Mayfair’s Novikov Restaurant & Bar – an exclusive restaurant from Russian operator, Arkady Novikov – has been fitted with an extensive new sound system, which features a Nexo audio solution, courtesy of London integrators, Sound Division. Spanning 17,500sqft (1626sqm) over three floors, the multi-million pound venue serves up pan-Asian and classic Italian cuisines to a maximum capacity of 565 people. Elsewhere, a basement lounge transforms into a nightclub come nighttime, playing a selection of customer-profiled music. Sound Division was charged with the design and installation of brand new production lighting and sound systems. The team worked in tandem with Russian interior designers, Geometry, to deliver a suitable system in the 13 different zones. The integrators opted for six JBL Control 67 Pendant speakers discretely suspended above a floating wooden slatted raft ceiling in the Asian Restaurant. In the Italian restaurant are eight DS40SE speakers from Bose. These are installed in pairs on pillars and also on a ledge on the veranda, which also features a further pair of Bose FreeSpace DS40F flush-mount ceiling speakers. The partitioned private dining areas — screened away to the right of the dining room — are served by 11 further flush-mount Bose DS16 ceiling speakers. Down in the basement Lounge Bar, where a DJ is present Wednesday through Saturday, four high powered NEXO PS10 speakers have been ceiling mounted in a quad shape to cover the lounge area around the main bar and in front of the DJ booth. Around the remaining three lounge areas to the rear and side, multiple pairs of PS8 speakers have been installed — and where low-frequency extension is required, seven floor-standing NEXO LS600 15in sub bass have been provided. Powering the entire system is a combination of Camco and Cloud amplifiers. The front end includes two of the new Pioneer CDJ2000 CD players, a Pioneer DJM900 Nexus mixer, and a Traktor software control package for laptop DJs to use — all digitally connected via a Netgear network hub. For DJ monitoring, a pair of overhead Nexo PS8 speakers are configured in stereo while a 24 channel multicore and stage box running back to the DJ booth from the small performance area. Sound Division has implemented a Soundweb London 12-in/8-out BLU-100 DSP to switch the presets from a front facing conventional PA, for when the venue hosts live music, to an all-immersive surround sound. The network is completed by strategically placed BSS Soundweb remote BLU-3 and BLU-8 wall panels, offering local source select and volume control. Overhead in this nightclub-style lounge, the mood and dynamics are constantly changing via the six Martin Mac 350 Entour LED Moving Head Profile Lights — also designed and installed by SDG. These are operated by industry standard Martin LightJockey software, and managed by a Protouch 19in LCD Touch Screen Monitor PC. David Graham, director, Sound Diviswion said, “Due to the sensible budget, we have been able to meet and exceed the requirement without compromise — whether providing high powered foreground music or subtle transparent background reproduction. We are particularly pleased with the sound reproduction in the lounge, which is all-encompassing and creates a phenomenal listening experience.” General manager Caroline Taylor comments: “The sound system does exactly what we wanted it to. I knew musically we didn’t want another R&B bar — and Sound Division have interpreted our requirement exactly. They have delivered precisely the cool vibe the venue warrants, and even when the sub bass kicks in the ‘boom’ is delivered in a cool way!” www.sounddivision.comwww.jblpro.comwww.nexo-sa.comwww.bose.co.ukwww.martin.comwww.bssaudio.com
