Martin Audio’s dance system at London’s Ministry of Sound has been Best Club Sound System Design at the International Dance Music Awards (IDMA).
One of the most anticipated annual events on the global dance music calendar, the IDMA’s generate over a million votes from music enthusiasts in 183 countries every year to honor exceptional achievements in 57 award categories.
It has become the focal point of the Winter Music Conference in Miami.
Over the years, the south London club has converted to an all-Martin Audio system, capped off by a club stack in its main room, the Box.
The final piece of the conversion occurred in February this year, when it became the first venue to adopt the manufacturer’s new ASX active sub.
MoS Technical Manager, Alex Barrand, said, “When I heard the news that we had been added into the nominations for Best Club Sound System I was pleased to say the least.
I felt that a year’s worth of meetings with Martin Audio to create one of the most powerful and responsive subwoofers in the world had really paid off!
“But then to hear the news that we had won, was the best feeling in the world!”
He said the upgrade process of the old world famous MoS Box sound system — installed back in 1991 by GSA NY — had been long and complex. “But now I can say I have superseded it!”
Working closely with Martin Audio R&D director, Jason Baird, the MoS technician says, “The club embraced every new aspect of technology available to date to make this system what it is today.”
The main club system was installed in two phases, beginning when the London club commissioned a Martin Audio club stack at the beginning of 2008, featuring a custom AS118 bass and Wavefront W8C.
Once Martin Audio was able to demonstrate a prototype of the new ASX sub, two years on, the system went into overdrive. The speaker was an active version of the passive enclosure that had been used by Prodigy, and Alex Barrand thought it sounded “incredible”. He remarked, “At the audition one unit comfortably outperformed a Bertha cabinet.”
Said Alex Barrand, “I am delighted to have been in a position to carry out such an impressive upgrade to this heritage system — and for it to be recognized internationally.”
“However, we’re still not finished, as we have more sound system upgrades planned for later this year, with the newly named 103 (main bar) … so watch this space
