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LEA Professional

Residential AV Systems | LEA Powers 20-Zone Houston Home

Residential AV Systems | LEA Powers 20-Zone Houston Home

We’ve seen our amps go into a lot of amazing places. From football stadiums to skyscrapers to restaurants and bars — our amps are being used to enhance experiences around the world. But, for this install, we’re honored to have been welcomed into a beautiful home set amidst 5 acres of land in Houston, Texas. And with 20 zones of audio at the owner’s fingertips, this residential AV system sets the bar for home audio aspirations.

Let’s dive in!

THE SPEC

RESIDENTIAL AV SYSTEMS | LEA POWERS 20-ZONE HOUSTON HOME

Venue: Residential Property in Houston, TX | 6 Bedrooms, 5 acres

Integrator: Sound Lab Designs

Audio Spaces: Full home including 6 Bedrooms, pool, patio, balconies, front and near lawns

Product Used: CONNECTSERIES CS168 (qty 5), CS702 (qty 1), CS354 (qty 1) 

THE VENUE

RESIDENTIAL AV SYSTEMS | LEA POWERS 20-ZONE HOUSTON HOME

A six-bedroom home is set over five acres of land in the middle of Houston, Texas.

The home includes outdoor pool and patio areas as well as a balcony.

THE INTEGRATOR

RESIDENTIAL AV SYSTEMS | LEA POWERS 20-ZONE HOUSTON HOME

Sound Lab Designs specializes in alarms, custom fabrication, automotive lighting, and car audio. Every employee has ten plus years in the industry.

THE INSTALL

RESIDENTIAL AV SYSTEMS | LEA POWERS 20-ZONE HOUSTON HOME

A longtime customer of Texas-based AV integration company Sound Lab Designs, the homeowners were looking for an entirely new AV system across their six-bedroom home which is set over five acres of land in the middle of Houston. Sound Lab Designs designed and installed a new system from scratch to cover the interior and exterior of the large property.

For Ernie Blumenthal, owner at Sound Lab Designs, this project was different from other residential installations he’s worked on because, for the first time, he used LEA Professional amplifiers. Blumenthal mapped over 20 audio zones in the property, many of which were external zones including the pool, patio, front and near lawns and balconies. Initially, for Blumenthal it was the style and form factor of the LEA amplifiers that convinced him to give them a try.

“Form factor was a huge plus, I knew I could really stack a lot of power in a home and not take up the whole rack,” commented Blumenthal. “I did my research on LEA and saw that the sound quality and the adjustability of the amplifier was highly regarded so I thought this would be a perfect installation to try this product.”

Sound Lab Designs installed five Connect Series 168, one Connect 702, and one Connect 354 in the home. The team chose to give the homeowners extra power and channel count so they would have plenty of headroom for future expansion.

While supply chain issues due to COVID did create some equipment delays for this project the LEA Professional amplifiers arrived on time with no delays. Having the amplifiers onsite was hugely important for mapping out and configuring the rest of the system design while waiting for the remaining equipment to arrive.

Another selling point of the LEA amplifiers was the connection to the LEA Professional Cloud Platform allowing Sound Lab Designs to monitor all of the amplifiers remotely, simultaneously. 

The Cloud Platform provides systems integrators with powerful, reliable and secure remote monitoring and control capabilities across the entire lineup of IoT-enabled LEA Professional Connect Series amplifiers. Unique within the industry, all LEA Professional amplifiers leverage the built-in Amazon Web Services (AWS) IoT Core. The platform allows integrators to monitor critical operational data points that are integral to maintaining system health remotely. The capability delivers greater visibility to provide preventative maintenance, easier troubleshooting and fewer on-site maintenance requirements.

“I really like the monitoring ability, you only need to go to one web page to see all the amplifiers and it means we are able to offer our clients a full end-to-end service,” commented Blumenthal. “The amplifiers provide great value and are reasonably priced for what you are getting so we will definitely be using them again.”

THE CONCLUSION

RESIDENTIAL AV SYSTEMS | LEA POWERS 20-ZONE HOUSTON HOME

Sound Lab Designs has received great feedback from the client and they are happy with how everything sounds and how it looks in their home. There have been no issues with the system so far but if anything does occur Ernie and the team know that with our cloud platform, they can quickly and easily address almost any issue.

We’d like to thank Ernie and his team at Soundlab Designs for choosing our amps for this killer installation and we hope that the audio systems will continue to deliver reliable audio for the homeowners for years to come.

If you have any questions or feedback about using amplifiers for residential av systems like this or any other projects, feel free to fill out the form below or reach out to us on our social media channels.

Categories
Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO PARTNER AUDIOLOGICPRO MAKES FIRST INVESTMENT IN WAVEFRONT PRECISION

Martin Audio’s long-term Czech and Slovakian distributor, Rock Centrum, has announced a strategic Wavefront Precision line array sale — to local rental company, AudiologicPRO

This young rental company, coincidentally also based in the city of Martin, already had experience of Martin Audio technology and has been growing rapidly, with its reputation spreading throughout both the Czech and Slovak markets, in all performance sectors.

According to Rock Centrum’s Peter Foldvari, joint partners, Branislav Gombarský and Tomáš Hruška, wanted the manufacturer’s latest line array series as they believed Martin Audio’s optimised line array technology to be the best in the world.

“We conducted a few demos at our Czech base in Prague and invited them,” he reports. “We then had long discussions about which system they needed, as they already had experience with legendary systems such as W8, W8LC and W8LM. Finally they opted for WPC.

Photo (left to right): Branislav Gombarský and Tomáš Hruška

“Of course they also considered other brands, but based on previous cooperation and the result of the soundchecks they quickly returned to WPC because of the core optimisation technology.”

AudiologicPRO’s initial purchase is for 12 enclosures, giving them hangs of six elements per side, but this will increase further for the summer season, along with iKON iK42 amplifiers. This will complement their existing classic Martin Audio W8LM, W8VDQ and a W8C / WSX rig.

Regarding the purchase, Branislav Gombarský stated, “The best possible sound performance was in our company already — and that’s why we decided to expand our Martin Audio portfolio with the latest WPC.

“This is a natural result of maximum satisfaction with the use of our older Martin Audio systems which enabled us to provide a number of memorable music productions.

“During our 15 years’ experience in this business, we have come into contact with the W8LC and W8LM systems several times and that is why we now believe in the technologically advanced WPC. Aside from its technology, a clear benefit is its compactness, weight and especially its efficiency in large concert halls and spaces.

“Saving space in the truck and the load-bearing capacity are, I think, key issues in these times. And the technical progress of optimisation in the DISPLAY software, which is miles ahead of the classic line array principals, we don’t even have to talk about!

“I would like to thank Rock Centrum Slovakia and Peter Foldvári in particular for the sensitive way in which they approached the negotiations leading up to this sale.”

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio’s Up 60 completes ceiling speaker range

Optimal Audio has added the Up 60, a 6-inch two-way passive full-range ceiling speaker, to its portfolio of multi-zone audio solutions. Delivering a consistent conical 110° coverage pattern, the speaker pairs a 6-inch low frequency driver with a 0.7-inch metal dome tweeter and is supplied without a back can for ceilings with a minimum cavity depth. The Up 6O cabinet is suitable for both high quality speech and music reproduction in a range of cost-conscious commercial environments, from hotels and concourses to retail outlets, bars and restaurants.

Each Up 6O can be run on a series of 70V or 100V taps or at low impedance. There’s also a 16Ω setting that allows up to four units to be connected to each amplifier channel at low impedance for a more efficient installation.

“With the entire Up ceiling series, including this latest addition, now shipping, they join Cuboid and Sub to complete our loudspeaker offering,” stated Optimal Audio product manager Al McKinna. “With our amplifiers also shipping and our controllers soon to follow, the Optimal Audio ecosystem of control, amplification and loudspeakers working seamlessly together is now becoming a reality. 2022 will be the year we see Optimal Audio really take off.”

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio Launches Up 6O

Optimal Audio, manufacturer of control, amplification and loudspeakers for small to medium-sized commercial installations, particularly multi-zone venues, has announced an addition to its range in the shape of the Up 6O, a 6” two-way passive, full range open back ceiling speaker. 

Delivering a consistent conical 110° coverage pattern, Up 6O features a 6” low frequency driver paired with a 0.7” metal dome tweeter, and is supplied without a back can for ceilings with a minimum cavity depth. An integral fixing system achieves a simple and clean installation. Up 6O is suitable for both high quality speech and music reproduction in a wide range of cost-conscious commercial environments, from hotels and concourses to retail outlets, bars and restaurants.

Each Up 6O can be run on a series of 70 or 100 Volt taps or at low impedance, and with a 16 ohm setting allows up to four units to be connected to each amplifier channel at low impedance for an efficient install.

Up 6O joins Optimal Audio’s range of ceiling speakers with the entire Up series now shipping in APAC, followed by EMEA from March, and North America to follow later in the year. 

Product manager, Al McKinna, said:

With the entire Up ceiling series, including this latest addition, now shipping, they join Cuboid and Sub to complete our loudspeaker offering. With our amplifiers also shipping and our controllers soon to follow, the Optimal Audio ecosystem of control, amplification and loudspeakers working seamlessly together is now becoming a reality. 2022 will be the year we see Optimal Audio really take off.”

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Martin Audio

LOFT01, NEW HIRABLE EVENT SPACE IN ITALY EQUIPPED WITH PREMIUM WAVEFRONT PRECISION

Loft01 in Prato is a former warehouse, newly-converted into a lounge, restaurant and cocktail club in the heart of the Italian city of Prato. With a capacity of 90 (seated), it can be hired out for any type of event, from birthdays, weddings, art exhibitions and dance parties, customised to suit. In addition, clients benefit from a full technical infrastructure, including a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision Mini (WPM) PA, installed by dealers CLS Service.

This is used for special events like the opening night party, where more SPL was required. Well known DJ/ producer Nicola Zucchi was at full tilt playing through WPM—stacked, four elements per side—above a pair of SX218 subs, run in 2-box resolution from Martin Audio’s iKON amplifiers. In addition, an LE100 wedge monitor provided his reference sound.

In permanent installation at the venue is a Martin Audio Blackline X10 and S15 subwoofer set-up, which is used for all other occasions.

The technical infrastructure is also extremely flexible and reconfigurable, since by implementing the control app they can change the system parameters, and Loft01 can transform from a restaurant into a club. All signals runs on a Dante network so that the mixing console can be set anywhere to suit the event.

CLS Service founder Duccio Mitola was awarded the contract to meet this criteria by owner Jonny Gerges Saad. “I first met him when he was playing as a DJ at an event at the Castle Filattiera, playing through a [Martin Audio] ICT300 and WS18X sub. A few days later he joined the large family of CLS Service customers, contacting me for an event on the seafront … and I have supplied many events since.” Today he is the owner of Concevent Srls, which runs Loft01.

Currently, during the COVID lockdown, it is functioning solely as a socially distanced restaurant.

To optimise the system CLS used Martin Audio’s proprietary DISPLAY software, tuning the venue with SMAART and an RTA mic. “It was a very complex situation,” admits Duccio. “The Loft has a very rigid, industrial floor, and hence the PA was mounted in a stack configuration. Also the room is very high—around 7m high by 20m long by 9m wide. It is a highly reverberant space but thanks to DISPLAY and SMAART we were able to obtain an excellent result.”

He explained that with video projectors on the wall, the PA had to be set in two towers out wide of the DJ, so as not to intrude on the projection beams. “While subs placed right in the corners are never the best option—particularly with an array on top—the enormous control of WPM offset this,” stated the installer. “In fact it was really fun to set this system up.”

In order to keep the neighbours onside, DISPLAY’s Hard Avoid function was used to its full extent to contain the sound. “We made sure they were not disturbed,” he assured.

As to the owner’s reaction to the new sound reinforcement: “He was a bit doubtful at first when he saw how compact the WPM modules were, and the fact that each cluster was only four elements per side,” reports Duccio Mitola. “But when he heard it he was blown away by the cleanliness and crystallinity of the sound.” Jonny Gerges Saad nodded in agreement. “It’s a really nice set up; not only producing a very powerful sound but also good on the eye.”

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LEA Professional

Pilot Tone Detection On Connect Series Amps

Pilot Tone Detection On Connect Series Amps

This video will walk you through the steps to configuring Pilot Tone Detection on Connect Series amplifiers.

View specific sections:

0:39 | How to Access Pilot Tone Detection Settings
1:28 | Pilot Tone Detection Input Settings
3:00 | Pilot Tone Detection Output Settings
5:31 | Applying Low-pass Filter
6:12 | Measuring Tone From Signal Generator

Categories
Martin Audio

BLACKLINEX AND WEATHERISED CDD THE PERFECT COMBO FOR ALBANIA’S LIFT STEAKHOUSE

The Lift Steak & Rooftop Bar is a new 500-capacity venue in the Albanian capital of Tirana—owned and operated by the Revo Hospitality Group and situated in the ABA Business Center.

Specialising in providing a mix of Lounge, Dance and Pop music, the venue brought in Prosound, Martin Audio’s Albanian distributor, to provide the optimum sound reinforcement, having earlier provided the sound system for another really well-known pub restaurant in Tirana, operated by the same owners.

Prosound technical director, Endrit Veleshnja, designed the system based around Martin Audio’s cost-efficient BlacklineX and CDD (Coaxial Differential Dispersion) series, explaining, “BlacklineX series has continuously proven to be the ideal speaker in situations where quality sound with moderately high SPL levels needs to be combined with affordability.”

BLACKLINEX SERIES HAS CONTINUOUSLY PROVEN TO BE THE IDEAL SPEAKER IN SITUATIONS WHERE QUALITY SOUND WITH MODERATELY HIGH SPL LEVELS NEEDS TO BE COMBINED WITH AFFORDABILITY

Endrit Veleshnja, Prosound

CDD series, offering premium sound quality and weather protection, was the perfect choice for the terrace, he added.

Inside, they have installed eight Blackline X8, and four SX112 subwoofers, flown from the ceiling. Outside they have opted for the weatherised CDD8-WR and CDD10-WR, with three SX112 sub enclosures ground-stacked.

Veleshnja explained the challenges that needed to be overcome. “In the indoor space, it was extremely difficult to accommodate the subwoofers on the ground. This was due to the luxury furnishing, and also since the indoor venue is used mostly as a restaurant. Therefore, in collaboration with the architect, we made it possible to hang the subwoofers from the ceiling.

“The SX112 was the perfect choice for this, not only because of the M10 fittings that allow the subwoofer to be hung securely, but also for its overall performance.”

Prosound also installed the mixing console and matrix system that divides the sound zones, which can be controlled by a smartphone/tablet.

Kliton Gjika, CEO of Prosound, says, “The client was extremely pleased, particularly when he learnt that Martin Audio was one of the brands specified on riders of some of the famous international DJs that performed at the venue during this summer season.”

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LEA Professional

Hotel AV Systems | LEA Powers a 5-star Resort in France

Hotel AV Systems | LEA Install At Domaine de Mas de Pierre

Hotel AV systems can become very complex. With several zones spanning a large complex that ranges in power requirements from Low-Z to High-Z and a mixture of both. But with proper planning and the right equipment, these systems can achieve a 5-star guest experience.

We are very excited to introduce the latest LEA install project at Domiane de Mas de Pierre — a newly refurbished, five-star hotel and resort in France.

This is no ordinary hotel install, this resort is set amidst the lush, green rolling hills along the Mediterranean coast in Saint-Paul de Vence. Guest will find themselves in the heart of a beautiful 20-acre garden with nine authentic, Provencal country houses with 76 suites and a selection of luxurious restaurants, bars, a spa, and several indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.

And with all that space, the hotel needed a flexible and powerful amplifier solution. That’s where our CONNECTSERIES came in.

THE SPEC

HOTEL AV SYSTEMS | LEA INSTALL AT DOMAINE DE MAS DE PIERRE

Venue: Domaine de Mas de Pierre, Saint-Paul de Vence, France

Install Purpose: A hotel renovation project took place in order to offer its guests a change of scenery with more comfort, luxury, and conviviality

Integrator: Inovasystem

Audio Spaces: Gastropub, Restaurant, Hotel Lobby, Spa, Pool, Fitness Center, Guest Cabins, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, and more.

Product Used: CONNECTSERIES CS354, CS164, CS352, CS88, CS164D, CS704D, CS354D, CS352D, CS168D, CS88D

Speaker Pairing: This project used a mix of over 150 loudspeakers from Sonance (check our Sonance speaker tunings for quick configuration)  

THE VENUE

HOTEL AV SYSTEMS | LEA INSTALL AT DOMAINE DE MAS DE PIERRE

In the hinterland of Provence, near the ramparts of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a jewel of the independent French family hotel group SFH, the hotel Le Domaine du Mas de Pierre is writing the next great chapter of its history.

15 years after its opening, the 5* hotel, member of Relais & Châteaux, is reinventing itself around a new identity: Domaine du Mas de Pierre.

After a year and a half of extensive restoration work, a new relaxed and friendly luxurious resort invites itself in the heart of a gorgeous 8-hectare garden.

Now open year-round, Domaine du Mas de Pierre reveals its new facilities.

The 76 rooms and suites, entirely revamped in 2021, all have a private outdoor area and are distributed among nine authentic Provençal bastides.

(Descriptions credited to hotel website)

THE INTEGRATOR

HOTEL AV SYSTEMS | LEA INSTALL AT DOMAINE DE MAS DE PIERRE

Inovasystem has provided AV design, installation, and maintenance solutions across the French Riviera for more than 15 years. Many of the region’s top resorts, hotels, and business centers are among Inovasystem’s list of clients.

 

THE INSTALL

HOTEL AV SYSTEMS | LEA INSTALL AT DOMAINE DE MAS DE PIERRE

Inovasystem turned to the team at Pilotefilms, LEA’s Authorized Distributor in France, who recommended the LEA Professional amplifiers. Philippe Pangallo, a Managing Partner at Inovasystem, was the lead engineer for the Domaine de Mas de Pierre project.

The most complicated part of this installation was that the existing network and wiring configuration had a mix of VLANs and Wi-Fi networks, as well as CCTV and hard-wire systems,” said Pangallo. “So, we needed components that were very installation flexible that we could configure as needed. The LEA amplifiers offered the Dante connectivity as well as a range of analog options that we needed.

Pangallo explained that a mix of more than 150 Sonance loudspeakers have been installed throughout the resort, covering a diverse range of spaces, including the gastropub restaurant and bar, a grill restaurant, the hotel lobby, spa and pool areas, fitness centers, guest cabins and more.

For system amplification, the team installed a set of 10 multi-channel, LEA Professional Connect Series amplifiers for a total of 48 audio channels. Several of the amplifiers are Dante ready, with some of the amps driving 100V speaker lines, and others powering low impedance speakers. Flexibility was essential for this installation.

Specific LEA Professional amplifiers in use, for reference:

CS354, CS164, CS352, CS88, CS164D, CS704D, CS354D, CS352D, CS168D, CS88D

In total, Inovasystem designed and installed the resort’s complete AV system, including digital signage, televisions, big screens, and the satellite reception and Chromecast systems.

THE CONCLUSION

HOTEL AV SYSTEMS | LEA INSTALL AT DOMAINE DE MAS DE PIERRE

The customer is delighted with their system, and everything is going well,” added Pangallo. “I’m glad that we specified LEA. The amps are performing as planned, and we are very pleased. We look forward to more LEA installations!.

We’d like to thank Philippe Pangallo and his team at Inoasystem for choosing our amps for this killer installation and we hope that the audio systems will continue to deliver reliable audio to hotel guests for years to come.

 

Categories
Martin Audio

Mumbai’s SuperWaves invests in Martin Audio

INDIA: Mumbai-based rental company, SuperWaves, has invested in Martin Audio equipment in order to provide a better experience for its customers. Following a long-term affiliation with VMT and Martin Audio, the combination makes the decision a “no brainer”, according to Rinku Saini, director, SuperWaves.

He added: “VMT has always been our go-to place for gear. Their support on sales, service and availability is extremely admirable. VMT is definitely a catalyst in our rapid growth in this competitive market.”

SuperWave’s belief in Martin Audio products are backed by a large inventory of Martin Audio gear that includes Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Line Arrays, WSX Subwoofers and Ikon Amplifiers. “It’s our specific focus on customer delight that has enabled us to continue to grow even in the tough times that Covid has bought upon us” said Saini. The company has further invested in a set of eight stereo LE 200 monitors driven with Martin Audio’s IK 81 amplifiers.

Lionel Correa, senior systems engineer, SuperWaves said: “We have used the complete Martin Audio systems in 10 shows so far in 2022 and the response has been fantastic. Having been used to the systems operations and Martin’s user-friendly software ensures we have a smooth operations flow from day one. The systems are simply fantastic and exceed our expectations continuously.”

“It has been on our agenda to have a complete rig of Martin Audio, including monitors. It’s something that had been lacking. The LE 200 is built on the great legacy of the CDD 15 and its dispersion angles and SPL’s outmatch most monitors available in the market today,” concluded Correa.

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Martin Audio

MARTIN AUDIO WPC SPECIFIED FOR UPGRADED SPLAS RESOM

Back in 2018 South Korean construction company Hoban Co. began moves to take over Resom Resort from its creditors at a cost of $224 million after being named as the preferred bidder.Resom owns three resorts in Chungcheong Province in Korea—including Splas Resom, a membership spa resort and Forest Resom, situated in a dense tree forest, which seeks to provide healing through nature and water.

A tender was issued for refurbishment of the existing Splas facility—as well as the construction of a new building—and Martin Audio distributor, Sama Sound, partnered with its dealer, Asea Sound, to submit the successful bid.

Sama Sound Product Manager, Edan Kwon, stated that the speakers had originally been specified with another brand. “And so we worked hard to get this changed to Martin Audio,” he explained. “With the help of a presentation we were able to show the company and its engineer the advantages of the new system design over other brands.”

Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Compact (WPC)—recently accoladed with the Queen’s Award for Innovation—was a perfect match for the previously specified system, meeting all the same performance criteria. “Therefore this system pretty much decided itself,” he said. “It was the same with our SXC118 subwoofer; since a cardioid subwoofer had been specified, we designed the system with SXC118.”

But from that point on, the scalable Wavefront Precision offered advantages that none of the other previously considered systems could. “The venue was constructed without regard for architectural acoustics, so there were consequently many sound reflections, especially from the venue back wall, as well as from backstage. The Hard Avoid feature [in the proprietary DISPLAY software] helped us to control those reflections, while the customer was more than satisfied at how the SXC118 cardioid subwoofer reduced the radiation behind.”

The Martin Audio loudspeakers—including many from the CDD series—have been installed in a number of multipurpose banquet halls which are mainly used for corporate events, seminars, and workshops. The system needed to be sufficiently versatile to handle a number of source feeds, ranging from background music, voice announcements and occasionally live music.

Set in hangs of five elements a side in the main Juniper Hall, accompanied by four SXC118 subs in cardioid, WPC is driven in 2-box resolution from an iKON iK81 and four iK42 amplifiers. A pair of LE200 wedges have been provided for stage monitoring.

Elsewhere, in the Rosemary Hall the specification moves to a pair each of Martin Audio W8VDQ and SXC118 subs, with two further CDD8B acting as delay speakers—powered from a further four-channel iK42.

The Geranium Hall sees a pair each of CDD8B as main speakers and CDD5B as delays, with four CDD8B in the Iris & Marigold Hall, and a pair of the same speaker in each of the Sage Hall, Jasmine Hall and Verbena Hall spaces.

Overseeing the project for Sama Sound was sales manager, Jong Hwa Seo, while Seung Hwan Kim designed the system. Hong Geun Kim took charge of the speaker installations and system tunings.

Explaining his reasons for choosing Martin Audio, the engineer, Seung Hyuk Im, said, “Since the venue is mostly rented, I wanted to choose equipment that was familiar to visiting engineers. Martin Audio was one of my considerations from the beginning and it provided me with the best system solution. I have experienced [the brand], both from exhibitions and also when I was working in a rental company. The sound is so clear and punchy, and the balance extremely good. Engineers who came in to rent systems for their events were all 100% satisfied.”

The optimisation and Hard Avoid features had worked really well, he added. “I was also fully satisfied with the performance of the SXC118 cardioid subwoofer. Since we are a resort, the aesthetic was also important. Martin Audio speakers look classy and fabulous, but are also small enough to be fairly unobtrusive—particularly the cardioid subwoofer; it is not easy to find one this small.”

Following the commissioning, the contracting team moved on to Forest Resom, where a similar Martin Audio system was specified.