Occupying the site of the former Bardens Boudoir in Dalston, East London, is The Nest, where technology specialists Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL) were tasked with designing a flexible sound system around Martin Audio components.
The brand had been specifically requested by Steve Ball and Matt Monhardt, general manager of the 300-capacity venue. "Martin Audio is the best sound system we've heard in club situations," he said. "We told Middlesex Sound & Light that we wanted Martin Audio loudspeakers and amplifiers because the impact and precision are so much better.
"We also wanted flexible zoning, allowing as much bass as possible on the tiny dancefloor, while at the same time enabling the music level to be adjusted at the bar and seating area; MSL has enabled us to do that."
The owners spent around £500,000 developing the empty shell, with Riz Shaikh redesigning the rectangular concrete basement, offset with salacious neon signs, adding bars and alcoves.
At the same time, MSL fulfilled the remit - namely that the sound system should function early evening as a conventional live sound reinforcement rig and later as a hard surround dance sound, with the concrete floor isolating the heavy thud of a pair of S218+ (2 x 18") subs.
At the same time, by designing the venue into three zones, controlled in a BSS Soundweb London DSP environment, they can ensure that customers in the alcove seating, or at the newly-appointed bar do not have full exposure to the potent system.
Handling the stage and dancefloor sound respectively is a pair each of flown Martin Audio Blackline F12+ and F15+ multi-angle enclosures, with the S218+'s handling the sub frequency extension. This is driven by a pair of Martin Audio MA5.2K amplifiers.
For the bar area MSL have turned to Martin Audio's AQ range, deploying eight of the architectural AQ6 (6.5") enclosures along with and AQ212 (2 x 12") sub and AQ215 (2 x 15") sub, to deliver a more hi-fi sound at lower SPL.
Elsewhere a pair of Blackline F10+ enclosures provide the DJ with high class monitoring at the highly-specified front end - while at the other end of the spectrum four of Martin Audio's potent and stylish C6.8T ceiling speakers have been installed in the Ladies and Gents toilets.
The company's attention to detail extends to the signal transmission, which uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) and VDC cable.
(Jim Evans)
