A café-bar and collective space on the Meguro River in Nishi Gotanda/Fudomae, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Toner has upgraded its audio with Powersoft amplifiers and control, creating a sound environment that evolves from its relaxed daytime ambience to high-energy evenings with DJ performances.
Named after the ink cartridges used in printers, Toner reflects the idea that each visitor brings their own unique colour to the venue. Built around the concept of ‘weave and bond’, the venue hosts a wide range of activities, from casual daytime coffee service to private events, pop-up shops and DJ-led nightlife. With such diversity in how the space is used, achieving clarity, flexibility and ease of use across all music listening levels was essential.
To design a system capable of meeting these varied demands, Toner partnered with integrator Audio Brains. Working alongside respected Osaka electronic musician and producer Aoki Takamasa, the team developed an audio solution tailored specifically to the venue’s needs. The installation includes Powersoft’s Quattrocanali 1204 DSP+D, Mezzo 604 AD, Mezzo 322 AD and a WM Touch wall control panel.
‘The client wanted an audio system that could provide total tonal balance,’ says Audio Brains President, Jun Yamazaki. ‘It needed to be ready for low-volume ambient background music during the day, but it also had to be capable of driving high-energy DJ sets, so Powersoft amplifiers quickly appeared to be the best choice for this project. Plus, they complement any speaker we pair them with.’
At the heart of the installation is Powersoft’s Quattrocanali 1204 DSP+D, a four-channel class-D amplifier featuring Smart Rails Management (SRM) that optimises power use and reduces thermal dissipation.
Complementing the Quattrocanali are Mezzo 604 AD and Mezzo 322 AD amplifiers – the Mezzo 604 AD delivers four channels at 600W, while the Mezzo 322 AD offers two channels of 160W, along with additional line-level outputs for expanded routing options. Additionally, their half-rack size design also simplifies installation, enabling Audio Brains to integrate powerful amplification within a tiny space.
The Powersoft WM Touch proved equally important to the installation’s success. The wall-mounted 4.3-inch touchscreen is powered entirely through a single Ethernet connection, allowing staff to manage soound levels and system behaviour throughout the day.
‘Toner doesn’t host DJs every day, nor do they have a full-time sound engineer so having the WM Touch is a great tool for the venue,’ says Yamazaki. ‘Staff can quickly and easily adjust volume levels and zoning to match the vibe of the moment. And that makes day-to-day operation of the system much easier.’
Before handover, the team conducted a full-day, 13-hour test session to ensure the set-up worked as planned. ‘We adjusted mapping and tuning across musical styles and the amplifiers performed as expected,’ Yamazaki reports. ‘They made the system shine.’
‘Even customers who know nothing about sound equipment say that the sound has a new clarity to it,’ he adds. ‘They’re surprised that even when it’s quite loud, they can still talk to one another without having to raise their voices.
‘When we set out on this project, we wanted to create a space that was comfortable for every patron throughout the day and into the night, and that’s what we’ve achieved. We’re very proud of the final result.’
More: www.powersoft.com