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US: Back in the year 2000, RMB Audio—one of Martin Audio’s longest serving global partners—installed a Wavefront W0.5 miniature high performance speaker solution in Heritage Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC.

The splayed array was designed to provide coverage of a church seating 600 with a balcony, below a vaulted pentagonal roof. Audience seating on the floor in the sanctuary formed a 200° fan from the pulpit, which required some angle separation between the cabinet hangs to provide an overlap from the 100° horizontal pattern.

Due to Martin Audio’s advanced engineering and build quality, this gave the church an excellent return on investment. But when it came to refreshing the speakers, a cell defect was detected. Realising that components for this vintage system were no longer available, an alternative was required.

Cooper Cannady, RMB’s owner, turned to the award-winning O-Line micro-line array for its accuracy and consistency, with two eight-element hangs proposed after modelling in Martin Audio’s DISPLAY software, and comparing with existing room data. Suspended from the existing half-circle frame the new rig provides coverage for the floor and balcony seating to the point where the existing Martin Audio under-balcony C115 speakers are no longer required to reach the last four rows of rear seating.

ASIDE FROM ITS THROW, WE’RE EXPERIENCING NO WALL REFLECTIONS, LOBING OR LOW-END THRUST TO THE STAGE; IT’S EVENED OUT VERY NICELY.

Cannady always had confidence that O-Line would be the best solution. “We knew it would be spectacular for that venue,” he said. “I sent them some photos of other installations we had done, and after discussing how much throw they would need they were left in no doubt as to what they were going to get. We have been able to run the system off their existing amplifiers and it went together really well, with all the angles fitting in very nicely.”

Each box could be run off a single amplifier channel without applying any resolution, although RMB will add Martin Audio’s dedicated DX4.0 system controller in due course—with FIR filter settings loaded in—largely for limiting and minor frequency adjustment.

“The quality has increased tremendously,” notes Cooper Cannady. “Aside from its throw, we’re experiencing no wall reflections, lobing or low-end thrust to the stage; it’s evened out very nicely.”

This is particularly important, he says, when three generations of families routinely attend services.“The older generation have said they can hear much better—which is always the top goal we work towards. O-Line brings the spoken word up significantly.”

Aside from the intelligibility and clarity of celebrants’ speech, the church features worship bands, comprising piano, organ, a brass section and acoustic guitars. “When we initially demoed the system, we played music that had some pretty robust low end to it.”

Finally, O-Line was always designed to be architecturally discreet, and turning to aesthetics, the RMB owner says although the PA has transferred “from black to white”, the change has hardly been noticed. “In fact it looks very attractive up there.”

Rev. Joel Dupree, Administrator at Heritage Christian Academy, added his endorsement: “RMB Audio upgraded our 25-year-old Martin Audio array with O-Line cabinets, which produce such great sound from a small package. It’s a perfect upgrade for our congregation.”

UK: The 235-cap Junction live music venue in Plymouth recently upgraded its ageing sound reinforcement infrastructure, opting for a Martin Audio premium PA.

The installation was carried out by locally-based Martin Audio rental and installation partner Nub Sound, and overseen by their Director of Operations, Josh Small. He recommended the manufacturer’s powerful triaxial THS 15in point source loudspeaker, combined with SXC118 cardioid subs to provide both the requisite headroom and vocal clarity—far exceeding the capability of the ancient system that it was replacing.

The long-running venue has been operated by the independent Bedford Breweries for the past decade-plus, but has been trading as The Junction for at least 20 years.

The venue has been systematically upgrading its sound capabilities over the past 18 months, with loudspeakers always planned as the final jewel in the crown. Said Josh, “The venue has transitioned from being a pub that did live music, to a proper live music venue.”

House engineer Dom Chiswell, another staunch advocate of Martin Audio’s signature sound, said the change of direction had been enforced as a result of the pandemic. “When we came out of COVID, we took a big hit with midweek bar sales; it wasn’t working, so we decided to focus on live shows, but make the experience a lot better for bands prepared to travel all the way down to Devon.” The new booking policy is now geared towards 60% touring bands.

WE’D BEEN SHOWN THS AS PART OF THEIR ‘UNPLUGGED BUG’, WHICH AT THAT TIME IT WAS ONLY A BESPOKE BOX. BUT ONCE IT CAME OUT AS A PRODUCTION ITEM IT WAS CLEARLY THE RIGHT BOX FOR THE ROO.

The process to find the perfect sound solution began a year ago, with an open day at Nub Sound, whose own relationship with the venue dates back many years. Martin Audio support engineer Ben Tucker attended, and several alternative Martin Audio PA systems were considered, including TORUS, FlexPoint (and briefly CDD-LIVE).

“We’d been shown THS as part of their ‘Unplugged Bug’, which at that time it was only a bespoke box. But once it came out as a production item it was clearly the right box for the room.”

UAE: Situated in the luxury residential area of Dubai Hills, on the Business Park, DUO Gastrobar has joined the growing list ofhaute cuisinerestaurants being sucked into the fast-developing neighbourhood.

Founded by Duoband Restaurant Group from St. Petersburg, headed by Renat Malikov and Dmitry Blinov, its quest for the best has already earned them a Michelin star for their fine European cuisine (with a twist of Asian), while their clientele luxuriates in an interior characterised by light, airy colours and natural materials, while the musical ambience is delivered by Martin Audio’s best-selling CDD series.

But it wasn’t the aesthetic of the white CDD5s so much as the sound quality that had impressed the owners, according to regional distributors PRO LAB LLC. Already with a presence in the area the operators were aware that Martin Audio is the brand of choice for many upmarket establishments and also for project designers/consultants, LXA—who have worked on a number of projects with PRO LAB.

“In fact the owners had asked LXA to look for the providers of Martin Audio as it has such good visibility in the region,” confirmed PRO LAB general manager Jan Tarakji.

The Martin Audio distributors were happy to support LXA Senior Project Manager, Riaan Koch as he designed the main bar/restaurant sound around five discreet CDD5W.

But the operators also wanted some headroom in the system for when needed, and to this was added a pair of SX110 subwoofers.

Tarakji added, “They know that if they want to push the system … maybe play some deep house, they have the tools to do so, as these are small and punchy. Thanks to eyebolts LXA have been able to fly these—one at the bar and one at the opposite end of the venue—as space on the floor is at a premium.”

In addition to the main area there is also a separate covered terrace, with a different vibe where patrons are served their music via a further five CDD5W.

UAE: The McGettigan’s Irish Pub franchise continues to expand across Dubai, but their latest bar and restaurant—situated in the Four Points by Sheraton Production City—is the first to be located within a Marriott-owned hotel property.

Set within this growing production hub it will serve the community of media-based businesses who are resident there. Also based at Production City are Martin Audio’s distributor for the UAE and GCC region, PRO LAB LLC, who will be able to use the venue as a showcase. For they supported system integrators Exacting Diseno Technical Services—specialists in the leisure hospitality sector—helping to recommend appropriate sound reinforcement solutions across several ranges in the loudspeaker manufacturer’s portfolio.

Set on a 5,000 sq. ft footprint, the lively bar restaurant offers a haven for business meetings for the hotel residents, transforming at the weekends when the action notches up. DJs perform and the general vibe is one of a sports bar with plenty of screens.

Thus versatility (and the rising tide of ambient sound at weekends) was very much in their thinking when it came to specifying the sound. But PRO LAB knew they were in safe hands with Exacting Diseno. “They are big supporters of Martin Audio, it’s their number one choice, when it comes to specifying sound systems,” stated PRO LAB’s Head of Audio, Pavel Shemiakin.

“When they started negotiating with the client it was made clear that they wanted a high-performance system—a HiFi sound with plenty of punch—because while it’s mostly playing low level BGM during the daylight hours, it also reverts to a sports bar and has DJ plug-in points. So Martin Audio became the obvious choice.”

The heavy focus is at the DJ position where a pair of CDD12 are mounted, while distributed evenly throughout the venue are a further nine wall mounted CDD6. These are reinforced by four ground-standing Martin Audio Blackline X115 subwoofers for LF extension.

However, the installation company, under the project leadership of Lou Agha, was still far from finished. For the outdoor terrace area they turned to 12 of Martin Audio’s ADORN A55T, supplied with the optional AIPKIT IP44 weatherised cover. This area can either take its source feed from the main room, or operate from an independent input and volume control, ensuring maximum versatility.

Stated Rami Haber. Pro Lab CEO, “Partnering with McGettigan’s reflects our commitment to supporting Dubai’s top venues with exceptional audio solutions that elevate the guest experience.”

US: Situated in West Sacramento, CA, Sutter Health Park—home to the River Cats baseball team and ‘A’s’ (Athletics)—has undergone a major infrastructure upgrade for the coming season, designed to enhance the fan experience and improve game-day technology.

This includes a strategically enhanced sound system for the bowl—based around Martin Audio CDD and SX subwoofer components, as well as process-controlled amplification from Focusrite sister brand, Linea Research, in the 14,000-cap arena.

The River Cats had acknowledged that their 25-year-old system badly needed enhancing. Locally based Martin Audio partner, Sacramento Production Services (SACPS)—who have a long history in servicing the facility—were brought in, initially to project manage for a third party before later being handed the full role of system integrator, as the time frame for completion narrowed.

Their experienced Sales & Production Manager, Keith Wackford said, “The brief was to get the present system back up and running after they had completely gutted the control room. “In the process they said, ‘What can we do to upgrade the system?’ They wanted a major league experience in a minor league park on a minor league budget.”

INDIA: GOYA is a premier lounge and nightclub in Goa’s tourist hotspot of Vagator Beach. The venue blends high-energy entertainment with a luxurious atmosphere, offering a space where music, lighting, and ambiance converge to create a dynamic, immersive interior. With a reputation for hosting top-tier DJs and live performances, GOYA sets the benchmark for sound and experience-driven nightlife in the region.

The venue required an audio solution that could match this vibrant energy while maintaining pristine sound quality across different areas of the club. The client, Mr. Rajan envisioned a system that would elevate the experience for DJs and live performers, embracing deep bass, clear mids and detailed highs.

With the need for seamless integration between dance areas and lounge spaces, the sound system had to be powerful yet precise, preventing audio spill, while maintaining an immersive feel. The installation team at Chopra Designsfocused on delivering uniform, high-fidelity coverage to every corner of the venue to enhance both live performances and playback experiences.

THE NEW SYSTEM HAS ELEVATED THE ENTIRE CLUB EXPERIENCE, AND THE RESPONSE FROM OUR GUESTS HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

To achieve this, the venue’s main area was fitted with Martin Audio state-of-the-art TORUS T1215, 12” passive constant curvature array loudspeaker, complemented with Martin Audio’s CDD15B and CDD12B coaxial differential dispersion on-wall speakers. Powering the entire setup was the Martin Audio iK42, a four-channel 20,000W Class D amplifier, along with the DX 0.6 2-in/6-out dedicated system controller for optimised sound processing. For additional reinforcement, compatible subwoofers were installed to provide depth.

With this advanced blend of technology, the new sound system elevates the venue’s reputation as a premier nightlife destination in Goa. The installation has not only met but exceeded the client’s expectations, setting a new standard for sound reinforcement in the region.

“The transformation in our venue’s sound is incredible,” said Mr. Rajan. “From the dance floor to the lounge, the clarity and impact are unmatched. The new system has elevated the entire club experience, and the response from our guests has been overwhelmingly positive.”

“The installation at GOYA perfectly balances power and precision, creating an immersive sound experience throughout the venue,” added Abhimanyu Chopra,Sound Consultant, Chopra Designs. “The system delivers exceptional clarity and impact, ensuring that every performance sounds exactly as intended.”

The Martin Audio components were supplied by the company’s distribution partner, VMT Enterprise, whose Pre-Design & Sales Engineer, Sai Prem,concluded, “The system delivers an outstanding combination of clarity and power, ensuring an immersive experience throughout the venue. Every element has been fine-tuned to provide a balanced and dynamic sound that enhances both live performances and DJ sets.”