Resilient Sound for a Landmark of Faith
In 2012, RG Jones Sound Engineering was commissioned to overhaul and streamline the AV network at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, South London—one of the largest mosques in Western Europe. Originally completed in 2003, the mosque serves as a central spiritual and broadcasting hub for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, transmitting services worldwide via MTA International in up to eight languages.
The upgrade involved migrating to a new generation of BSS Audio Soundweb London processors, bringing increased power, enhanced redundancy, and more responsive control to the highly complex and reverberant space.
A System Built for Purpose
With a large circular prayer hall, domed ceiling, and 12 distinct audio zones (including men’s and women’s prayer halls, galleries, entrances, and overflow rooms), the technical demands were significant. The old DSP system had reached capacity, prompting approval from Safdar Ali, the community’s National AV Supervisor, to move to a more future-ready architecture.
Key upgrades included:
- Two BLU-160 and BLU-120 devices for core DSP
- Expanded BLU-Link infrastructure for robust and flexible channel routing
- Redundant DSP patching to ensure seamless continuity during system failures
- Two BLU-8 wall remotes placed discreetly in the mahrabs of the main prayer rooms for local control
- PoE-enabled switching via Netgear 2GB for clean cabling and remote power
“The sound has unquestionably improved. We now have much greater consistency in a highly reverberant room.”
— Tariq Safir, On-site Audio Technician, Baitul Futuh Mosque
Smart Integration for Sacred Space
Project managed by Tim Speight, with advanced system programming from Jamie Short, the installation team focused on a design that respected the site’s layout and spiritual use. The install had to happen with zero interruption to daily call to prayer, meaning swap-over had to be live and flawless.
Highlights included:
- Seamless integration of new DSP units alongside the old system to allow phased activation
- Phase inversion and multi-band parametric EQ to tame the difficult acoustics in the domed halls
- Rack consolidation to save space and reduce heat output
- Use of Soundweb Logic to automate DSP fallback in case of fault detection
With these updates, the system could intelligently route, prioritise, and protect audio signals across all zones—even allowing areas to operate independently or receive live prayer feeds when needed.
Fit for the Future
With a renewed architecture in place, RG Jones’ installation now allows for future expansion, improved clarity, and operational redundancy—all delivered with the care and detail required by such a prominent and sacred space.
“This was a technically demanding and spiritually sensitive project. The system had to remain live throughout, so every stage was planned for precision and zero disruption. The result is a resilient, future-proof solution that serves the community every day.”
— Rob Powell, Project Manager, RG Jones Sound Engineering
At a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Client / Venue: | Baitul Futuh Mosque, Morden, South London |
| Challenge: | Modernise and strengthen the mosque’s complex, multi-zone audio network without disrupting daily worship or live global broadcasts. |
| Scope of Work: | Designed and installed a resilient DSP-based system using BSS Soundweb London architecture. Integrated redundancy, remote control, and intelligent routing to support simultaneous prayer, overflow, and broadcast zones. |
| Result: | Significantly improved clarity, consistency, and reliability across one of Europe’s largest mosques — providing a stable platform for daily worship and international live transmission. |