Buddha-Bar Manila equipped with Meyer Sound
Published: ASIA
PHILIPPINES: The new Buddha-Bar in Manila has recently been equipped with a substantial Meyer Sound system. Located in the Picar Place development of Makati City, Buddha-Bar Manila is among the largest in the franchise, and accommodates over 500 people over the first-level lounge, second-level restaurant, and roof deck areas.
The franchise is synonymous with Oriental décor, Asian fusion cuisine and an eclectic music mix. The Manila branch was equipped with a total of 132 Meyer Sound loudspeakers, reportedly the largest number of self-powered low-voltage loudspeakers to be installed in a hospitality application.
The size of the property, combined with the franchise’s high standards, created multiple challenges with regards to the acoustical and A/V system design, all of which were handled by ihD Ltd, a pan-Asian consulting firm headquartered in Hong Kong.
According to Ian D Harris, managing director and principal consultant at ihD, the brief for the music reproduction lent itself toward a Meyer Sound solution: ‘We wanted to guarantee excellent audio, and this is what we expect with Meyer Sound,’ he stated.
The majority of seating areas throughout the venue are covered by Meyer Sound low-voltage self-powered systems, with 99 MM-4XP self-powered loudspeakers and 33 MM-10 miniature subwoofers installed in the restaurant, VIP lounges, DJ booth, and on the outdoor decking area. Meanwhile, 16 MPS-488HP external power supply units deliver balanced audio to the loudspeakers.
Mr Harris was particularly impressed by the MM-4XPs: ‘They surpassed our imagination – certainly they are well specified on paper – but to actually experience a 100mm cube projecting such sound somehow defies logic!’ he enthused.
Greater SPLs were required for the dance floor and portions of the outdoor deck, and for these zones, four Meyer Sound UPJ-1P VariOs, three UPJunior VariO loudspeakers and four UMS-1P subwoofers were selected to provide the appropriate coverage.
‘The sound is enveloping, even with the very low frequencies of the music,’ said Mr Harris. ‘The general manager admires the sound quality, and described it to me as “mellow, yet impactful”’, he added.
Mr Harris credits iHD’s Manila-based Mhel Datuin for the overall A/V systems design and Noy Rosario for onsite project management. Meyer Sound contract consultant ‘dB Dave’ Dennison dealt with loudspeaker configuration, while AVLS of Manila installed the system under the supervision of Marvic Ramos.