INSIDE THE FIVE-STOREY MARTIN AUDIO OVERHAUL POWERING SYDNEY’S NEW BRISTOL COMPLEX
A major makeover of a popular Sydney-based 80s retro venue in the city’s Central Business District has resulted in a completely reimagined multi-concept venue, called The Bristol.
Owned and operated by burgeoning leisure hospitality company, Oscars Group, the historic former Bristol Arms Hotel trades on five storeys, each with its own theme, including restaurants, bars, a nightclub, rooftop and event spaces, after being closed for the previous four years.
Retaining much of its nightclub roots, the potent Calypso nightclub — its ceiling adorned with 300 mirrorballs — has been equipped with Martin Audio’s CDD coaxial differential dispersion series. In fact, CDDs provide the audio playback solution from the ground up, with more than 60 enclosures right across the series visible throughout — purpose mounted in their dedicated yoke assemblies and maximised for wide dispersion.
Anthony Russo, technical director of Total Audio Group (TAG), Martin Audio’s Australian distributor, worked alongside system integrators Pro Sound and Lighting (Wollongong) to deliver this Martin Audio deployment, on the express wishes of the client (for whom TAG had previously supplied the brand at previous operations).
With the new Martin Audio system, guests will enjoy a richer, more immersive sound experience"
CDD makes its biggest statement in Calypso, equipped with soft furnishing, and with a carpet extending across the dancefloor, giving it a classy New York club feel. The main room features six CDD15 distributed around the dancefloor in an immersive configuration, with a pair of SX118s under the booth and further pair for delay.
“CDD’s wide dispersion really lent itself to the low ceiling, and its throw onto the dancefloor,” continues Russo. “Being coaxial it is a true point source, whether on or off axis, with great time alignment.” Each booth seating is also served by its own CDD10, while a separate annexe can either function as a separate breakout room, equipped with CDD10 and SX212 subwoofers, or as an annexe to the main room.
Such is the cachet that the venue has acquired in little time, that it has already hosted an appearance by Groove Armada who played a DJ set in the Calypso lounge.
Elsewhere, up in the Rooftop, where the popular Sunday sessions overlook the harbour, the doors are opened up and DJs play out under the stars through weatherised CDD10-WRs. The muscularity of the CDD enclosures can also be felt in the main Bristol Sports Bar, where patrons congregate in front of a giant 11-metre screen, while the other spaces include Ela Ela, a Greek restaurant on the ground floor, and Midtown Bar & Lounge piano bar and cocktail lounge.
Commenting on the system, Claude Spinelli, General Manager of Pro Sound and Lighting, “We have completed a brand-new Martin Audio speaker installation which brings world class sound to one of the region’s favourite venues. This upgrade delivers crystal clear vocals, warm, full low-end and even coverage across the entire room — perfect audio for DJs, bands, functions and weekend parties.
“With the new Martin Audio system, guests will enjoy a richer, more immersive sound experience — no dead spots, no harsh highs, just beautiful balanced audio everywhere you stand.
“Installed byPro Sound and Lighting, this setup is built for reliability, power, and premium performance, making the Bristol event-ready for any night of the week.”
Photos by Steven Woodburn.