Established in 1933 at the end of Prohibition in America, the Mayflower Club’s history recalls a time when speakeasies were the only way people could consume alcohol. Located on Connecticut Avenue, the building’s fourth floor was home to one of DC’s most prominent speakeasies and included a 30ft bar that served cocktails to high-society clients. Eighty-eight years on, The Mayflower Club has completed an extensive renovation that includes a new sound reinforcement system from DAS Audio.

Today, the club is owned by Antonis Karagounis with venue’s marketing and promotion spearheaded by Panorama Productions, DC’s largest nightlife hospitality group. Karagounis recognised that its renovation would have to include state-of-the-art sound reinforcement. And he and his team worked with John Fiorito, DAS Audio’s Installed Sound, Technical-Design, and Project Management Specialist on the venue’s new sound system capabilities.

‘The Mayflower Club channels 1930s grandeur with a modern Mediterranean twist,’ Karagounis says. ‘The main room [first floor] is an upscale Mediterranean restaurant. At 11 PM, it turns into a nightclub featuring Top 40, EDM, hip-hop and Latin music. Geared toward mingling and private events, the second floor [mezzanine] overlooks the main floor and provides more intimate dining and features two bars and ‘cocktail party’ vibes. The third floor is an indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge with a retractable roof dubbed Zebbie’s Garden, which pays homage to the 1930s-era speakeasy owner, Zachariah ‘Zebbie’ Goldsmith.

Karagounis wanted to create a spectacular lounge that provided the finest guest interaction for both amplified DJ music and live sound for bands – all with a heightened sensory experience. Upon entering the main dining/bar area, guests are greeted by a potent sound set-up comprising six DAS E11even Sound ES-10 point source loudspeakers, eight Artec-306 enclosures, and four Arco-24 loudspeakers. Low frequency support is provided by a combination of eight Quantum series Q-10 compact subwoofers and three Vantec-218 bass reflex subwoofers. Completing the set-up, a pair of Artec-510A loudspeakers are used as monitors for the DJ.

On the mezzanine, sound is provided by a combination of four DAS Audio Artec-326 enclosures, one Vantec-218 bass reflex subwoofer, eight Artec-306 loudspeakers, and four Q-10 subwoofers. Regardless of the area, DAS Audio’s Fiorito was focused on one very clear goal, ‘Each room is designed to provide the utmost clarity, ability to feel the music, and still be able to hold a conversation.’

Moving up to the rooftop area, the indoor space is covered by 12 compact loudspeakers and six sub bass enclosures that were re-purposed from the prior installation. Similarly, the patio also uses additional enclosures like the ones on the inside area. However, the outside area also includes a pair of DAS E11even Sound ESBR218 bass reflex subwoofers and four Quantec Q-10 subwoofers. Completing the set-up, the DJ station includes two Artec-510A loudspeakers and a pair of Artec-S15A subwoofers.

Rounding out the installation, the equipment rack includes five DAS EP-2K4 four-channel class-D amplifiers, six EP-8K4 four-channel class-D amplifiers, one EP-10Kfour-channel class-D amplifier, and a EP-22K4 four-channel class-D amplifier – amounting to more than 100kW of amplification. Also in the equipment rack is a Furman PL-Plus series power conditioner, and both a BSS Audio Blu-100 signal processor and a Blu-Bob Break-Out Box output expander for signal management. System control is via an Apple iPad, which enables users to play any music source in every room simultaneously or by individual selection/zone.

The Mayflower Club installation was completed in August 2021 with venue construction finished a month later. Since that time, all reports indicate that the new sound system is impressing all who encounter it.

‘All of us here at the Mayflower are very impressed,’ Karagounis says. ‘The painstaking attention to detail shows in every aspect of this installation. Most importantly, our customers are responding very favorably – and that’s what ultimately matters. To everyone involved, nicely done and thank you.’

More: www.dasaudio.com