Audiophile Saudi Prince Builds a $1.5M Sound System to Turn His $70M Superyacht Into a ‘Floating Concert Hall’

This might be the most advanced sound system ever seen at sea.

Somewhere in the Mediterranean, there’s a $70 million yacht pumping out concert-quality sound from 150 custom speakers worth $1.5 million.

The ‘Special One,’ owned by Saudi Prince Turki bin Muqrin Al Saud, isn’t just another luxury vessel.

It’s home to what might be the most advanced marine sound system ever created, bringing pristine audio to the challenging environment of the open sea.

The $1.5M Sound System

A ‘floating concert hall’ is the simplest way to describe what you’ll find spread across the six decks of this 171-foot yacht. We’re talking about 150 Focal speakers, each costing around $1,000 each.

“It’s one of the densest sound envelopes on any boat that Focal has done. The sound is crystal clear and perfect with no distortion,” says Captain Parker-Larkin.

Want to listen to your favorite tunes? Take your pick of spots. There’s the party-ready foredeck, or if you’re feeling adventurous, head up to the tuna tower for some high-altitude vibes.

They’ve even set up custom DJ decks near the outdoor cinema (because why not combine movies and music?). Plus, each cabin has its own personal sound zone so there’s no fighting over what playlist to go for.

However, the main deck is where things get really fancy with a surround sound system.

It doubles as a premium “sky box” with comfy aft-facing sofas where you can chill and watch all the action below. And if you’re in the mood for some fresh air with your music, just head up to the flybridge for an open-air concert experience.

Overcoming the Challenges of Salt and Sea

Building a high-end sound system for a yacht isn’t as simple as installing some fancy speakers and calling it a day. Salt water and electronics don’t play well together, which is why Focal and Naim had to team up to solve some pretty tricky problems.

Regular speakers would rust and fail quickly in the harsh ocean environment. So, the team developed special materials and building methods to protect against salt, humidity, and constant movement. They also had to figure out how to keep the sound crisp and clear whether the yacht was sitting still in the harbor or racing through waves at 30 knots.

Space was another big challenge. Most speakers are built for homes where there’s plenty of room to work with.

But on a yacht, every inch counts.

The engineering team had to get creative with their installation to fit everything into the limited space without making the yacht look cluttered or ruining its luxury feel. And, the speakers themselves needed to look as good as they sound, so they were custom-built to blend perfectly with Special One’s modern design.

Each part was carefully chosen to handle both the tough marine conditions and deliver amazing sound quality.

The result? A system that brings concert-quality sound to the open sea without breaking down in the harsh environment.

More Details on the “Special One”

Royal Huisman and Vripack joined forces to create what turned out to be the world’s largest sportfishing yacht. They built it using a special aluminum called Alustar that makes it 12% lighter than regular aluminum boats.

This isn’t just about saving weight though.

This beast can zoom from zero to 30 knots faster than most sports cars can hit highway speeds, taking just 60 seconds. That incredible speed comes from two massive MAN engines pumping out nearly 6,000 horsepower each.

Plus, thanks to some clever engineering with gyrostabilizers, it’s said to turn super smoothly in the water.

But this yacht isn’t just about speed. For those who love fishing, it’s pretty much paradise.

The fishing cockpit is huge, about the size of a two-car garage, and comes decked out with a serious fighting chair and the kind of fish finder you’d usually only see on commercial boats.

Inside, they kept things classy without going over the top. Instead of flashy bling, you’ll find beautiful open-grain walnut woodwork, artsy Lalique fish sculptures, and some gorgeous underwater paintings.

The yacht even has some pretty cool tech tricks up its sleeve, like the world’s first yacht elevator that works by creating an air vacuum.

There’s plenty of room for everyone too, with space for 10 guests and 9 crew members to live comfortably. And for wine lovers, there’s a sweet bonus. a cellar that holds 300 bottles.

Prince Turki, who runs the Saudi Aviation Club and has built up a billion-dollar fortune through his business ventures, plans to sail his new toy between the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf. Not a bad way to spend your time.