HK Audio Supports World-Class DJs At ZAW

HK Audio’s LINEAR 5 MK2 system has delighted crowds and DJs alike at a pair of electronic music events in Nantes. The system was called in to support two recent performances at ZAW which saw sets from a world-class lineup of DJs, including DJ Fly, Beat Torrent, Freddy Jay and J.Moses.

ZAW is a bar, café, restaurant and performance venue located in the heart of Nantes’ train station. With live music central to its business, ZAW hosts jazz brunches every Sunday and monthly electric nights to support the city’s emerging scene.

The venue was built with performance in mind. It offers a central stage and DJ booth in the main hall, giving musicians a dedicated space to play as well as a defined audience space. However, it also features floor-to-ceiling windows which provide expansive views for diners out across the historic city. This combination means that while it is easy for musicians to play, it can also be acoustically challenging for sound engineers.

To counter the venue’s natural reverberation, an HK Audio solution was deployed for the Friday night performances of DJ Fly and Beat Torrent on May 15. With both acts having previously won multiple DJ world championships, ZAW wanted the best sound possible from what was certain to be a high energy show. The solution was a pair of LINEAR 5 MK2 308 LTA loudspeakers with four LINEAR 5 MK2 118 Sub HPAs subwoofers in cardioid mode for the main system. A further pair of LINEAR 5 MK2 112 FA were placed on top of the subs to serve as DJ monitors.

“The asymmetrical 60°x +5/-25° opening of the 308 LTA loudspeakers effectively countered the natural reverberation of this floor-to-ceiling windows as we were able to keep the sound away from them,” recalls Thomas Garin, HK Audio’s Business Development Manager for France. “The four high-output 18" subs were set up in a 1:1 cardioid configuration, so the crowd could revel in the powerful kick while the DJs were able to enjoy the comfort of having only the sound of the monitors behind their turntables.”  

The quality of the solution was proven by the same main PA being deployed once again for the next electronic night on June 19. “The only change to the system for the performances by Freddy Jay and J.Moses came with the DJ monitors,” explains Garin. “The DJs wanted more bass, so we used the LUCAS 2k15s instead.”

Reflecting on the two performances, Garin expects to see more events and festivals across France turn to HK Audio solutions in the near future. “From the success we have seen at ZAW to the demos we regularly run with our partner Algam, I know there is a huge interest in HK Audio solutions from rental companies and venues all across France,” he states. “This interest has led to a wave of investment from local production companies which will be clear to see in the coming weeks. This summer, LINEAR 5 MK2, LINEAR 9 and COSMO systems will all be out on the road, delivering impeccable sound for festival audiences everywhere.”

For more information, visit: www.hkaudio.com

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