Middlesex Sound & Light (MSL, based in Harrow, UK) recently completed the ninth installation in the 1Rebel gym infrastructure with the completion of 1Rebel Oxford Circus in London, and as with the other eight venues, the latest incorporates a variety of Martin Audio loudspeakers, including BlacklineX and ADORN models.
Originally introduced to owners Giles Dean and James Balfour about four years ago as a replacement for their previous sound supplier, MSL provided an AV upgrade of the first two venues that were already in the estate before setting out a design blueprint for future roll-outs. This includes taking into account the operators’ different studio concepts such as the trainer-led ‘Ride’ as well as ‘Reshape’ and ‘Rumble.’
“At Oxford Circus, the profile and raw sound of BlacklineX perfectly suit the brick-built industrial theme of the interior,” says MSL project manager and designer Toby Jones. “BlacklineX again met all the requirements for performance and budget, and this is the third venue in which it is featured.”
1Rebel Oxford Circus offers two of the three large studio concepts: Rumble (explosive boxing sessions for 55 clients immersed in 45 minutes of sound and energy) and Reshape (offering a grueling and dynamic program of weights, core and cardio training, equipped for 25 people).
The sound in Rumble is played out through 12 Blackline X8 mounted on the boxing structure, with a pair of SX112 subwoofers on the floor, one at each end. Meanwhile, Reshape is served by 10 Blackline X8 around the perimeter, ceiling mounted with Powerdrive attachments, and two further SX112 subs.
Fed by either local iPod or trainer’s equipped with headworn radio mics (via the mini jack plug-in), Jones says that the client’s investment in acoustic isolation means that the volume level can be ratcheted up to performance levels if required. Linked to a Soundweb digital backbone, it also offers added flexibility.
Elsewhere, the reception area coverage is provided by a cluster of four ADORN A55 loudspeakers on a central ceiling mounted pole that provide 360-degree coverage, while the walkway is equipped with a further two clustered pairs of ADORN A55 on 1.5-meter drops, firing up and down the corridor. Further ADORN A55s can be found in the changing rooms and even in the cleaner’s cupboard. “All changing rooms have preset volume controls whereas there is independent mic and volume control for the two studios,” adds Jones.
In summary, he says, “We originally demoed the Blackline X8 for the client in a small studio so he could experience the value engineering, and he agreed they sounded great.”
