knew that Sonos would fundamentally change the way people engaged with music. I tried to get the distribution for South Africa for many months but was unsuccessful. We ended up acquiring the local distributor and have never looked back. Planetworld distributes around 60 global brands however, Sonos remains the one which I most recommend to friends and family.

You recently launched “the next-generation of cinematic sound”?

The launch of the new Sonos Era300 offers Sonos users the opportunity to build a fully immersive Dolby-Atmos home theatre system at a fraction of the cost that a traditional Atmos system would cost. The system would consist of a Sonos Arc (Soundbar), Sonos Sub and two Sonos Era 300’s. It truly brings your movies to life and fully immerses you in what you are watching.

Sonos has taken some big steps in developing spatial audio. What have they done that differentiates them from the competition?

Sonos Era delivers an unmatched spatial audio experience from a single compact speaker. Era 300 doesn’t just surround you; it puts you inside the music.

What is spatial audio and how does it work?

Spatial audio is an audio experience intended to heighten immersion by simulating a surround-sound setup. Whereas achieving surround sound in your home requires an array of speakers placed methodically around the room, you can use spatial audio to simulate the experience using just your Sonos Era 300. The Sonos Era 300 boasts six powerful drivers that direct the sound left, right, forward and upward, delivering a breakthrough audio performance and electrifying Dolby Atmos experience that places the listener at the very heart of their music and movies.

What advice do you have on the best placement of speakers?

The Era 300 is ideally placed on a server, cabinet, or corner unit and as central to the room as possible. Once playing, you will get the sense that the music is all around you and not coming from a single position. You truly must experience it to believe how impactful it is on the listening experience.,

Any new projects you are busy with or recently completed that show the full range of your offering?

Our showroom, the Viewing rooms, in Kramerville, Johannesburg currently have an exhibition of Sonos Era speakers on display in various environments including, a single speaker, a stereo pai and a full home theatre cinema experience. The showroom is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm. You can either make a booking or a curated experience of all of our products or simply turn up as you please.

On the 5^th of May we also launch the Planetworld Rockstar Studio in kramerville. Rockstar studio is our latest experiential showroom aimed at amplifying businesses in the live events, houses of worship, musical instruments, broadcast, AV (audio visual) rental and live entertainment industries. Rockstar Studios showcases the latest in large format PA (public address) systems, live concert mixing desks, lighting, microphones, and musical instruments. The space also features two state-of-the-art production studios filled with industry leading products in pre and postproduction, radio broadcast and podcasting.

A first-of-its kind design… why you should consider spatial audio…

Just as stereo sound was once a groundbreaking experience compared to mono, spatial audio is creating new relationships between artists and listeners.

Spatial audio gives your favorite music more clarity, depth, and detail than ever before. It can feel like you’re in the room with the artist, experiencing the music exactly as it sounded in the studio, or even listening from within the song itself. For movies, spatial audio offers unprecedented realism and immersion, placing you firmly in the centre of the action.

Hear the difference yourself

Because of the way sound reflects off walls and floors, traditional stereo setups often have a “sweet spot” within a room: an ideal place to sit where you’ll get the best listening experience. Unlike stereo, spatial audio doesn’t require a sweet spot. Instead, the whole room becomes the sweet spot with sound sent in all directions, allowing you to experience rich detail no matter where you’re seated.

For more visit Planetworld.