With numerous projects for the Atlas Restaurant Group under the company’s belt – not only in its native Baltimore, but also Houston, Florida and Washington DC – Dynamic Sound Level recently completed work on another local venue, the 135-seat Monarque French Steakhouse. As with prior projects, Martin Audio was the preferred audio system for the job.
Located in the historic Bagby Furniture Building in the Harbor East neighbourhood of Baltimore, Monarque is designed to showcase the city’s best performers – from poets, actors and musicians to contortionists and even sword swallowers live on stage.
‘We needed a loudspeaker that would work well, not only for background music, but for live music, singers and spoken word,’ Dynamic Sound Level Director, Mike Denoe, explains. ‘We felt the CDD series was the perfect fit.’
In his selection he had the confidence of a man who has been specifying Martin Audio systems for many years – ‘as far back as when the AQ series was around’, he confirms. ‘The CDD series sounds great right out of the box, with little EQ needed. It is an extremely versatile, clean looking box, which looks great in any venue and virtually disappears into the setting.’
For this project, eight zones have been created inside the building, with a ninth outside. In order to be discreet, the three CDD8 and pair of CDD10 selected needed to be custom finished in a RAL clay brown, as specified by architect; Martha Callaghan from Martin Audio North America helped guide the project ream through the painting process. The CDD10s were underpinned at the stage with a pair of SX212 subs recessed into the wall, while the CDD8s served the main dining area. A pair of Blackline XP12 were also supplied for artist stage monitoring.
A further three ultra-compact SX110 subs were ceiling recessed in the bar area to support 11 of the 26 high performance C6.8T ceiling speakers specified (with a further six assigned to the bar’s diner area). Four C4.8T, some further C6.8T and an elegant, custom painted Adorn A55 maintain the sound through the lounge and private dining areas, as well as ancillary areas such as the restrooms, entrance walkway and hostess station. All recessed ceiling speakers were painted black.
Explaining the rationale behind the multi-zonal design, Denoe says: ‘We want all areas of the venue to be independently controlled for a better-balanced system. We do not want one area to overpower the other.’
Denoe is happy that he was able to fulfil the wishes of the architect and owner ‘who had wanted the speakers to disappear from the beams, due to the historic nature of the restaurant and ornate ceiling’.
‘Once again, Martin Audio has been able to provide quality audio for the client as well as its patrons,’ he says. ‘It checks all the boxes and requirements that the client has asked for. The quality of sound Martin Audio provides allows for an entertainment experience in any type of venue.’
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