Kurt Schlossberg’s ear Networks design and consulting company recently undertook its first project for Chilean-born restaurateur Juan Santa Cruz, as the Obvio supper club and cocktail bar joined the operator’s portfolio of upmarket establishments, including two in Central London’s Mayfair and Notting Hill.
Obvio is on Schlossberg’s own Manhattan doorstep where, again, he has made it an exclusive Martin Audio house with of CDD series’ coaxial differential dispersion loudspeakers.
‘Juan only does super exclusive places and, over Zoom, he told me about this little jewel box that he was creating in New York,’ Schlossberg says. ‘He wanted the most discreet high performing system that could be colour matched, and which could double as triple A background as well as triple A foreground. I said there’s really only one product I would put in there.’
The installer has used CDD for many venues, notably in Time Out Markets around the world. ‘Although I have the pick of the litter when it comes to commercial audio, Martin Audio is the only high-end brand I use – it is literally the best of the best of what it is and is my go-to for all critical path foreground music,’ Schlossberg’s says.
‘When you can take CDD6 and CDD8 and mix them with the punchy subs they are matched to, you get an experience that makes you prouder in a commercial environment than you would be in your own listening room,’ he adds. ‘And that’s something I’ve not been able to replicate from any other manufacturer.’
‘Because a lot of the walls and panelling are rounded it has a very cocoon like feeling and so I worked closely with the architects,’ he says of the Obvio install. ‘And felt good to be part of the architectural process again.’
Matching the loudspeakers to the lighter tone of the wall panelling, four CDD6s are wall-mounted towards the front of the building, with eight CDD8 at the front, where punchier sound is focused over the dance area. Softer background music during the daytime trading is followed by a hike in SPL after dark, when DJs take to the CDJs. This is enhanced by a single SXC115 ‘which lives above the amoebic shape over the bar, and completely out of sight’.
The quality of the sound system has generally received favourable reviews. ‘In fact it’s proven quite a hit,’ Schlossberg says.
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