The latest in a succession of nightclubs to install a KV2 Audio sound system, Lisbon’s K Urban Beach Club recently raised its game in order to match the audio quality and performance found in some of the world’s most iconic dance venues.
Located on the banks of the Tagus River, the venue operates as a restaurant, cocktail bar and nightclub, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces including a dancefloor, terrace and swimming pool. As one of Lisbon’s premier nightlife attractions, the club hosts a sophisticated mix of local and international guests. With its former sound system beginning to show its age, the owners decided it was time for a more powerful and future-ready replacement.
The objective was to deliver high-end sound while staying aligned with the venue’s budget and creative vision. When reviewing the available options, KV2 Audio was deemed as the most viable option.
Following an initial evaluation of KV2’s portfolio and detailed exchanges of technical specifications, venue plans and requirements, the project progressed to an on-site assessment. To ensure this was conducted with the highest level of precision, KV2 sent one of its top system engineers, Jakub Suchomel, to assess the club environment.
‘We performed an in-depth analysis of the venue’s architectural and acoustic challenges, which provided critical insights into the requirements for audio design,’ Suchomel says. ‘The result was the official selection of KV2’s point-source solutions for Urban Beach’s audio upgrade, establishing the foundation for the first phase of the project.’
What began as a straightforward audio upgrade evolved into a much bolder vision for the club’s identity: ‘The plan grew to include a complete transformation of the club’s main dance floor,’ Suchomel explains. ‘The new audio system included a broad selection of KV2’s portfolio, featuring the SL Series at the main PA in a quad double-stereo configuration.’
In the club’s main room, four SL412 wide-dispersion loudspeaker systems now deliver power and coverage while reducing indoor reflections, which proved essential due to the Urban Beach’s open-plan infrastructure. At the sides of the main room, four ESD15 boxes provide flat, full-range reproduction, while the peripheral areas are equipped with four ESD8 passive two-way units and eight compact ESD6 loudspeakers for high-quality speech intelligibility and music clarity.
Twelve ES1.8 subwoofers, powered by dedicated VHD32000 amplification, provide low-frequency extension, suited to the venue’s club nights. The loudspeaker system is supported by a network of KV2 amplifiers, including four ESP2000s, six SL3000s and three VHD3200s.
In the second room, two SL412 loudspeakers have been installed alongside the existing audio infrastructure, including subwoofers, monitoring system, and amplification.
‘The second room upgrade was designed as a phased approach,’ Suchmel says. ‘The club already benefits from improved audio, without having to replace the entire system all at once.’ This was also the case for the DJ monitoring, which reuses parts of the original system as a temporary solution to fit the customer’s requirements. ‘Further modernisations are already being considered, with additional KV2 components expected to be introduced as the project progresses.’
Since the new system debuted, K Urban Beach Club has seen a significant improvement in audio performance. ‘Guests already recognised the club as a go-to venue in Lisbon for exclusive, high-energy nightlife, so it was important that the audio quality reflected this. KV2 Audio has helped provide exactly that,’ says Alessandro Pagliani, KV2’s EMEA and Latin America Sales Director.
Urban Beach’s owners have also recognised the potential of the KV2 system and are committed to a long-term upgrade of multiple areas of the club, as well as other venues in their Lisbon portfolio. For now, the audio transformation will continue to consolidate the club’s position as one of Europe’s must-visit nightlife destinations.
More: www.kv2audio.com