Sydney’s Plaza Hotel has recently completed a transformation position that is designed to position it as a premier global entertainment venue. The installation project was assigned to Brendon Fava from Xcite Audio Visual and the sound – chosen to fulfil the brief of a premium product line that would meet international rider specifications – comes from Martin Audio.
Opened in 1930 as a movie theatre, the Plaza has undergone many iterations over the years. Featuring a striking Spanish mission-style façade, under the ownership of the Winchester Hotel Group, with creative direction from Sarah and Ryan Maloney, the theatre has now been thoroughly revitalised.
Its new look comprises six areas (including a revived, classic 1930s theatre) with Level One offering a nightclub inspired by Ibiza with top-tier sound, lighting and videowall to attract renowned, globally-recognised DJs and performers.
Australian distributor Technical Audio Group (TAG) worked with Fava on the project, with TAG Technical Director Anthony Russo promising everyone on the dancefloor a true immersive experience. He settled on a six-stack solution, comprising 24 WPL line array elements, to give a unique 360° experience to the dancefloor sound field.
‘People rarely experience a high-powered, concert-style cabinet that operates well within its limits, while maintaining significant headroom,’ he says. ‘This is crucial for efficiently handling the massive dynamic range produced by international DJs.’
To complement the arrays, a six-stack configuration of 18 Martin Audio SXH218 (2x18-inch) hybrid subwoofers was selected. The main sub stack stands 2.5m high, allowing patrons to experience its full force when dancing next to it. An Allen & Heath system processor feeds 14 Martin Audio iKon DSP multichannel amplifiers on a Dante network, providing 250kW of available power.
However, this installation is not purely about brute force, as Fava himself emphasises: ‘It’s about delivering precision, power and consistency. It’s designed to hit hard, sound clean and perform flawlessly all night.’
Away from the dancefloor, the bar and VIP booth delay areas are served by 16 Martin Audio THS 15-inch three-way coaxial cabinets. These cabinets provide the necessary sound levels as a delay system, ensuring a smooth transition away from the dancefloor. Notably, the DJ booth is equipped with what Russo refers to as ‘the Martin SRM System, a Super Reference Monitors four-way DJ system’.
This set-up comprises a pair of THS cabinets mounted on custom-made brackets, paired with two SX218 subwoofers that can meet the most demanding requirements while also keeping pace with the main FOH system. ‘A three-way coaxial means the DJ receives the extreme detail and timing needed for a perfect performance,’ Russo says. ‘The clarity and power of this set-up will undoubtedly become a rider requirement.’
Sound is maintained in the foyer with 11 Martin Audio Blackline X8 supplemented with three SX112 subwoofers.
Further considerations were vibration control and minimising disturbances to neighbouring properties. To ensure this every cabinet was suspended using Embelton spring isolation or set on specialised floor mounts, while custom rigging was designed and installed by CVAV Sydney..
Elsewhere at basement level, Sarah Maloney has created a stunning, moody subterranean vinyl bar. This exclusive atmosphere is sensitively enhanced by the specification of another six-position immersive sound space. This time it is scaled back to feature six Martin Audio CDD15 loudspeakers, eight CDD10 for fill and two SX218 subs. DJs have also been catered for, with powerful stereo CDD15s provided as monitors.
The venue has got off to a dynamic start following its opening, having already hosted prominent local and international DJs including Chris Stussy and Mind Against, and is increasingly finding favour with VIPs, celebrities and partygoers alike.
More: https://martin-audio.com
