Roka

Sound Division turns Japanese with Roka

Audio-visual contracting and entertainment service specialists Sound Division have recently installed a sophisticated distributed audio system into London’s latest award-winning concept bar and restaurant, Roka. Based in one of London’s prime sites in north Soho (Noho to those in the know) on the corner of Charlotte Street, Roka continues the Japanese theme of its Knightsbridge forerunner, Zuma. Sound Division and the Robata Restaurants team were introduced by top London DJ and celebrity favourite, Max Chipchase who has worked with Sound Division on a number of occasions and is always pleased to recommend their services.

According to Sound Division managing director David Graham, the brief from owner Rainer Becker was clear. “Rainer wanted a high quality sound system for the basement Shochu bar with sufficient headroom to be able to go from background music levels up to foreground levels without any compromise in audio quality. Physically the system had to be discreet in order to offer minimum distraction from the surroundings (which are sumptuous), so we turned to JBL and Crown for a solution.”

Sound Division opted for a Crown XLS-powered distributed and zoned JBL system based on JBL Control Series loudspeakers and Cloud system control. Four Control 29AVs and an SB210 sub-bass cabinet form the backbone of the system in the main bar area, while a further four Control 25AVs handle audio distribution to the peripheral lounge areas. Even the washrooms have not been neglected where Sound Division has installed a number of Control 24C ceiling speakers. The DJ booth is furnished with similarly high quality industry-standard equipment including a pair of Technics SL1210 Mk5 turntables, Ortofon cartridges, a Denon DND4000F twin CD player and an Allen & Heath Xone 62 professional DJ mixer. System control and processing comes courtesy of a Cloud Z8 Mk2 eight zone venue mixer complemented by three Cloud RSL-6 remote volume and source select panels which will enable the operator to control volume levels and music sources independently across each zone. DBX signal processing completes the installation.

“It’s a powerful system that will cruise happily from daytime background levels to nighttime foreground music when the DJ arrives, and forms a crucial part of the atmosphere downstairs,” concluded David. “For the moment, Rainer wanted the restaurant upstairs to remain a music-free zone, although we have cabled it so that he has the option to incorporate a sound system at a later date if he wishes.” Rainer himself is delighted with the system and the service he has received from Sound Division. “They have done an excellent job,” he commented. “Their work has been thorough, efficient and delivered to time, budget and specification. They have been a pleasure to work with from the outset, and have enabled me to create exactly the atmosphere I wanted in both parts of the restaurant. Sound Division deserves its reputation as being one of London’s premier suppliers and installers of audio, AV and lighting equipment to the London bar and restaurant business, and I for one will definitely be using them again.”

August 2004