Turbosound installations

Ba Orient

Venue: Ba Orient
Location: Cardiff, UK
Venue-type: Bar / restaurant
Loudspeaker system:
QLight series
TSB series
TXD series

QLight loudspeaker systems are forming the key element in an intelligent zoning installation at Ba Orient, a unique style of cocktail and dim sum bar in the fashionable Mermaid Quay area of Cardiff.

Designed and installed by Enhance Audio of Bristol, the bar's new sound system features a total of 23 Turbosound loudspeakers, distributed throughout the venue's public areas and private VIP suites.

The design was conceived by Enhance Audio's Jerey Denning, with the Ba Orient's system based on QLight™ TQ-308 and TQ-230 enclosures, deployed in multiple stereo zones, complemented by TQ-115 and TSB-110 bass units installed at floor level and built into columns along the venue's central axis. A TXD-081 loudspeaker is also installed as a monitor for the DJ station, which is incorporated into the bar. Enhance Audio used flexible rubber suspension brackets to mount all the mid-high loudspeakers, in conjunction with acoustic treatment of the ceiling void, to prevent sound from the Ba Orient being transmitted to the Italian restaurant on the floor above.

The owner's brief for the Ba Orient sound system required a different approach to the more conventional up-front bar presentation. The emphasis was on creating a relaxed wash of sound, with the capacity for higher levels during weekend evenings. With four public-area zones, and three VIP suites which can be hired out independently for private meetings the system had to be sufficiently flexible to provide some of the zones, particularly the VIP suites, with their individual choice of music. The system is configured with a total of five stereo images in the public and bar areas, using TQ-308 mid-highs, with a pair of TQ-230 mid-highs installed in each VIP suite. Control over the zoning is handled by a BIAMP AudioSolo system, using four Select 8 control panels to give localised control over levels and sources.

Jerey Denning, of Enhance Audio, explained his approach: "The Ba Orient comprises a long main room, approximately 20 metres long by less than 10 wide, and to achieve the optimum quality throughout, we designed the system to have a stereo image at every four metres down the room. Each stereo pair of TQ-308 enclosures has a supporting TQ-115 sub-bass unit, built into a cabinet at the base of each column, while the TQ-230 mid-high pairs in the VIP suites each have an associated TSB-110 bass enclosure. Configuring the system in this way has enabled us to ensure a tight stereo image within each zone, and with a very even distribution of low frequencies. The coverage patterns of the Turbosound speakers are entirely appropriate for this kind of application, and the designs make a highly significant contribution to the consistency of image and quality throughout the venue. An important factor for the Ba Orient project is that this performance can be maintained as the levels rise during an evening. Typically, the levels are set-up to rise at around 5pm, and again at 7pm, as customers leave work and the bar gets busier, with further increases later in the evening and on DJ nights. The automated levels can also be controlled manually, for example within the VIP suites, with the whole system re-setting at the end of each evening. The overall result is a very good combination of quality, control and flexibility."

Conceived primarily as a stylish, up-market cocktail bar, the Ba Orient represents a fresh concept among the venues along Cardiff's Mermaid Quay, and serves a rather different menu based on traditional Chinese dim sum.

One of the partners of the Ba Orient commented on the venue's aims and the results of Enhance Audio's installation: "We created the Ba Orient to offer a unique environment, incorporating a number of unusual design elements, including the interior aesthetics, as well as the audio and lighting technology. Our main objective was to offer our wide-ranging clientele the best quality experience, from the choice of food and drink, to the music. We can be serving business lunches at the start of our day, while creating a livelier atmosphere later in the evenings, with a DJ on weekend nights. Our sound system had to be able to handle a wide range of music, while retaining its quality and clarity at different volumes levels. With help from Jerey at Enhance Audio, we did a considerable amount of research into the kind of system we were looking for, visiting other venues and listening to a number of products. We were particularly attracted to the Turbosound loudspeakers, and they have proved to be perfectly suited to our venue. Their very clear and detailed sound does not inhibit easy conversation, even when running fairly loud. It is certainly the best sounding system we have heard in a venue of this type, and we are very satisfied with the results. Jerey worked very hard to ensure we had a design that fully met our expectations. If we ever open another venue, we will certainly go this same route again."

In addition to the Turbosound loudspeakers, Enhance Audio also installed a variety of MC2 power amplifiers, including T-1500, T-1000, T-500 and T4-250 models, plus a BIAMP AudioSolo 4-in/12-out DSP system with wall-panel volume/selectors. The DJ equipment included a Denon DN-D4000 double CD player, Technics SL1210 turntables and an Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer, with a Denon 5-disc CD carousel and a c-burn digital music system being supplied for playback duties.

	Ba Orient

	Venue: Ba Orient Location: Cardiff, UK Venue-type: Bar / restaurant Loudspeaker system: QLight series TSB series TXD series

	QLight loudspeaker systems are forming the key element in an intelligent zoning installation at Ba Orient, a unique style of cocktail and dim sum bar in the fashionable Mermaid Quay area of Cardiff. Designed and installed by Enhance Audio of Bristol, the bar's new sound system features a total of 23 Turbosound loudspeakers, distributed throughout the venue's public areas and private VIP suites. The design was conceived by Enhance Audio's Jerey Denning, with the Ba Orient's system based on QLight™ TQ-308 and TQ-230 enclosures, deployed in multiple stereo zones, complemented by TQ-115 and TSB-110 bass units installed at floor level and built into columns along the venue's central axis. A TXD-081 loudspeaker is also installed as a monitor for the DJ station, which is incorporated into the bar. Enhance Audio used flexible rubber suspension brackets to mount all the mid-high loudspeakers, in conjunction with acoustic treatment of the ceiling void, to prevent sound from the Ba Orient being transmitted to the Italian restaurant on the floor above. The owner's brief for the Ba Orient sound system required a different approach to the more conventional up-front bar presentation. The emphasis was on creating a relaxed wash of sound, with the capacity for higher levels during weekend evenings. With four public-area zones, and three VIP suites which can be hired out independently for private meetings the system had to be sufficiently flexible to provide some of the zones, particularly the VIP suites, with their individual choice of music. The system is configured with a total of five stereo images in the public and bar areas, using TQ-308 mid-highs, with a pair of TQ-230 mid-highs installed in each VIP suite. Control over the zoning is handled by a BIAMP AudioSolo system, using four Select 8 control panels to give localised control over levels and sources. Jerey Denning, of Enhance Audio, explained his approach: "The Ba Orient comprises a long main room, approximately 20 metres long by less than 10 wide, and to achieve the optimum quality throughout, we designed the system to have a stereo image at every four metres down the room. Each stereo pair of TQ-308 enclosures has a supporting TQ-115 sub-bass unit, built into a cabinet at the base of each column, while the TQ-230 mid-high pairs in the VIP suites each have an associated TSB-110 bass enclosure. Configuring the system in this way has enabled us to ensure a tight stereo image within each zone, and with a very even distribution of low frequencies. The coverage patterns of the Turbosound speakers are entirely appropriate for this kind of application, and the designs make a highly significant contribution to the consistency of image and quality throughout the venue. An important factor for the Ba Orient project is that this performance can be maintained as the levels rise during an evening. Typically, the levels are set-up to rise at around 5pm, and again at 7pm, as customers leave work and the bar gets busier, with further increases later in the evening and on DJ nights. The automated levels can also be controlled manually, for example within the VIP suites, with the whole system re-setting at the end of each evening. The overall result is a very good combination of quality, control and flexibility." Conceived primarily as a stylish, up-market cocktail bar, the Ba Orient represents a fresh concept among the venues along Cardiff's Mermaid Quay, and serves a rather different menu based on traditional Chinese dim sum. One of the partners of the Ba Orient commented on the venue's aims and the results of Enhance Audio's installation: "We created the Ba Orient to offer a unique environment, incorporating a number of unusual design elements, including the interior aesthetics, as well as the audio and lighting technology. Our main objective was to offer our wide-ranging clientele the best quality experience, from the choice of food and drink, to the music. We can be serving business lunches at the start of our day, while creating a livelier atmosphere later in the evenings, with a DJ on weekend nights. Our sound system had to be able to handle a wide range of music, while retaining its quality and clarity at different volumes levels. With help from Jerey at Enhance Audio, we did a considerable amount of research into the kind of system we were looking for, visiting other venues and listening to a number of products. We were particularly attracted to the Turbosound loudspeakers, and they have proved to be perfectly suited to our venue. Their very clear and detailed sound does not inhibit easy conversation, even when running fairly loud. It is certainly the best sounding system we have heard in a venue of this type, and we are very satisfied with the results. Jerey worked very hard to ensure we had a design that fully met our expectations. If we ever open another venue, we will certainly go this same route again." In addition to the Turbosound loudspeakers, Enhance Audio also installed a variety of MC2 power amplifiers, including T-1500, T-1000, T-500 and T4-250 models, plus a BIAMP AudioSolo 4-in/12-out DSP system with wall-panel volume/selectors. The DJ equipment included a Denon DN-D4000 double CD player, Technics SL1210 turntables and an Allen & Heath Xone:92 mixer, with a Denon 5-disc CD carousel and a c-burn digital music system being supplied for playback duties.