Melodia, the 1 SOUND distributor in Indonesia, provided the Potato Head Beach Club, in Bali, Indonesia with 1 SOUND loudspeakers for the entire distributed system, including upper-level dining indoor and outdoor spaces, the main dance floor and bar, the lawn with daybeds, and beachfront pool. The goal was to build a high-quality, durable, and power-efficient system to handle DJs ‘ music daily 10am-2am, while not creating noise pollution for neighbouring hotels.
Named one of the best beach clubs in the world by Condé Nast Traveller, the Potato Head Beach Club decided to upgrade their audio system and contracted Michael Boyle, an independent audio consultant, for the consultation and design, and Sontastic for the system installation.
This installation consisted of around 60 loudspeakers all built with stainless steel 316 A4 hardware and accessories. For the seated dining areas on the upper level and under the overhang, Cannon C5 coaxials were deployed for music. These Cannons have an extended low-frequency response, so bass is heard and depicted, resulting in the design not requiring subwoofers.
For the main bar and dance floor area with VIP tables, two Contour CT212 and SUB2112 systems were deployed utilising the Contour Rigging System. This five-way system is capable of 145 max SPL, delivering club impact with a lack of distortion at high volumes, which lessens ear fatigue over time, according to 1 SOUND.
The smaller, but still just as loud Contour, the CT28, is distributed in the rest of the space, mounted and aimed from the ceiling in a horizontal deployment as well as from columns in a vertical deployment using the CT28 Horizontal Brackets and the CT28 Wall Brackets. These are supported by additional SUB2112s.
Transitioning from the open concept building out to the lawn full of daybeds are clusters of two CT28s and a SUB310 providing a long throw for the lawn. Seating by the beach and pool is supported with cardioid Tower LCC44s, SUB310s, and Cannon C6s. Sontastic was able to mount these loudspeakers to the palm trees creating custom mounts without disrupting the trees. The swim-up pool bar deployed Cannon C4 marine loudspeakers. Lou Mannarino, 1 SOUND’s Founder & Designer, worked with Sontastic on the system optimisation when the installation was complete.
The main challenge of this project was the weather conditions that are unique to Bali. It is a small island of beaches and the weather is very humid and rainy. Ian Johansson, CEO, Sontastic, worked with 1 SOUND to make sure that every loudspeaker could be made with stainless steel hardware and accessories. Since 1 SOUND is a newer loudspeaker brand that is still building their catalogue, they were able to push along the process of offering every loudspeaker they make in a marine version, consisting of stainless steel 316 A4 hardware, specifically for installations like this.
The original Potato Head eatery in Jakarta was created with the mission of “Good times, Do Good,” innovating through design, sustainability, and cuisine. It evolved into Desa Potato Head, a 5-star hotel comprising restaurants, a beach club with DJs every day and night, and curated entertainment. It has become one the most iconic and notable venues on the island, with multiple boutique hotel concepts and a creative lab reimagining waste into various design objects.
