Nestled in the coast of the Gulf of Portofino, in Santa Margherita, Italy’s Covo di Nord-Est, or the North-East Lair, has recently undergone an extensive rebuild that includes a new audio system driven by Powersoft components.
Originally built in 1934 as a private residence, the venue became a popular club in Italy during the 60s and 70s, and after storms ravaged the venue in late 2018, it has once again opened its doors to the public. “After the storm in 2018, we undertook a complete rebuild the entire venue,” explains Stefano Lo Sardo, owner of Vibra Service and project manager for this build. “But we didn’t just want to rebuild, we wanted to upgrade, and that meant a new audio system that would rise up to the challenge.”
The system design was a collaborative process with Italian distributor Audiosales. It incorporates Martin Audio loudspeakers and subwoofers supported by Powersoft’s fixed-install-dedicated Quattrocanali 1204 and Ottocanali 4K4 amplifier platforms with onboard DSP.
“Our focus was to provide coverage throughout the entire venue, especially in the centre, as it’s where the bar and most guest seating are,” Lo Sardo says. “We also needed to consider the buildings around us, making sure that we avoided undesirable coverage near the surrounding buildings.”
Specifically, the system utilizes six Martin Audio CDD10B loudspeakers situated in the center of the main room, suspended from the ceiling. These loudspeakers, along with 12 more and subwoofers placed throughout the venue, are fed directly into an Audac preamplifier and the Ottocanali and Quattrocanali amplifiers.
“We needed powerful amplifier platforms providing the best sonic performance and protection for this project, as the speakers are performing at a high level for hours on end,” Lo Sardo adds. “Powersoft’s Quattrocanali and Ottocanali were exactly what we were looking for. They are exceptionally powerful, and the built in DSP was a big advantage for us.”
The Quattrocanali (four channels) and Ottocanali (eight channels) amplifiers include a clip limiter for loudspeakers, short-circuit protection, long-term limiters against steady non-audio signals that can minimise output, and general thermal protection, all are which are used in the new Covo di Nord-Est system.
Lo Sardo continues, “We also used the ArmoníaPlus software for this project, and it gave us complete control over every aspect of this system. It’s extremely intuitive and easy to use.” Powersoft recently unveiled ArmoníaPlus 2.0 with new features that include customizable user interfaces, passive controls and an app dedicated to controlling the new customisable interfaces, Powersoft System Control.
“The design of the amplifiers is something I was impressed by,” Lo Sardo concludes. “On top of their robustness and power to size ratio, you can see that the terminal blocks on the back of the amplifier have been designed for ease of use, making installing the cables a simple task.
“The outcome was a success. The Audiosales team supported us every step of the way and helped us create this incredible installation.”
Image Credits: Vibra Service
