All posts by : Zheshan Nazir

Recently opened in Oxford, leisure venue Gallery Bouldering was determined its audio system would not be a mountain to climb and so turned to Optimal Audio’s commercial audio ecosystem to meet its various needs from morning into night.

Gallery Bouldering offers a peak experience for its customers, including a 100m expanse of bouldering wall and a dedicated gym space. There’s also a café which chalks the venue as a prime event space. Favouring background music during the day, of differing intensities by zone, there was a requirement for the audio to support the big screen action during major sporting events.

Optimal Audio’s UK distributor, Audio Technica, designed and installed a system to be in tune with the space, whatever the day held. On some days, the four zones of Gallery Bouldering: the wall, the gym, the café and the reception area would all function as distinct areas with their own vibe and background music to suit, during the flow of the day. At other times, the system supports a whole venue event with all areas working together.

Controlling the full venue system is an Optimal Audio Zone 8 audio controller with DSP and Optimal Audio’s simple and intuitive cross-platform WebApp. From here the venue staff access or set up presets and routines or make one-off changes across any or all of the zones. By automating the audio with automatic daily routines and standard presets, the staff in the busy venue have one less thing to think about.

Through the activity zones of the bouldering wall and the gym, Optimal Audio Up 6 two-way ceiling speakers provide warm and high-quality audio without taking any of the valuable wall space. In these zones a total of four Optimal Audio 5-inch, two-way, Cuboid 5 full-range loudspeakers are wall-mounted to provide support for the eighteen units from the Up range.

Providing the extra energy for big sporting events, two Optimal Audio Cuboid 8 two-way, full-range 8-inch loudspeakers are positioned either side of the – usually tucked away – projection screen. The full system is powered by a total of three amplifiers two of which are the 4 x 250W SmartAmp30 and one 4 x 125W SmartAmp20, both featuring DSP to add extra speed and simplicity to the installation.

Gallery owner, Jamie Wakeham, is pleased with the final installation. He said, “I am delighted with the sound quality of the Optimal Audio system. I’m hard to impress and this is genuinely good.  The 100V line speakers have good sparkle and clarity, and the Cuboid 8s add the right amount of heft without ever getting in the way.

“It was straightforward to hide all the speakers too – they fit neatly at the top of the

climbing wall structure, and the larger speakers are tucked behind it.  I’m very happy with the overall appearance as well as audio quality.”

The ability to zone the audio in Gallery Bouldering was useful as the venue is used in a different way by each customer, particularly during the day. For those climbing the bouldering wall and the exercising in the gym, the tempo of audio output is energetic, pushing customers to reach their goals. In the café however, the pace is more relaxed to create a pleasant dwell space more suited to the needs of the customer in that space.

Optimal Audio has announced that WebApp 1.4, the latest update for the ‘secret sauce’ of its ecosystem, is available to download. The new features in the update will further enhance the powerful simplicity of its approach.

Optimal Audio’s mission is to simplify commercial audio with its ecosystem of controllers, amplifiers and loudspeakers – with Zone and WebApp central to that strategy.  

The new features available in WebApp include presets for Optimal Audio’s Sub 6 loudspeaker. The Sub series is comprised of three subwoofers engineered for punchy low end to support the Up and Cuboid series. Sub 6 is an ultra-compact, passive 6-inch subwoofer that joined the wider series earlier this year to meet a requirement for high quality low end in a compact form factor.

In addition, the update includes presets for sister brand, Martin Audio, and their ever popular ADORN commercial series of speakers. Presets for ceiling and pendant speaker models ACS-40TS, ACS-55TS, ACS-55T, ACP-55T complete the availability of ADORN series within WebApp, and join  smaller CDD on-wall loudspeakers for easy system design options for installers.

Following the download of the new software version, users and integrators will also be able to see ZonePad firmware updates in the WebApp status bar.

WebApp is available to download now and for further information about WebApp 1.4, visit: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/support/software/

On its quest for ‘Commercial Audio, Done Differently’, Optimal Audio has flung open the virtual doors to its training academy. Open 24/7, the Optimal Audio Academy has certification-based courses conveniently available to the world and any time that suits.

Simple to navigate, the Optimal Audio Academy complements the ethos of the brand and provides modular courses to help system integrators and installers to understand how to best maximise the portfolio and most importantly WebApp.

Comprised of a streamlined product offering that works seamlessly together, the Optimal Audio ecosystem is particularly suited to multi-zoned commercial installations, such as retail and hospitality venues. WebApp, the ‘secret sauce’ of the ecosystem, makes short work of customisable installation parameters and provides an intuitive interface for the end user that’s as straightforward as any smart home appliance. Set up is already as simple as possible but the courses at Optimal Audio Academy unlock the power of intuitive system set up and control for fast and functional installations.

Built as a modular course, there are currently three levels of training available. These offer all the support installers need to design and install the Optimal Audio ecosystem. Level one gives an introduction to the building blocks of the brand, its products and applications.

Those looking for a deeper dive can quickly move onto course level two where further insight into the Zone series and WebApp will open the doors to more polished and efficient installations. This course will improve deliverability in small to medium-sized multi-zone installations.

Level three of the course, which is still in the works and will be hosted at the online study facility in the future, promises to elevate installers to Optimal Audio Aficionado. A simple online test at the end of each course level will afford certification to all those who pass with scores above 75%.

Optimal Academy provides the extra ingredient needed to spice up installations at the design stage as well as on site. Just one of the benefits is that installers are taken through a few standard-sized installations so that everything flows as expected for a swift and trouble-free installation. The courses also prompt those extra ideas – the ‘nice to haves’ that customers might not realise will help their business.

Optimal Audio adds powerful yet simplistic performance to small to medium commercial audio installations. Optimal Audio Academy supports installers, providing them with a toolkit at their fingertips to confidently design, install and activate simplistic yet sophisticated Optimal Audio commercial audio systems at the speed of sound.

Optimal Audio Academy: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/support/academy/

The North Wollongong Hotel is a large multi-faceted hospitality venue in the centre of Wollongong, New South Wales. Popularly known as the North Gong Hotel, it features a bar, bistro, beer garden and an upstairs function area which caters for private events. Live music, DJ sets, televised sport and pool tables all feature in this vibrant and very busy setting, for which high quality audio is essential.

North Gong’s management team recently took the decision to replace the venue’s ageing audio system, recognising that it was no longer fit for purpose, and engaged Dan Chapman of Data Dan to install an upgrade. With support from Scott Angove of Audio Brands Australia, Dan designed and installed a future-proof, high-quality system which featured loudspeakers from leading UK commercial audio brand, Optimal Audio.

Josh Hill, the venue’s manager comments:

“Having good audio is crucial in creating atmosphere – it’s the basis of people having a good time. The old system was installed in 2003 and we had a lot of dropout points and quiet areas where music would fluctuate in level, so key to our upgrade criteria was to obtain full coverage without pushing the music too hard – we’re in a residential area and we don’t want to impact our neighbours.”

Optimal Audio’s Cuboid 8 loudspeakers were deployed for the indoor spaces. This two-way, full range, passive 8” unit effortlessly delivers rich and detailed sound over short to medium throw distances, outperforming its compact size.

In the bistro and bar areas of the North Gong, the loudspeakers were positioned fairly close together to run at a lower level for background music but still provide smooth, complete coverage in every area. When the party atmosphere ramps up, the Cuboid 8s have more than enough headroom to deliver the necessary punch, with their eight-inch drivers delivering impressive low end.

For the function room, which caters for a wide range of events, the stage area was equipped with a pair of Cuboid 12s and a single Optimal Audio Sub 15 subwoofer, comfortably delivering the impactful low-frequency response required for live music performances and DJ sets. The onstage system was augmented with a complement of Cuboid 8s distributed down the length of the room to ensure even coverage.

Scott Angove of Audio Brands Australia feels that the Cuboid Series was ideal for the North Gong:

“This is a big hotel with a large capacity which can get very loud. It quickly became apparent that the Cuboid Series from Optimal Audio would be the best option, particularly the Cuboid 8. It fitted perfectly in the bistro and bar areas, as well as supplementing the larger Cuboid 12s in the function room to great effect.”

Ultimately, customer satisfaction is the true measure of an installation’s success and Josh Hill is in no doubt that the North Gong has made the right choice:

“Since installing Optimal Audio we’ve seen that the dropout zones are not there anymore – the quality of sound is really good without pushing it too hard. The coverage means that we now see people inside the venue dancing at their tables. It’s not just in one space where people can enjoy themselves like that – it’s everywhere throughout the whole place!”

Continuing its quest to simplify the world of commercial audio for integrators and end-users alike, UK commercial audio manufacturer Optimal Audio continues to evolve and expand its ecosystem. The latest development sees the introduction of Sub 6, a passive subwoofer engineered for applications requiring increased impact and low-frequency performance from smaller Cuboid and Up loudspeaker setups.

The compact Sub 6 is perfect for installations where space is at a premium. The unit can be placed in tight spaces such as under banquette seating, mounted on walls or ceilings, or flown using integral M8 inserts. Featuring a 6-inch driver with a generously sized low-frequency port to minimise air noise for a clean and powerful sound output, Sub 6 delivers 250W (AES) of power with a punchy peak SPL of 118dB.

Horizontal or vertical orientation is possible by way of low profile rubber feet which can be fitted on two surfaces, while installation is made as discreet as possible via recessed cable channels. An impact resistant perforated steel grille protects a durable MDF enclosure available in black or white textured paint.

With Optimal Audio SmartAmp providing amplification, EQ settings and limiters, the driver is fully protected when operating at higher sound levels. The unit can be driven by a pair of bridged channels on any powered Optimal Audio Zone controller, whilst the onboard WebApp ensures system setup and end-user control is straightforward.

Product Manager David Morbey comments:

“The addition of Sub 6 to the Optimal Audio ecosystem gives integrators yet more choice and flexibility in the commercial audio space, particularly benefiting smaller installs that still require greater low end punch. We look forward to welcoming customers for a first listen to Sub 6 at our next open days in September.”

The Optimal Audio ecosystem, complete with the new additions, can be explored at the company’s forthcoming Open Days which take place at its High Wycombe HQ on September 3^rd, 4^th and 5th. The events will provide the perfect opportunity for those passionate about commercial audio technology to learn, network and grow their knowledge while enjoying a comprehensive tour of Optimal Audio’s products. Optimal Audio training will also be offered to attendees who pre-register via the website.

For more information about Sub 6: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/products/loudspeakers/sub/sub-6/

For more information about Optimal Audio September Open Days: https://optimal-audio.co.uk/news-events/trade-shows-events/september2024opendays/

Based in Laguna Hills, California, dB Media Services is a provider of audio and video solutions for installation and live events in a wide variety of settings, including conference rooms, houses of worship, corporate events and hospitality venues. Specialising in high quality AV solutions for commercial premises, dB Media Services has been a trusted supplier in the region since 2005.
 
When new owners OC Local acquired the long established The Pizza Store in Laguna Hills, they engaged Dan Burdett of dB Media Services to provide a new audio system that would deliver premium quality at a competitive price. dB had previously tidied up a third-party install at one of the restaurant group’s other venues and OC Local were keen to achieve the same audio standards for their remodelled new venue. Dan recommended, designed and installed an Optimal Audio system for The Pizza Store:

“Optimal Audio was a great option for this project because of its high performance/low cost ratio. Restaurants don’t always have the required budget available for media technology, so the Optimal Audio product matched the needs of the budget without any audio compromise, as well as meeting the high performance standards expected by dB Media.”
 
The refurbished store comprises a dining area of more than twelve-hundred square feet, accommodating sixty to eighty guests who are able to watch sports on eight 4K 65” displays. dB Media Services installed four Optimal Audio Cuboid 8 two-way, passive 8” loudspeakers with yoke mounts, distributed equidistantly on the ceiling, supported by a single Sub 10 low-profile, sub bass loudspeaker, also ceiling mounted in a central position. A single Optimal Audio SmartAmp 30 4 x 250W amplifier with integral DSP drives the system.
 
Dan Burdett concludes:
 
“The system was trouble-free, straightforward to install and sounds great. The client is very happy with the high performance and value offered by the Optimal Audio products.”

Founded in Austria during the 1950s, Blum is now a global leader in the manufacture of furniture fittings. Its international network spans 120 markets worldwide, with manufacturing plants and sales offices providing a range of services for cabinet makers, the furniture industry, and hardware distributors.
 
Located in Sandown, Johannesburg, Blum’s South African branch recently approached audio-visual specialists Audiosure with a view to enhancing its space with a new audio system for background music, as well as adding advanced AV connectivity.
 
Audiosure’s Solutions team installed a zoned Optimal Audio-centric system to meet the brief. The ability to switch between various sources and zones where customers browse was an essential requirement, as was the ability to support visual playback to its team or clients via a projector and wireless microphone across all or just selected spaces. Ease of use was very important, as was the need for an aesthetically pleasing appearance in a high-end environment.
 
Audiosure’s John Greaves designed a system that could be deployed as seamlessly as possible and could be controlled from a smartphone or tablet. An Optimal Audio Zone 4 controller with DSP and WebApp controls the overall system, which includes third party speakers in some zones, with Optimal Audio Cuboid 8 and Sub 10 units (powered by SmartAmp 30) deployed to support presentations and events in the main area.
 
John Greaves comments:
 
“We kept the system small, efficient, and simple to use, with the Zone 4 allowing everything to be controlled by the client through WebApp via a phone or tablet. The controls in front of the operator are exactly the ones they need – nothing more, nothing less. The Cuboid 8s also allowed us to gain a great level for presentations and video playback. Optimal Audio proved to be the perfect fit for this installation, delivering excellent results for a very satisfied customer.”

Mezzo Calzones is a brand new eatery in the Southern Californian city of Anaheim. Specialising in calzones, beer and wings, and located close to the Anaheim Angels stadium, the restaurant is certain to become the favourite haunt of Major League Baseball fans attending games at the venue. Sports-focused, with multiple TV screens showing a variety of events, Mezzo engaged IT/AV specialist integrator Hosted Connection to install all its IT/network and AV systems.
 
Hosted Connection enjoys a strong reputation in the region, having supplied customised solutions to businesses for more than a decade. Sales Engineer Josh Rezaeio oversaw the project:
 
“Audio and video are relatively recent additions to our remit, so we consulted with expert Jeff Miranda (then at Allied ProTech) about delivering a high-quality, zoned audio system for Mezzo which would be easy to control for busy staff. His extensive knowledge and experience were instrumental in helping us deploy the right products. He recommend an Optimal Audio system and having taken into account the layout of the TV screens, specified the equipment required for the audio and video elements.”
 
Host Connection installed a system based round an Optimal Audio Zone 4, 4-zone audio controller with DSP and WebApp, which comprised twelve Up 6 two-way passive, full-range 6” ceiling speakers, and two Cuboid 5 two-way, full-range, passive 5” on-wall loudspeakers, driven by a single SmartAmp 30, 4 x 250W amplifier with DSP. As well as control via WebApp on mobile devices, a ZonePad 4 wall controller was installed to provide staff with intuitive and simple access to the essential controls for the system.
 
Josh continues:
 
“Optimal Audio has been incredibly easy to work with, and we’ll continue to use the ecosystem for future projects. At Mezzo, the user-friendly and highly configurable system was very easy to install and delivered outstanding sound quality throughout the venue, with perfect clarity both inside and out. The client loves the system’s performance and ease of use.”

With six gym locations across East Anglia, the New Revolution fitness chain offers members 24 hour access and a huge range of classes from spinning to Boxfit and yoga each week. The company’s newest facility in Lowestoft recently underwent a significant renovation and upgrade programme, extending to the gym’s audio system.

Responsible for the AV aspects of the project, Norwich-based Hughes Electrical were tasked with addressing specific concerns with the existing audio offering. Hughes ultimately specified an array of Optimal Audio products to significantly improve performance, as the company’s Karl Topley explains…

“We’ve been working with New Revolution for around five years and as part of our contract review, we asked for feedback on the previous audio system at the Lowestoft venue. With customer expectations growing as far as audio is concerned, New Revolution had regularly received comments that general clarity was poor and that bass levels in particular were lacking.

“With music playing an important role in creating the atmosphere of a fitness space, it was clear that these were critical issues that needed addressing with the new system.”

A total of 16 Optimal Audio Cuboid 5 full range, 5” loudspeakers were selected for the final audio solution, chosen for their combination of exceptional sound quality, remarkable bass response and diminutive form factor. Mountable in either landscape or portrait orientation the compact, two-way Cuboid 5 offers flexible, discreet installation options.

In addition to the sonic performance of the new system, ease-of-use and operational flexibility were also a prime consideration.

“The customer raised concerns that the existing system wasn’t particularly easy to use or integrate with other AV components,” Topley says, “so we needed to deliver a much more user-friendly, versatile solution.

“The Optimal Audio Zone 8P controller that sits at the heart of the new system fit the bill perfectly – it’s very flexible in terms of routing and programmability and the WebApp interface is great for simple configuration.”

The Zone 8P’s comprehensive connectivity – featuring mic, multiple stereo line and HDMI inputs for TV and video sound – allows audio content to be sent to eight configurable zones. To complement the Zone 8P’s eight channels of 100w power, Hughes also supplied a four-channel Optimal Audio SmartAmp 30 amplifier with 250w per channel to drive the raft of Cuboid 5 speakers around the facility.

“The customer has been really pleased with the results of the project at New Revolution,” confirms Topley. “They now have a system that meets all their requirements in terms of audio performance and day-to-day usability – and one that Optimal Audio allowed us to deliver in line with their budget.

“The new system reflects New Revolutions’s brand values by delivering really high-quality audio for gym-goers and it’s been a great project to be part of.”

New Revolution’s Lowestoft Club Manager Dan Andrews commented that, “previously we’d really struggled to create the atmosphere we wanted for our members, the old system was just not working the way we wanted. Since having the Optimal Audio system things have completely changed!

“It’s easy to use and the sound quality of the speakers helps to create just the ambience we were looking for. We’re also looking to introduce the use of the Zone 4’s routines so the volume can be automatically changed over time, with the system quieter in the day and louder in the evening. And I have to say my favourite thing is WebApp – being able to change the volume from a device while walking around the gym makes everything really easy to control.”

Situated close to the O2 Arena and Excel Exhibition centre in London, Crowne Plaza Docklands is a 210-bedroom hotel featuring the brand’s new Fremantle Bar & Restaurant concept. Creating the Australasian-inspired all-day restaurant involved a significant recent upgrade to existing audio infrastructure, a project tasked to Uxbridge-based AV specialist Middlesex Sound.

Briefed to deliver a high-quality, zoned audio system that met the hotel’s specific aesthetic requirements, Middlesex Sound supplied and installed a turnkey solution from Optimal Audio, as company director Darrel Olivier explains…

“There were four separate zones we needed to cater for,” he begins, “the main bar, the restaurant, a private dining area and terrace. It was very important to deliver consistent, high-quality audio across the spaces, so we employed 16 Optimal Audio Cuboid 6 speakers which ensured the coverage we needed.

“The Cuboid 6 was an ideal fit for this project because it represents excellent value, allows for very flexible mounting and positioning options with the included flying hardware and sounds extremely good. The fact that the speaker is available in white as well as black meant they fit with the Fremantle design aesthetic too.”

Alongside the Cuboid 6 speakers, a pair of Cuboid 6TX models (featuring the same two-way, full range, 6.5” driver/1” silk dome tweeter design as the Cuboid 6, with additional 60w transformer for use on 70 or 100v taps) and two Cuboid 5 speakers also featured in the installation.

A Zone 4 audio controller manages the speakers across each of the zones, its onboard DSP, flexible routing and programmability providing versatile but straightforward control for inputs that include “two music players and a BT Sports TV package,” according to Olivier. “It’s a great solution, with built-in presets for the Cuboid speakers, so it makes set-up and day-to-day use extremely simple.

“To give staff hands-on access we also installed a ZonePad 4 wall controller in the master position in the bar, so any of the four zones can be adjusted from here. It’s a very intuitive, unobtrusive panel that any member of staff can operate – the private dining area also features the even simpler ZonePad 1 panel.”

Reflecting on the project and response to the audio system, Olivier says, “we’re seeing an increasing demand from our customer’s customers for really high quality audio to create an atmosphere and add to their experience in hospitality environments.

“Optimal Audio is providing a valuable “one stop shop” solution for projects like the Fremantle bar and restaurant with zoners and speakers that deliver great performance and ease of use at an excellent price point.”