As system manufacturers, HIQ partners Mark Hudson and Tony Hopkinson are discerning audiophiles, and they did not take the decision to specify Wharfedale's Programme 50Ts and Class AB MP1800 amplifiers lightly.
Said Hudson: "The existing system was awful and so I worked alongside the proprietor (Frank Graves) to redesign the sound. It was singularly pointless building our own loudspeakers for the background areas when the Programme 50s are so well turned-out and sensibly priced. Overall, they are nicely finished and very satisfying. "They provided the perfect solution for delivering the BGM in the large venue's new multi-zone set-up.
Some eight Programme 50T (100V line) enclosures cover the four secondary zones (including the restaurant, function room and carvery area), driven from a proprietary multi-channel amp.
Powering the main HIQ bespoke system in the main bar (which takes karaoke, video, jukebox and multiplay CD feeds) is the Wharfedale MP1800 2 x 300W/8 ohm amplifier. "We did a full evaluation on this before spec'ing it," confirmed Hudson. "There's a plethora of low-cost amplifiers now on the market, most of which are awful. The Wharfedale MP Series is a highly-satisfactory utility amp - meaty, beaty big and bouncy. There is enough silicon inside for its power rating and it has no problem driving our four ITM281s (2 x 8" plus a 1")."
HIQ also supplied line inputs to allow visiting musicians and performers to plug into. The company's confidence in the Programme/MP series combination has also recently manifested itself at the Playzone indoor adventure play facility in Hull, called 'Big Fun', where two flown clusters of four Programme 52s, taking music and satellite feeds, are powered by MP1200s. "This will almost certainly be the model for future Playzone installations," said Hudson.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
