Bar Sequence, a unique interactive video bar, has opened in Islington’s Essex Road with Martin Audio architectural AQ loudspeakers handling all of the audio output.
Owner Aria Ariantalab has spent close to £1million fulfilling his dream to create a 75-capacity environment (with separate pavement seating) in which everyone from media creatives to gamers interact in a social environment.
A former electronic engineering lecturer and technology consultant, Aria recognized that a ‘digital gallery’ would fill a unique space in the Capital’s landscape.
“Anyone can come in with a memory stick and plug into one of our laptops,” he says. “Media artists, graphic designers, photographers and photographic agents can show off their work — and we can showcase DJ’s and VJ’s at our Wednesday ‘Open Deck’ nights,” he adds.
Aria, who is also a DJ, provided his own playback equipment for the DJ booth but contacted Sound Division Group to handle the integrated AV design. “Their owner David Graham was very focused, recommending the Martin Audio loudspeakers, which proved to be a great choice.”
In fact, Sound Division specified six wall-mounted Martin Audio AQ8 on rotatable brackets, set in pairs down the length of the rectangular room, with an AQ210 2 x 10-inch ultra compact bass speaker, processed by a BSS Soundweb BLU-16 8 x 8 digital processor.
The AQs are designed into three separate, locally controlled sound zones. A pair of AQ8’s in the front lounge area run at low level to allow conversation, while those at the rear over the dance floor deliver high-octane dance levels with the sub providing bass extension.
“We wanted a system that offered hi-fi quality but with plenty of headroom, and we have certainly got it,” says Aria. “Every DJ who has played through the system has come out with a big smile and been highly complimentary about the sound.”
Designed by Space Design, there are many unique characteristics about Bar Sequence — including the fact that it offers free Wi-Fi and is open until 3 am. “But essentially this is an opportunity for people to share their digital life in a social context, away from their home PCs. In fact I believe we are the first truly digital bar in the UK,” says Aria.
