The move to upgrade a 15-year-old sound system has resulted in Düsseldorf’s Nachtresidenz equipping its main room with a five-point speaker system from Funktion-One.
With it, Nachtresidenz aims to be the first club and event venue in the world to be fitted with a surround system that ‘takes guests on a journey into a new and unique world of music perception’.
The building now occupied by Nachtresidenz has been an entertainment venue since it started life as the Residenz-Theatre in the 1920s. While the style of entertainment has changed, many of the period characteristics have been kept and blended with modern features, resulting in a collection of captivating spaces. For the sound refit, the venue turned to local audio specialist Thöne & Partner.
The building offers five different areas spread over 1,800-sq-m, but it is the main room that defines it – a dome with a height of more than 13m combines with glitzy interior design and lighting to create a glamorous event space. The owners, keen to support an entertainment programme that regularly welcomes international DJs and performers, decided it was time to update the sound system. In doing so, they wanted to create something unique – a five-point configuration that supports specially created tracks and surround sound features.
The man behind the concept, Tom Trautsch, is an experienced promoter, music producer, DJ and former head of marketing for an international electronics company. He is currently the managing partner of KTB-Holding – the company that owns Nachtresidenz. Trautsch has spent several years developing the technology that has helped to transform the venue.
‘The task was to create a five-point system with the highest possible resolution, which has the impact and flexibility necessary to cover the various needs of this extraordinary location,’ says Thöne & Partner Benedikt Koch. ‘It’s a really cool space that’s used for high-end clubbing, live acts and corporate events. Its height and the exact positioning of the requested five points in the dome presented some challenges – namely reverberance. We overcame this by positioning the speakers as near as possible to the people.’
The system’s five points are formed by pairs of Funktion-One Resolution 2 loudspeakers. The Resolution 2 is an entirely horn-loaded, full-range enclosure, which offers high efficiency and a sonic signature that the loudspeaker manufacturer has become known for. Bass comes from six BR221s – positioned in two stacks of three on either side of the stage – which deliver plenty of definition and elasticity, even at close range. The main system is powered by MC2 E100Q amplifiers and controlled by an XTA XO4 audio management system.
Two Funktion-One PSM318s ensure that resident and guest DJs have the highest level of stage sound available. The two-part monitor combines a double 18-inch bass reflex enclosure with a separate triple concentric mid-high speaker to deliver unprecedented monitoring performance. With their deployment, Nachtresidenz has upheld its commitment to using the highest quality audio, lighting and laser technologies.
In addition to the main system, a smaller club space on the upper floor has been installed with a four-point system, made up of single Resolution 2s, combined with a BR221 bass enclosure and PSM12 monitors. Again, power and control for this set-up comes from an MC2 E100 amplifier and an XTA XO4 controller.
‘We attended the venue’s birthday in late-November and experienced the new system in full flow,’ Koch adds. ‘It really does work well in the space and it was a great pleasure to see the guests reactions and feel the positive vibe.’
‘Knowing exactly the challenges of this project, we are very pleased with the approach Benedikt and his team implemented with Funktion-One,’ Tom Trautsch reports ‘Their considerable experience and understanding helped us to bring to life our vision of a five-point surround clubbing experience. We are very pleased with the result and get overwhelming comments from promoters, customers and guests – about the system and the “new” Nachtresidenz. We are confident to say that, as far as clubbing experiences go, this is a milestone.’
