Club Projects Take Nightspots to New Levels
There’s a definite upturn in new club and entertainment venues, as patrons love to feel the beat, turn it up, get down and party. Of course, a great sound system is a key element in the success of such projects. We looked at some recent installs that take club sound to the next level.
The Other Side, Amsterdam, Netherlands
A former bicycle workshop transformed into a club housing a record label and agency representing DJs and producers, The Other Side is the world’s first nightclub to adopt an L-Acoustics L-ISA spatial audio system.
Its main, 900-capacity room now boasts a fully immersive 14.1.5 L-ISA configuration designed to wrap the audience in a 360° auditory experience, taking the nightclub experience to a new level for artists and revelers.
In addition to owning and managing the club, producer/musicians Doeshka Vrede and Jasper Löwik explained that from the outset, optimum audio quality was at the forefront of their minds. “If you start a club like this, the main product has to be sound,” says Vrede, and the duo worked with sound engineer and spatial audio expert, Stefan Liem to ensure their vision.
Working with Netherlands-based L-Acoustics Certified Provider Audio Solvation, Liem designed a 5.1 Scene system comprised of one A15 Focus and one A15 Wide per hang. Nine X12 coaxial enclosures provide surround, three each on the left, right, and back walls. Five further X12 are placed in the ceiling for overhead sound. Two stacks of four KS21 subs on either side of the stage add LF extension and two X8 coaxials near the DJ booth for handle front-fill. The system is powered by a LA7.16i and five LA4X amplified controllers.
Visiting DJs choose how they wish to use the technology — they can perform in stereo using L-ISA Stereo Mapper functionality or can delve into L-ISA’s full immersive capacities and explore its creative potential to the fullest.
“L-ISA is amazing,” says Liem. It was important for The Other Side to bring new experiences to our audience, and to have a high level of involvement from the artists who want to use it. All the right assets were there to get this project moving. We needed everything to work seamlessly, and L-ISA does that.”
The Other Side
- Capacity: 900
- Key Products: L-Acoustics L-ISA System
- Integrator: Audio Solvation
- Designer: Stefan Liem
Barstool Nashville, Nashville, TN
Located in a landmark building on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, overlooking the beautiful Cumberland River, Barstool Nashville is set to become the new go-to spot for an unparalleled nightlife experience. Designed by Salvatore Accardi of Accardi Designs, the venue features a state-of-the-art system from DAS Audio. It’s not just a bar; it’s an experience.
Since opening last summer, this multi-level, multimedia club has established itself as a nexus for the city’s trendsetters and influencers. Designer Accardi’s focus was on choosing a system with the flexibility to address the wide range of artists across different genres who play each night in the legendary Music City. The system centers around a VANTEC curved array covering the main stage, with a pair of three VANTEC-20A 12-inch active two-way systems flown with VANTEC-118A 18-inch direct firing active subwoofers on either side of the stage. Three UX-218 subs are installed onstage, with a fourth UX-218 on the other side of the bar for extra punch.
The venue’s massive main area is covered by a total of 40 speakers from the E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio series. The ES-10 high-powered two-way point source speakers provided perfect coverage for the entire space, based on simulation software provided by the DAS Audio engineering team. Six Quantum Series Q-10 10-inch compact subs and three more ARTEC-322S compact dual 12-inch bass reflex subs keep the dance floor pumping. And outside on the deck, six WR-8826-DX dual six-inch weather-resistant boxes keep the music going. The system is powered by eight E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio EP-6K4 four-channel 1200W amps and one EP-22K4 four-channel 4600W amp.
Audience reaction to Barstool Nashville has been stellar, says Accardi. “Lower Broadway is Nashville’s tourist mecca, and on any given night, there are dozens of clubs trying to draw people in. We wanted to create an environment with the best sound and video on the street, and we’ve definitely achieved that.”
Barstool Nashville
- Capacity: 800
- Key Products: DAS Audio VANTEC-20A, E11EVEN Sound by DAS
- Integrator/Designer: Salvatore Accardi/Accardi Designs
Tenax, Florence, Italy
A beacon of Florence’s underground club scene, Tenax upgraded with a K-array system. Boasting 43 years of continuous activity and star-studded performers including the likes of Daft Punk, Ben Harper and Dream Theater, Tenax required a system that would live up to the club’s legendary reputation.
The K-array team worked with Tenax to design and implement the updated system. “While a key goal was to gain control over the audio and alleviate neighborhood concerns, we also designed a system that would do justice to the performances of the best DJs in the business,” says K-array’s Daniel Strasserra.
The main room at Tenax needed to deliver audio with clarity and precision. K-array recommended a system with 16 Mugello-KH3 tops and 20 Thunder-KS4 subs, powered by three Kommander-KA208 amps.
To mitigate noise pollution, 16 of the Thunder-KS4 subs are positioned in front of the sound booth to concentrate low frequencies in the center of the dance floor, leaving the side walls and adjoining buildings with minimal disruption. Additionally, the Mugello-KH3 tops are arranged in four clusters of four, enhancing sound dispersion and ensuring an immersive experience for dancers.
DJ booth monitoring has four Thunder-KMT21 subs and six Dragon-KX12 tops configured in an LCR format. Initially requested by Techno legend Jeff Mills, that setup is now the standard for monitoring systems in the main room, earning kudos from top DJs such as Steve Aoki, Black Coffee and Damian Lazarus. “And, importantly, the main room upgrade has been much appreciated by the neighbors, who no longer suffer from noise pollution on club nights.”
On the first floor, dubbed “The Tube,” audio is delivered through two Thunder-KMT218 subs, four Dragon-KX12 tops and two Python-KP52s for delay coverage. Despite its small size, “The Tube” has earned a reputation as the club’s “sweet spot,” ensuring a truly immersive clubbing experience. Tenax also offers VIP areas designated for private parties, all equipped with K-array and KGEAR audio solutions.
“The new K-array system perfectly meets the needs of the Tenax club,” confirms Alex Neri, Tenax’ producer and resident DJ. “The definition of the high frequencies is nothing short of perfect and the new subs are amazing. For me, it’s one of the best systems I’ve ever worked with in my 30-year career.”
Tenax
- Capacity: 800
- Key Products: K-array Mugello-KH3 tops & Thunder-KS4 subs
- Integrator/Designer: In-house
Potato Head Beach Club, Bali, Indonesia
Named one of the best beach clubs in the world, Bali’s Potato Head Beach Club is part of a complex with 5-star hotel, restaurants and nightspot with DJs and curated entertainment. With distributor Melodia now handling 1 Sound’s premium outdoor speakers, the line was selected for the indoor/outdoor dining, beachfront pool, lawn, and main dance floor and bar areas.
The project included 60 1 Sound speakers — all built with stainless steel 316 A4 hardware and accessories. Cannon C5 coaxials were deployed for music in under the overhang and the upper dining areas. With the C5’s extended LF response, no subs were needed in those locations. Two Contour CT212 and SUB2112 systems, a 5-way system capable of low-distortion 145 dB SPLs handled the main bar and dance floor area for impact at high volumes with reduced ear fatigue over time.
The smaller, but still loud Contour CT28s are ceiling-mounted and also used in vertical columns supported by SUB2112s, while clusters of two CT28s and a SUB310 provide a long throw to the lawn area. Beach and pool seating areas are supported with cardioid Tower LCC44s, SUB310s and Cannon C6s — all attached to palm trees via custom mounts without disrupting the trees. The swim-up pool bar deployed Cannon C4 marine speakers.
The main challenge on the project was Bali’s unique humid and rainy weather conditions, with every speaker on the project requiring weather-resistant hardware and accessories. 1 Sound offers all of its speakers in marine versions, with stainless steel 316 A4 hardware, specifically for installations like this.
Potato Head Beach Club
- Capacity: Variable
- Key Products: 1 Sound speakers
- Integrator/Designer: Sontastic/Michael Boyle
Mantra Club, Jakarta, Indonesia
Mantra Club, the latest addition to the vibrant nightlife of Jakarta’s Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) neighborhood, offers impressive décor and a state-of-the-art KV2 sound system. Integrators Music Art had no hesitation in recommending KV2 with the support of KV2’s Indonesian distributor, PT Goshen Swara Indonesia.
Mantra Club aims to provide an exceptional music experience, including high-SPL DJ sets and live performances. Following a convincing demo at Goshen’s demo facility for both the client and the integrator, Music Art designed and installed a KV2 Audio system that transitions seamlessly between DJ sets and live performances while maintaining high sound clarity and power, tailored for a variety of musical genres.
The all-KV2 system features VHD2.0, VHD1.0, and VHD4.18 loudspeakers, powered by VHD2000 and VHD3200 amplifiers. The customer specifically asked for a clean area on the main stage — which has 11-meter ceilings — making KV2 was an excellent choice requiring fewer cabinets to deliver the same performance as a line array system. Consequently, the VHD2.0/VHD1.0 system was flown L/R with subs discreetly groundstacked, which has very little visual impact on the stage. Several EX12 speakers serve as sidefills, delay lines and DJ monitors, ensuring a cohesive audio experience throughout, whether for ambient evenings or high-energy concerts and DJ sets.
According to Goshen’s Franky Cahyadi, the KV2 system has delivered on all fronts – even exceeding expectations — and the customer is delighted. “High SPL and low distortion were key criteria for Mantra, as was smooth, even coverage and crystal-clear sound for live music and DJ performances,” recalls Cahyadi. “After the opening night, the client was thrilled, stating the price-to-performance ratio was amazing, with the system delivering beyond his expectations. It’s everything he wanted and more.”
Mantra Club
- Key Products: KV2 Audio
- Integrator/Designer: Music Art
