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Optimal Audio

Cocktail Bar Goes Cuboid

Definition Audio Visual recently installed a sound system at The Cove, a new cocktail bar in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. They chose six Optimal Audio Cuboid 8 loudspeakers and two Sub 10 low-profile subwoofers for the main bar and seating area.

The impact of a quality audio system in creating the perfect atmosphere for hospitality, and in this case a cocktail bar, is well established and has time and again proven to be a critical ingredient to the ongoing viability of such venues.

Cuboid 8 is a full range, two-way, passive, 8” loudspeaker designed to outperform its compact size. For short to medium throw distances, it effortlessly delivers rich and detailed sound with punch and precision.

With its wooden cabinet, steel grille and optional mounting hardware the professionally presented Cuboid 8 can be fixed in either portrait or landscape mode for a flexible, simple installation.

Cuboid 8 features an 8” low frequency driver for impressive punch and midband with a 1″ exit high frequency compression driver for clarity of vocal and high frequency projection. The HF section delivers consistent coverage in either plane from a user-rotatable horn.

In the case of The Cove, Cuboid 8 was also teamed with Sub 10 for added base. Sub 10 is a slimline, passive 10” subwoofer designed for applications that call for increased impact and low frequency performance. This visually unobtrusive enclosure makes it perfectly suited where space is limited such as under banquette seating. 

It features a 10” driver with a generously sized low frequency port for reduced air noise. With a peak SPL of 127dB this is a truly punchy little sub and can be used on the ground, fixed to a wall or ceiling or flown using integral M8 inserts.

The sleek design and ease of installation offered by the Cuboid and Sub ranges made them the perfect choice for this stylish new venue.

Mark Blackwell, Definition Audio Visual commented:
“Optimal Audio very much delivers on style and substance, making the products an ideal fit for this carefully designed space.”

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio Releases Major Update to WebApp and Zone Firmware

Optimal Audio has released the latest update to its WebApp and Zone firmware, furthering the flexibility and features that enable the simplicity of set up and operation of its commercial audio eco-system.

Zone is a series of zonal audio controllers with DSP and advanced configuration via WebApp. They are easy to install, intuitive to operate and comprise 4 or 8 zone powered and non-powered versions. WebApp brings the technology behind the Zone controller series to the end-user. Traditionally, the control and operation of commercial sound systems has been a complicated inconvenience to many users, who just want the system to work. WebApp puts all the functionality that an installer requires, as well as the ability to then present effortless and intuitive control, into the hands of the end-user.

With slick touchscreen-optimised controls, the WebApp is designed for ease of use on any device. The responsive and intuitive interface lays out the fundamental controls in a clean, accessible format with the deeper, lockable layers for system configuration available for integrators and system commissioners.

Complete system configuration can be achieved through the WebApp with ducking, EQs, limiters, advanced signal routing, programmable presets, timed events and much more. WebApp also allows for the system configuration files within Zone series products to be saved and easily replicated across multi-site installations.

Version 1.0 is now available to download from Optimal Audio’s website and offers extensive new features, audio settings and improved user interface.

Installers can now hide unused zones to create a cleaner interface, as well as having the ability within each zone settings page to hide sources from the selection list and the microphone volume controls. This ultimately can mean presenting the end-user with just the zone name and volume control – nothing could be simpler.

In addition to the existing 3-band EQ that works with the speaker tuning presets, an extra 3-band User EQ is now available to the installer on every output – all 8 line outputs and 8 amp outputs. Pairs of outputs now also independently support a bridge mode both for low impedance and for driving 70V high impedance speakers, and presets also now include Sub 10 and Sub 15 tunings.

For the installer, a clearer display for the fixed analogue EQ band has been added to all microphone EQs. To assist navigation and triggering of presets, the launch icon is now labelled. The preset list view can be re-ordered in Edit mode and helps to create a tidy list of the available presets. The installer page also has a new metering view which includes all the meters in the DSP for viewing system signal flow in one place.

Finally, Open Sound Control over Ethernet is the Zone control method from 3rd party controllers. In previous versions, only UDP message control of Routines was available but V1.0 adds support for UDP and TCP control of Zone parameters. Included in the release are a collection of example design files for TouchOSC to demonstrate use of OSC control. These give examples of every parameter, status and name to be the basis of control panels tailored to the specific application.

Summing up, Matt Rowe, Head of Engineering, commented:
“WebApp is our secret sauce to the success of Optimal Audio’s eco-system, and with this latest release we have extended the possibilities for the system integrator while improving the simplicity that can be presented to the end-user.”

For more information: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/support/software/

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Optimal Audio

More control. More customisation. More sauce.

Unlocking the power of our Zone controllers is our secret sauce, WebApp.
And it’s about to get even tastier.
WebApp 1.0 is launching November 14th.

With improved control, customisation and workflows, system setup is more flexible than ever combined with a refined user experience for venue staff.

To guarantee being the first to hear about WebApp 1.0, head over to Optimal Audio and sign up now.

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Optimal Audio

Reflections on winning manufacturer of the year at the AV Awards

When I first submitted our entry, I was well aware that our chances of winning were slim and if I’m honest I did it in the hope of being a finalist and to take that honour.

When we were shortlisted there was genuine excitement in the office and while I thought the judging panel session also went well I was at pains to remind everyone at Optimal Audio that our chances remained small, especially given the size and prowess of our fellow finalists.

This reality check also meant that when the awards night rolled around, I could enjoy the evening as opposed to being on tenterhooks. When our category was eventually called and to our utter surprise we had won, the elation of the team was palpable.

Here was a new brand, barely into its second year of trading, having come through the ravages of covid and the extremities of supply chain challenges, seeing off some of the biggest names in the industry.

For me the rationale for us winning is ultimately based on the origins of what we set out to do as a company. Engineering Head, Matt Rowe’s vision for a simplified, digital based ecosystem of controllers, amplifiers and loudspeakers for multi-zone venues is matched by a quirky, challenger brand outlook that sets us apart from competitors. That freshness of thinking and approach we always felt was powerful and so it has proven to be.

While we wont be resting on any laurels, this award is internationally recognised and helps to validate our standing. We’re excited for our future and will continue to bring an energy and spirit to the commercial audio sector that drives value to our sales channel partners and venues.

I’m thrilled for everyone involved with Optimal Audio and my sincere thanks to the judging panel of AV Awards for recognising their drive and ambition.

James King
Marketing Director

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio Extends Cuboid Loudspeaker Series

Optimal Audio has announced new additions to its Cuboid line up of loudspeakers, with four models introduced, available in black or white as standard.

The new additions comprise Cuboid 3, Cuboid 3TX, Cuboid 5 and Cuboid 5TX.
Cuboid 3 is a full range, two-way, passive 3” loudspeaker, designed to give exceptional sound quality in a very small form factor, for distributed applications with high quality background music and speech reproduction.

With its attractive design and included mounting hardware, Cuboid 3 can be fixed in either portrait or landscape orientation for simple and flexible installation. A weatherproof terminal cover is available as an aftermarket accessory for outdoor use, bringing the rating to IP54.

Cuboid 3 features a 3.5” low frequency driver and a 0.5” PEI dome high frequency driver mated to a shallow wave guide for consistent HF distribution.

Cuboid 3TX adds a transformer, enabling the speakers to run on a series of 70 or 100V taps or at low impedance. Tap selection is via a rotary switch on the rear of the cabinet.

Cuboid 5 and Cuboid 5TX follow in similar fashion and feature a 5.25” low frequency driver and a 0.75” high frequency driver.

The new Cuboid additions will start to ship in APAC from November, EMEA from December, and the Americas in the new year.

Managing Director Dom Harter said:

“We’re delighted to extend the popular Cuboid series – these new additions open the brand to additional indoor and outdoor applications with sound quality that will delight. When coupled with the Zone series and the WebApp, setting up a system and end-user control is then also simple and intuitive.”

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio Appoints Audio Brands as Distributor for Australia

U.K. manufacturer Optimal Audio is pleased to announce the appointment of Audio Brands as its exclusive distributor in Australia.

Optimal Audio, part of the Focusrite Group, manufactures a one-stop solution of control, amplification and loudspeakers for small to medium sized commercial installations, with a focus on supporting multi-zoned venues. Its streamlined product offering works seamlessly to deliver simple-to-install, high-quality sound systems that can easily be operated by anyone, not just engineers.

Based in Sydney, Audio Brands is focused on the installation and production markets and specialises in commercial audio and AV solutions, supplying Australia through a wide network of dealers and integration partners. With exclusive distribution for a number of leading global brands, Audio Brands has developed a strong reputation for outstanding customer service. 

Don McConnell, Director of Audio Brands Australia comments:

“We’re thrilled to be representing such an innovative range of products. The experienced team behind Optimal Audio truly understand the requirements of the commercial audio market, and it’s refreshing to see a focus on the user interface. The Optimal Audio range complements our existing brands perfectly and we’re looking forward to introducing the Optimal Audio solution to our integrator customers and consultants.”

David McKinney, Sales & Support, APAC, Optimal Audio adds:

“We are proud to be able to partner with a distributor of the calibre of Audio Brands in Australia.  Their strong technical background and expertise in the commercial audio market is perfect for the solutions that Optimal Audio offers. The unique Zone processors and WebApp are catching a lot of early attention in Australia thanks to the initial work Audio Brands have done. Now we are shipping the full Optimal Audio range, we are ready to move in Australia.” 

Dom Harter, Managing Director at Optimal Audio, is well acquainted with Don McConnell and Audio Brands:

“I’ve known Don for many years and worked with him before, so I’m especially delighted to have Audio Brands taking care of our distribution in Australia. The company sets very high standards and Optimal Audio couldn’t be in better hands.”

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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio premières in Italy at MIR Tech

SISME, the Optimal Audio distributor for Italy, has debuted the Optimal Audio range of products during the well-attended trade show in March. 

The Zone4 processor and its WebApp were the centre of attention for Optimal Audio, and the feedback from the Italian customers was extremely positive. They saw the true potential of the product and were really impressed by the functionality and flexibility it has to offer.  Smart Amps were also well received, – the power sharing functionality and settings in particular generated a huge amount of interest in the brand. 

UP series and Cuboid series were the perfect addition to the eco-system set-up presented by SISME.

Simone Santarelli, SISME’s Optimal Audio brand manager commented:

It’s great to finally see the reaction of our customers to Optimal Audio. We have been convinced by the potential of the brand from day one, and it’s great to see this reaffirmed by our customers and potential customers at the show

Raf Willems, Head of Sales EMEA for Optimal Audio added:

“Coming close to the shipping date of our entire range, it was extremely important to get our products in front of AV professionals. The effort and work put in by Claudio Bugari, CEO of SISME, and his team, was exactly our vision on how to present Optimal Audio, as an easy to install and easy to use eco-system. The SISME marketing department did a great job on this, and with the enthusiasm of the entire team, I’m convinced that the future for Optimal Audio in Italy is very bright!”

Optimal Audio will be presenting its solutions in many more tradeshows and launch events throughout the world in the coming months. Stay tuned for the updates on the Optimal Audio website!

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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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Optimal Audio

Optimal Audio appoints Duc Proaudio as Distributor for Vietnam

Recently launched U.K. manufacturer Optimal Audio is pleased to announce the appointment of Ho Chi Minh-based Duc Proaudio as its distributor for Vietnam.

Optimal Audio, part of the Focusrite Group, manufactures a one-stop solution of control, amplification and loudspeakers for small to medium sized commercial installations, with a focus on supporting multi-zoned venues. Its streamlined product-offering works seamlessly to deliver simple-to-install, high quality sound systems that can be easily operated by anyone, not just engineers.

Duc Proaudio is a familiar name in the professional audio world in Vietnam. As well as acting as a distributor, the company is also involved in the design and installation of audio systems across the commercial and entertainment audio sectors, so has a thorough understanding of the needs of integrators and end-users. Pham Duy Quang of Duc Proaudio comments:

“We are delighted to represent Optimal Audio, believing that the products perfectly match the requirements of the commercial audio market in Vietnam for sleek and easy to operate systems that deliver high quality performance. We especially like the Zone Controllers and ZonePad, which have a fresh look in comparison to other commercial audio products – coupling them with the intuitive WebApp makes for very easy end-user operation.”

David McKinney, Sales & Support, APAC, Optimal Audio adds:

“Duc Proaudio has built a strong reputation based upon proven success. The company’s strong dealer network and wealth of hands-on experience gives us full confidence that it is ideally placed to help its customers maximise the benefits of the simple-to-install, high quality Optimal Audio ecosystem.”