Owner Fabienne Malortigue has spent 2m in creating a completely new infrastructure - including a potent new sound system - and has brought in new director, Thierry Fontaine from The Loft in Lyon to add weight to the operation, which today offers an eclectic music mix to an 18-25-year-old crowd.
The venue contacted its long-term audio consultant, Nice-based integrators Perfec'son to upgrade the technical infrastructure. Their director Farid proposed a high-octane Harman Pro solution - with a dbx DriveRack 4800 at the heart of the control.
The venue features parquet floors, metal, molten glass, a 200,000 air-conditioning system, raised ceilings and 70 beautiful bronze statues. Screens inside the lavish club show footage of recent celebrity arrivals, and the vast space hosts regular catwalk shows (such as Emporio Armani).
Christophe Masson, director of communication for Harman Pro distributors, SCV Audio, who supplied the equipment, stated: "Perfec'son are part of our network of approved installers, who are able to realise projects on this scale. Farid knows that we can offer transparent technical support, working directly with the club and with the contractor as necessary."
From the restaurant, with its pine tree-shaded terrace, to the DJ booth everything has been kitted out with JBL loudspeakers, under dbx system management. 12 of the lightweight, compact 12-inch, two-way JBL PRO VRX932LA portable line array enclosures, finished in white provide uniform dispersion throughout the venue, while bass extension is provided by a pair of JBL 6128V subwoofers and three JBL 6228 bins. A further four JBL AM6212 fill the peripheral areas and eight Control 29's provide sound reinforcement in the VIP bar. The DJ's reference sound is delivered by an SRX712M - and the entire system is powered by multiples of Crown CTs 3000 amplifiers.
Summing up his achievement, Farid said: "Getting the sound system right was the biggest challenge of all and we have managed to achieve a truly homogenous sound, with superior imaging; this will maintain the atmosphere in Papagayo and keep people on the dancefloor. The combination of JBL and dbx has enabled us to create a unique solution."
(Jim Evans)
