Fresh Blowfish

Since its opening 11 years ago, Blowfish has been established at the elite end of Jakarta’s nightlife. To keep its fresh edge and improve the ambience, owner Ismaya Group recently undertook an ambitious upgrade, closing the doors for five months to replace the Japanese-inspired design with futuristic architecture and a complete overhaul of the AV system.

Indonesian distributor PT Citra Intirama were heavily involved in the refit, working with third party consultant PT Rhema Multi Perkasa who provided the acoustic design and carried out the installation, commissioning, operator training and after-sales support. The new system includes the addition of Martin Audio AQ and Backline series full range speakers and subwoofers, with Powersoft control to optimise the audio system throughout the club’s five zones.

The task facing the installers was to integrate two new Martin Audio Blackline F15+, six Blackline S218+, four AQ215 subs and four WSX subs with system management from dedicated DX2 processors discreetly into the interior design, and tie it into the new set-up. “There were definite efforts to keep the speakers and subwoofers as discreet as possible to meet the design objectives,” PT Citra Intirama’s Eric Haslim says.

“We added the Powersoft amps to complement the additional speakers. Powersoft provided a perfect complement to the speakers and sub-woofers with their light weight, efficiency, power and excellent sonic amplification.

“One of the biggest challenges faced by the sound teams was to ensure even distribution while obtaining high intelligibility — even on hard hitting electronic dance floor tracks the vocals need to be clear and crisp.”

OFF THE HOOK

Powersoft provided a “tremendous boost” in delivering the desired sonic experience, Haslim says. “We most certainly took full advantage of Powersoft’s inherent electronics. One of the key features, for instance, is the availability of damping control inside the Powersoft amplifiers, where we can adjust the power delivery to complement the extended speaker cable lengths for subwoofers located as far as 100 metres away.”

In terms of deployment, two Duecanali 5204 two-channel amplifiers are assigned to two single 18-inch subs, while seven Duecanali 3904 drive a further seven 2 x 18-inch subs. Powersoft M50Qs are assigned to a further seven full range speakers dispersed throughout the club, and powerful K3 amps are designated to six further higher potency full range speakers.

In addition to Blowfish, the complex also houses the adjacent Puro Italian restaurant (which can double as an overspill) — and this, too, runs exclusively Martin Audio and Powersoft sound reinforcement. The system includes four Blackline F15+ (in two pairs, as a main FOH system), two S+218+ subs and several F12+ infills at the back and sides, supplemented by AQ215s at the rear for additional low-end extension. Duecanali 5204, 3904 and M50Q power the speakers.