India: A new outlet of the Japanese-themed Harajuku Tokyo Café chain has opened in Mumbai’s BKC district with a sound system featuring HH Audio speakers powered by LEA amplifiers. The installation was handled by systems integrator Varun Dua of Bassline AV Technologies, who has installed similar systems into several Harajuku Tokyo Café outlets in the north of India. Both brands are represented in India by Generation AV.
“HH is a very flexible, multi-use brand which fits well for a venue like this, which plays background music during the day as well as DJ music and karaoke in the evenings,” explains Dua. “HH Audio with LEA amplification is a good combination, and we get brilliant service support from Generation AV. I was one of HH Audio’s first partners three years ago, when Generation AV starting representing them in India, and I’ve used them for several pan-Indian chains and retail outlets I work with.”
The main system consists of four white HH Audio TNi-W8PRO-WH 8-inch passive speakers supported by two TNi-W6 6.5-inch speakers used as delay fills, and a TNA-1800S subwoofer for low-frequency reinforcement. The entire setup is powered by a single LEA Connect Series 1504 amplifier. Dua used the amp’s built-in DSP to fine-tune the audio, ensuring optimal coverage in the centre of the room while minimising reflections from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Harajuku’s own playlist sets the tone during the day, with DJ sets for special events. Every Friday evening, a projector screen drops down for karaoke – or “Harajukuoke” – as a mic is passed around to willing participants.
“This is a new concept in India, where Japanese cuisine is typically presented in a formal dining context,” explained marketing manager, Khushe Taylor. “We position ourselves as as fun dining outlet, not fine dining, because we want everybody to enjoy Japanese culture and food.
“We play a mixture of J-pop and K-pop along with other styles of music, and it changes throughout the day. The sound system is very flexible: it works for having conversations earlier in the day and also has enough power to ramp up during the evenings.”
Having recently secured a new round of funding, the Harajuku chain – owned by entrepreneur Gaurav Kanwar, who opened the first branch at the age of 25 – is aiming to expand into 15-20 outlets in the next two years, with a planned eventual total of around 90 pan-India.
Click here for original article.
