Genelec helps bring Vegas to Gothenburg
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Instead, guests can choose from three restaurants and a pool club and spa on the top two floors, plus award-winning conference facilities, a hotel-within-a-hotel on floors 17 and 18, a gym and a secret speakeasy bar. Swedish AV integration experts, Informationsteknik AB were contracted to design and supply all the AV and conferencing systems throughout the building, which included over 130 Genelec 4000 Series and Smart IP loudspeakers.
"ESS Group has a lot of accumulated knowledge about sound and design and a fantastic sense of the details that create exciting hotel environments for guests," explains Informationsteknik key account manager, Karl Arnell. "Our goal was to fulfil their vision in everything from product selection to technical solutions and control systems – creating the best possible solution for both the guests and the customer."
Informationsteknik invited ESS to a series of listening tests, so they could see and hear Genelec technology for themselves, specifically the 4000 Series and Smart IP installation ranges. Following the demonstrations, it was decided that Genelec systems would be used for all the public areas, restaurants, bars, lounges, conference rooms and break-out areas, the 18th floor hotel suite and the gym.
"Music plays an important part of the ESS Group hotel experience, and at Jacy’z the intention was to elevate the experience even further," explains Informationsteknik’s Joakim Leissner, who was responsible for system design. "The demos convinced the client beyond any doubt that Genelec was the right brand to help achieve this goal."
Whilst the majority of Genelec loudspeakers used throughout Jacy’z are from the 4000 Series, there are certain areas where Informationsteknik opted for a Smart IP networked loudspeaker solution – namely the boardrooms on the 4th floor and the grand suite on the 18th floor.
"Smart IP definitely takes the Genelec experience to the next level – the convenience of having audio, power and control over just a single CAT cable is a huge advantage for integrators," says Leissner. "We also appreciated the Smart IP Manager software which made device discovery and configuration easy and straightforward, and provides status monitoring so we know how the system is performing at all times. So, for us, combining 4000 and Smart IP series models across the project produced the ideal balance of cost-effectiveness and networked flexibility."
In terms of networking and control, Informationsteknik supplied a Biamp Tesira server with both Dante and AVB support that handles all of the audio traffic, fully stocked with expansion cards. There are nine central music players with customised soundtracks to fit different themed areas which can be routed to any of the audio zones. A scheduling program runs in the background that adjusts volume and makes sure the correct source is playing in every zone.
