The Plaza Hotel Sydney: Elevating Nightlife with World-Class Audio
Sydney’s Plaza Hotel is a landmark venue, blending historic charm with cutting-edge nightlife experiences. Originally a 1930s movie theatre, the space has been reimagined into a premier entertainment destination, featuring multiple levels, an underground vinyl bar, VIP rooms, and a high-energy superclub dance floor. Spearheaded by the Winchester Hotel Group and creative directors Sarah and Ryan Maloney, the Plaza aims to be a world-class venue known for its state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and visuals. At the heart of this transformation was the goal of delivering an immersive, high-impact audio experience that would meet the demands of top-tier international DJs and leave a lasting impression on every guest.
For this ambitious project, Martin Audio was the brand of choice, ensuring a premium sound system that could handle the rigorous demands of electronic dance
music while offering an immersive experience throughout the venue. Working closely with Brendon Fava of Xcite Audio Visual, Technical Audio Group’s Anthony Russo designed a six-stack speaker configuration instead of the typical two- or four-corner setup, ensuring a true 360-degree sound experience on the dance floor. A powerful combination of Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision line arrays and SXH hybrid subwoofers delivers high-impact, concert-level audio while maintaining clarity and depth at any volume. Meanwhile, strategically placed THS cabinets provide seamless audio coverage to VIP and bar areas, while a dedicated CDD Series system enhances the intimate underground vinyl bar.
Beyond achieving an exceptional sound experience, the installation team faced significant challenges in controlling vibration and minimising disruption to the surrounding heritage-listed building. Every speaker cabinet was carefully suspended using advanced isolation techniques, and custom rigging was installed to optimise placement while preserving the venue’s structure. The result is a seamless fusion of heritage aesthetics and modern technology. Both venue operators and guests have praised the installation, with industry professionals highlighting the system’s ability to deliver a high-energy, immersive sound without compromise. Plaza Hotel has set a new standard for nightlife audio, reinforcing its place as a must-visit destination for music lovers and DJs alike.
Read the full article in issue 35.2 of MONDO-DR here
