Via system integrators such as Cosmic Electronics their sonic solutions have found their way into a number of the themed 'Wonderland' and 'Wonderworld' brands - but this Autumn a more muscular RCF system was installed in the newly-opened Faces, in the heart of Wolverhampton's city centre on the site of a former Oceana.
Having stood empty for around 19 months this landmark building has now reopened after undergoing a £750,000 refurbishment.
In common with earlier themes, Faces contains two main dance rooms split across two floors (one called Tomorrow, the other Yesterday) and the sound and lighting systems have been completely replaced and upgraded in each.
General manager Mark Hickey, who had presided over the final days of the old Oceana, describes the difference in sound quality as being like chalk and cheese. "The new RCF system is phenomenal - it's as good as it gets," he states.
But this was only achieved after Cosmic project manager Mark Damon had confronted some difficult challenges. Taking Wonderland in Maidstone as its model, Damon's task was to keep the dancefloor entirely clear, so that the cavernous space, when not hosting 1000 revellers in the main room (plus a further 600 in Yesterday), can be used for alternative events - from cabaret through to boxing matches.
This involved moving the three TTS56-A subwoofers far out to the periphery, and building them into a mixture of dance podiums and drinks stations. Having visited RCF HQ in Italy to hear this twin 21in sub bass at first hand Damon had no hesitation in specifying it. He notes, "We went for the extra power because we knew this sub would need to fire over such a long distance onto the dancefloor."
The installer followed the same principle when specifying the eight RCF Acustica H1315 horn loaded enclosures, flown in pairs around the octagonal ceiling truss. This is an upgraded version of the H1312 (12") used in Maidstone, and concentrates tightly dispersed, directional energy onto the dancefloor from a 15in woofer, 10" midrange and 1.4" exit titanium compression driver run in biamped mode.
The potency of the sound is maintained throughout an environment which needs to retain its flexibility, with a large student night every six weeks and succession of themed events and special one-offs. Only Mark Hickey's complementary décor of face and leg murals, within a purple and black colour scheme, remain constant.
In the main room there is also a concealed stage on hydraulics - in the true pop-up tradition - where RCF Media Series 1201 speakers can be introduced to order.
Elsewhere, further Media 1201s provide in-fill sound in the main space and in the separate VIP Room.
Venture upstairs to Yesterday and the atmosphere is entirely different. With décor consisting of the black, chrome and chevron paradigm redolent of the late 1970's, Cosmic found the low ceiling perfect for flying four RCF Acustica C5215/96 wide dispersion speakers (with 15in woofer), adding two floor standing S8028-II 2 x 18 in bass reflex subs to provide LF extension.
In this space, the peripheral sound is provided by six Media M1001 (10in) while the smaller Media M801 (8in) full range speaker maintains the sonic atmosphere throughout the ancillary areas and corridors.
The entire system is driven by RCF amplification. HPS2500s are assigned to the H1315s and HPS1500s to the Media series. A combination of DPS 3000s drive the S8028-II subs and UP2321 100V line amps drive ceiling speakers in the ancillary areas.
Summarised Mark Damon, "With the brief we were given it was challenging to provide even pattern control, maintaining the dynamics over a range of events rather than a single music genre. But RCF has an extensive product portfolio and I am confident we made all the right decisions; I am deligh
