According to Steve Petrik, systems designer of D&A (NYC), his decision to design the sound system around eight Danley Sound Labs SH-100 full-range loudspeakers, six SH-50 three-way loudspeakers, and six TH-112 subwoofers, has enabled the 5,000 sq.ft. bi-level Manor to deliver a premium sonic experience to its selective patrons.
"This is one of the best-sounding systems that I've heard in NYC in several years," Petrik states. "It has to be able to handle almost every genre of music, including hip-hop, rock, dance and even jazzier styles. When people come in here for the first time, they're surprised to hear a NYC club system that sounds so clean and powerful, without distortion."
A highly experienced A/V integrator and designer, Petrik was presented with one of his most challenging objectives in The Manor. Working closely with the architect Mark Dizon of D&A, Petrik was handed the assignment to bring an elegantly uncluttered look to the club. "They wanted to conceal everything - the speakers, lights, projectors - in the architectural features of the space," he says. "Along with that, they wanted a complete audio and visual system that would be highly configurable, in an environment that was sonically transparent. I knew that by using Danley Sound Systems loudspeakers, we'd get a lot more clean sound and power than with virtually any other loudspeaker manufacturer at that price point."
In the main upstairs room, the six Danley Sound Labs SH-50s angle down invisibly from within the ceiling soffits, providing substantial directivity fulfilling Petrik's creativity. "I designed the system so there's a considerable drop-off in volume - four or five dB - from when you're standing and dancing in the middle of the room to when you're seated on the edge," explains Petrik. "Because of the tight pattern control of the speaker - truly 50 x 50 almost down to 250Hz - it allows you to aim the speakers on the dance floor and focus the energy there, not on the people sitting on the sidelines.
"The SH-50s have a very wide range, but they sound very clean throughout. They just won't distort, even if you keep pushing power into them. The DJs at The Manor tell me that they hear things in the music at this club that they've never heard before. And because the SH-50s are passive with a very good crossover design, you eliminate the need to biamp them. For this particular installation that eliminated six amplifiers, which translates to a very large cost savings to the client."
The Manor may be a high-end hangout, but its patrons will be treated to plenty of strong low-end via the six TH-112 subwoofers, which are built deep into the floor with their horn mounts inverted, resulting in maximum performance and space efficiency. "We only have six inches of speaker exposed to the floor, and the rest is sunken into the basement," Petrik says. "It sounds incredible. These subs are particularly well-suited to dance music. The Danley Sound Labs TH-112s have substantial power all the way down to 28Hz. The result is something that I've never heard from a sub before, for the power that you put into them. You just don't need a lot of amplifier power to get high-SPL of low-end program material in this space."
With the Danley Sound Labs speakers so integral to the building's design, Petrik was counting on their solid build and the company's strong support to make sure the critically important initial construction stages went smoothly. "Since the speakers are basically part of the building, they had to be installed at the very beginning of construction," says Petrik. "All of the cabinets have standard
