The work of sommelier Karl-Märten Käesel, the Chin Chin wine bar in the Kalaranna quarter of Tallinn, Estonia, offers no fewer that 800 wines on its menu. To complement the encyclopaedic wine list and accompanying menu of hand-selected gourmet snacks, Chin Chin adds atmosphere with a discreet Smart IP loudspeaker solution – the first time a Genelec Smart IP solution has touched ground in Estonia

The installation comprises ten Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers, and was designed, supplied and installed by A/V integrator Progear OÜ, with the help of local Genelec distributor msonic Baltic.

‘Genelec were selected because of their legendary status, and because they offer built-in DSP and Dante compatibility,’ says Karl-Erik Sepp, sound installation project manager at Progear. ‘The 4430 uses one network cable, through which it receives power, audio and the possibility to control each speaker remotely. The ease of use was an important factor for the team at Chin Chin. The 4430 also offers Genelec’s famous sound quality, which can easily adapt to everything from relaxed wine tastings through to the curated DJ nights that Chin Chin hosts at the weekend.’

As well as serving as a place to wind down after work and let loose on the weekends, Chin Chin hosts wine classes, which range from a tour around the Italian coast via specially selected bottles, to wine and food pairings and a sparkling wine course. These classes take place in a separated area of the bar that can also be hired for small meetings and events, and can be separated from the rest of the sound system.

‘In the small events space we installed two 4430 loudspeakers, as well as a Barco ClickShare CX-30 wireless image transfer device to make the wireless transfer of pictures and sound as seamless as possible,’ says Sepp. ‘The remaining loudspeakers form a distributed audio system across the bar and seating areas to provide consistent, even coverage throughout the venue.

‘In addition to the loudspeakers, at the heart of the system there is a Yamaha MTX5-D processor, which controls the entire audio. Access to simple functionality is provided through wall panels and automation. To handle speech requirements there’s a Shure BLX24RE/SM58 wireless microphone that automatically turns off the background music when in use and restores it after the mic is finished with – and the same automation was also created for the DJ input via the Yamaha MG10XUF mixing desk, which is also connected to the Dante network.

‘This gives Chin Chin the opportunity to place the performer almost anywhere in the venue where a network connection has been established, which gives them complete flexibility. We built the audio solution around the mixing desk, Dante converter and cable rack so that all the necessary components would be together in one place and could be stored neatly out of sight when not in use.’

While modest in size, Chin Chin offers an insight into wine bars of the future, with wine dispensers, expert sommeliers and sound systems that adapt to a variety of events.