A guest-list-only venue, Shu Amsterdam is a relaxed cocktail lounge by day and energetic dance destination by night. Key to its success is a sound system that handles this transition while respecting its urban location, with residential apartments directly above the venue.
Shu was created by experienced venue owners who identified an opportunity to offer a ‘more refined’ nightlife experience. The concept caters to a clientele that appreciates premium cocktails in an elegant setting that can still deliver nightclub energy when desired. When developing the sound concept, Shu’s owners approached L-Acoustics Certified Partner Audio Solvation (via production company, Air Light Holland) with a specific challenge. Having successfully implemented L-Acoustics systems in their other establishments, the owners knew this technology could provide the solution to Shu’s requirements.
Using L-Acoustics Soundvision, Audio Solvation created detailed projections to demonstrate the proposed design and system impact before installation. This visualisation helped Shu’s owners understand how the sound would behave in their uniquely configured space, which includes a lounge entrance area, central bar and VIP section.
The implemented system features an array of L-Acoustics X Series components positioned throughout the venue. Five 5XT compact coaxial loudspeakers cover the entrance lounge, while the central bar area is served by four X8i coaxials paired with SB15m subwoofers. The VIP area is covered by two additional X8i loudspeakers. DJ monitoring is provided by one 5XT loudspeaker, with the system powered by two LA4X and one LA2Xi amplified controllers.
Following the installation, Audio Solvation conducted measurements both inside the venue and in the residential apartments above, tuning the system to minimise noise impact on neighbours while maintaining the desired atmosphere. During special events like the Amsterdam Dance Event, one of the world’s premier electronic music festivals, Shu participates fully in the city-wide celebration by adjusting the acoustics to accommodate DJs requiring the system’s full potential.
‘The owners are extremely satisfied with what we’ve delivered,’ Tom Dohmen, Technical Sales at Audio Solvation, reports. ‘We needed to deliver impact and feeling while respecting the urban setting. The L-Acoustics system provides exactly the refined, high-energy experience they wanted. When the sound is just right, the atmosphere transforms and the entire room instantly comes alive.’
‘At Shu Amsterdam, the sound is everything – the L-Acoustics system has become the beating heart of our venue,’ says hospitality entrepreneur Giovanni de Capitani, one of the founders of Shu Amsterdam. ‘It gives us incredible versatility, allowing us to create the perfect atmosphere while delivering powerful sound that our guests can truly feel. This sophisticated sound design has been essential in us creating Amsterdam’s most premium nightlife experience.’
More: www.l-acoustics.com