Turbosound installations

Hakkasan

Venue: Hakkasan
Location: London, UK
Venue-type: Restaurant
Loudspeaker system:
QLight series

Hakkasan is billed as London's smartest Chinese restaurant, bringing a new dimension to the city's restaurant cum bar theme.

The brainchild of Alan Yau, Hakkasan combines the best of style guru design with excellent cuisine, offering a 130-cover restaurant with a 60-cover lounge bar, complete with a massive 16-metre long bar. The interior was designed by Christian Liaigre, a favourite of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein, creating a stunning combination of classic and contemporary Chinese style. The venue's musical attractions are also singled out for praise, with Hakkasan becoming a favourite night spot thanks to the cool music in the lounge bar, under the aegis of expert DJ and music producer Michael Adams.

Music is a key element in creating the unique atmosphere of Hakkasan - encompassing the main dining area, which is divided into three "cages", and the lounge area. The sound system has been the subject of a recent overhaul, courtesy of a/v designers and installers EVA, and the venue provides a high profile framework to demonstrate the versatility of QLight series TQ-230 loudspeakers. Glyn Hughes of EVA explains the project's scope:

"The brief was to update Hakkasan's original installation, reflecting the venue's style and ambience through a powerful, high quality yet discrete music system that could pack a punch without being over the top. The TQ-230's were singled out as being the best option, offering a small discrete footprint together with the power and breadth that is needed here. We took a good look at what was in place, electing to re-use the existing amplifiers, as well as some of the existing sub-basses for example, and putting the TQ-230's in as the new "top" tier. We worked closely with Michael Adams to get the ideal blend of high-end quality and power where it is needed, and to overcome the somewhat difficult logistics of achieving the revamp in the timescales! The venue remained open throughout and so we had to work through the night - starting at 2.30am when the bar closed, through to 10am the next morning."

Hakkasan is divided into six key areas from the sound system perspective, requiring a slightly different approach in each. The three restaurant "cages" are individually controllable, involving more of a background music approach - with the ability to turn it up as required. The lounge area is the happening space for the music, requiring a highly concentrated sound. EVA elected to put five TQ-230's in the lounge area, matched by three TCS-108 8" subs. The system also runs along the massive bar, with a slightly toned down version of the main sound. Completing the picture is the background music in the rest rooms. The installation took place in mid-December 2002, with the aim of getting everything up and running in time for the party season. Glyn again:

"It was a challenging job in the timescales, but the result has really made the hard work worthwhile. The comment we have had back on the sound quality says it all &endash; phenomenal! We spent a lot of time EQ'ing the system to get it 100% right, and reprogrammed the BSS Soundweb as well. This was my first time with the TQ-230's and I really like the way they sound - punchy with a very even dispersion. In fact, this installation has changed the way I think about Turbosound as a whole, and I will certainly use them again."

Checking out the new sound at Hakkasan is a must - if you can get a table!

	Hakkasan

	Venue: Hakkasan Location: London, UK Venue-type: Restaurant Loudspeaker system: QLight series

	Hakkasan is billed as London's smartest Chinese restaurant, bringing a new dimension to the city's restaurant cum bar theme. The brainchild of Alan Yau, Hakkasan combines the best of style guru design with excellent cuisine, offering a 130-cover restaurant with a 60-cover lounge bar, complete with a massive 16-metre long bar. The interior was designed by Christian Liaigre, a favourite of Karl Lagerfeld and Calvin Klein, creating a stunning combination of classic and contemporary Chinese style. The venue's musical attractions are also singled out for praise, with Hakkasan becoming a favourite night spot thanks to the cool music in the lounge bar, under the aegis of expert DJ and music producer Michael Adams. Music is a key element in creating the unique atmosphere of Hakkasan - encompassing the main dining area, which is divided into three "cages", and the lounge area. The sound system has been the subject of a recent overhaul, courtesy of a/v designers and installers EVA, and the venue provides a high profile framework to demonstrate the versatility of QLight series TQ-230 loudspeakers. Glyn Hughes of EVA explains the project's scope: "The brief was to update Hakkasan's original installation, reflecting the venue's style and ambience through a powerful, high quality yet discrete music system that could pack a punch without being over the top. The TQ-230's were singled out as being the best option, offering a small discrete footprint together with the power and breadth that is needed here. We took a good look at what was in place, electing to re-use the existing amplifiers, as well as some of the existing sub-basses for example, and putting the TQ-230's in as the new "top" tier. We worked closely with Michael Adams to get the ideal blend of high-end quality and power where it is needed, and to overcome the somewhat difficult logistics of achieving the revamp in the timescales! The venue remained open throughout and so we had to work through the night - starting at 2.30am when the bar closed, through to 10am the next morning." Hakkasan is divided into six key areas from the sound system perspective, requiring a slightly different approach in each. The three restaurant "cages" are individually controllable, involving more of a background music approach - with the ability to turn it up as required. The lounge area is the happening space for the music, requiring a highly concentrated sound. EVA elected to put five TQ-230's in the lounge area, matched by three TCS-108 8" subs. The system also runs along the massive bar, with a slightly toned down version of the main sound. Completing the picture is the background music in the rest rooms. The installation took place in mid-December 2002, with the aim of getting everything up and running in time for the party season. Glyn again: "It was a challenging job in the timescales, but the result has really made the hard work worthwhile. The comment we have had back on the sound quality says it all &endash; phenomenal! We spent a lot of time EQ'ing the system to get it 100% right, and reprogrammed the BSS Soundweb as well. This was my first time with the TQ-230's and I really like the way they sound - punchy with a very even dispersion. In fact, this installation has changed the way I think about Turbosound as a whole, and I will certainly use them again." Checking out the new sound at Hakkasan is a must - if you can get a table!