An upgraded venue in Mumbai boasts one of the first Optimal Audio installations in India. Caroline Moss reports from Permit & Co
In 1949, liquor was banned in the city then known as Bombay. To circumvent this drastic measure, it wasn’t long before “Aunty Bars” started popping up: hostelries run from the living room of enterprising housewives, where alcohol was served alongside homemade snacks. By 1972, the law was loosened up as permits to drink alcohol on licensed premises became available, and the permit room was born.
Permit & Co seeks to recreate those heady times. Located in a 150-year-old former cotton mill in Lower Parel, the venue is owned and operated by Aditya Vijay Hegde. Serving food and cocktails inspired by Bombay’s rich and nostalgic heritage, it’s prohibition with a modern twist.
“We’ve moved from the colonial era to retro 1970s,” explains Hegde with a nod to Gymkhana 91, the previous outlet he ran for eight years on the premises. This called for a new sound system. “We wanted to be a high-energy bar but, at the same time, for people to be able to converse clearly,” he continues. “In India, many people still feel that good music is loud. I was looking for different options, and for what would work. We also put on live performances, so it would need to handle that as well as DJ sets and background music.”
Audio Technik India, which had installed the original system at Gymkhana 91, was called in to suggest an upgrade, organising an Optimal Audio demo. “Even though the volume is pretty high, the sound only goes where we want it, because Audio Technik tuned the system well,” continues Hegde. “The precise placement of the speakers is what makes it work. Once again, Audio Technik provided a great service, listening to any changes we wanted. They will also provide ongoing maintenance if we need it.”
The carefully focused system comprises two Optimal Audio Cuboid 15 and two Cuboid 12 passive 2-way speakers, powered by an LEA Professional CS1504 high-power, 4-channel smart amplifier with low frequencies handled by an HH Audio TNA-2800SA active subwoofer. DJ and band monitoring is via an HH Audio TRE-1001 active speaker with onboard DSP, speaker management is via an HH Audio SP26 2-in/6-out digital system and an HH Electronics Q16FX 16-channel analogue mixer handles live performances.
Precise speaker placement and tuning were vital in this heritage building, as its beautiful colonial-era windows and Burmese teak ceilings precluded the installation of any acoustic treatment. “The issue with heritage buildings is you can’t really touch the interiors,” explains Prashant Govindan, director of Generation AV, which represents Optimal Audio and HH Audio in India and worked closely with Audio Technik to carry out a product demonstration and find the best solution for the client. “You visit the premises with a conservation architect who gives guidelines, which are especially important in this part of Mumbai, with its colonial architecture. Aditya was keen to keep it that way; he brought it back to its original glory, and he needed a sound system that complemented the ambience he wanted to create.”
With Hegde expressing a preference for what he termed a “British” sound, Optimal Audio was deemed a good choice. “It comes from the Martin Audio lineage after all, and retains the ethos of the brand,” continues Govindan. “We created presets on the LEA CS1504 amplifier to give the sweet sound Aditya was looking for and reduced the complexity of the signal chain. The Optimal Audio Cuboid speakers allow you to focus on the audience without the sound bouncing off the walls – a design challenge we overcame because there are so many reverberant surfaces.” Flexibility is enhanced by the Cuboid’s rotatable high-frequency horns providing 80° x 50° (HxV) coverage.
The 4-channel amplifiers can be easily scaled up if needed. “You’re not locked into any configuration with LEA, because it’s a digital amplifier and factory-approved presets of any loudspeaker brand can be downloaded from their websites, which makes the integrator’s life that much simpler,” explains Govindan. LEA’s Connect Series also offers different methods of network connectivity including Dante, AES67 and the cloud, giving options for future expansion.
With a seated capacity of 150, Permit & Co hosts an eclectic mix of DJ and live music performances throughout the week. Furnished with antique bric-a-brac sourced from Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar flea market, hung with Bollywood posters and 1970s’ prints and handing out novelty permits at the door, this retro venue is certainly keeping nostalgia alive and well in Lower Parel.
