The management team at North Wollongong Hotel in Wollongong, New South Wales engaged Dan Chapman of Data Dan to install an upgrade to their ageing audio system.
With support from Scott Angove of distributor Audio Brands Australia, Chapman designed and installed a system featuring loudspeakers from UK commercial audio brand, Optimal Audio.
Known popularly as the North Gong Hotel, the venue saw its last audio system installed in 2003. Manager Josh Hill said: “Having good audio is crucial in creating atmosphere - it’s the basis of people having a good time.
“[The old system] had a lot of dropout points and quiet areas where music would fluctuate in level, so key to our upgrade criteria was to obtain full coverage without pushing the music too hard - we’re in a residential area and we don’t want to impact our neighbours.”
Optimal Audio’s Cuboid 8 loudspeakers were used indoors, comprising a two-way, full range and passive 8-in unit for detailed sound over short to medium throw distances.
The loudspeakers were positioned close together in the bistro and bar areas of the hotel to run at a low level for background music, with headroom to deliver punch and low end from their 8-in drivers.
The stage area in the function room was equipped with a pair of Cuboid 12s and a single Optimal Audio Sub 15 subwoofer for the function room, delivering the low-frequency response required for live music performances and DJ sets.
A complement of Cuboid 8s down the length of the room added to the onstage system to provide even sound coverage.
Cuboid Series ‘the best option’ for North Gong Hotel
Angove said: “This is a big hotel with a large capacity which can get very loud. It quickly became apparent that the Cuboid Series from Optimal Audio would be the best option, particularly the Cuboid 8.
“It fitted perfectly in the bistro and bar areas, as well as supplementing the larger Cuboid 12s in the function room to great effect.”
Speaking for North Gong Hotel, Hill said: “Since installing Optimal Audio we’ve seen that the dropout zones are not there anymore - the quality of sound is really good without pushing it too hard.
“The coverage means that we now see people inside the venue dancing at their tables. It’s not just in one space where people can enjoy themselves like that - it’s everywhere throughout the whole place.”
