Mr Panther a 'resto-lounge' venue in Lagos, Nigeria, has deployed audio from KV2. Owned by the Standalone Group, the venue is located on the 7th floor of The Avenue Suites Hotel.
It transitions from a fine dining experience into a vibrant lounge as the night progresses. The project resulted from a collaboration between Standalone Group and Freehand Acoustics. When the group decided to expand into Lagos, they brought Freehand Acoustics into the fold during the concept phase. “We were brought on board to design and commission the sound system. This allowed us to coordinate seamlessly with interior design, lighting, and audio to ensure all elements worked harmoniously,” explained Rayan Wehbe, Principal Consultant at Freehand Acoustics.
The brief for Mr. Panther was to create a system capable of supporting a high-end dining experience that evolves into a vibrant lounge atmosphere in the evening. To ensure every corner of the venue received sound coverage, a configuration of KV2 models was employed. The guest experience begins in the hotel’s lobby elevators, where the gold-painted ESD Cube loudspeakers deliver full-range audio, setting the tone for the night ahead. The champagne bar, located at the entrance, is equipped with four custom-painted ESD5 loudspeakers mounted on the ceiling to provide ambient background music as guests wait for their tables.
On the main floor, the audio design features an LCR system, with ESD10 loudspeakers positioned left and right and an ESD12 used as a centre channel. These are paired with three ESD1.18 subwoofers integrated into the furniture, delivering sound while maintaining a sleek aesthetic. Under the balcony, ESD Cubes are strategically placed to ensure even sound distribution across lounges that would otherwise face limited direct sound coverage.
The VIP mezzanine section features an L-R configuration of ESD8 loudspeakers paired with two ESD1.15 subwoofers to provide a bass-driven experience for elite patrons. Even the restrooms maintain the venue’s signature ambiance with more ultra-compact ESD Cubes delivering high-quality sound. A Xilica Solaro QR1 processor handles the system control, with a custom-designed interface that allows the venue team to adjust levels, monitor performance, and recall presets from mobile devices or PCs. This flexibility is essential in a venue with shifting operational modes throughout the evening, transitioning from fine dining to a high-energy lounge.
Despite the space’s stunning aesthetics, integrating the audio system wasn’t without its challenges. Restrictions on loudspeaker placement near the glass façade and staircase required creative solutions.
