Bangkok’s Isola Gives Diners A Feast For The Ears With System Centred On Allen & Heath’s AHM

Newly opened in downtown Bangkok, Italian fine dining restaurant Isola by Signor Sassi now has Allen & Heath at the heart of its audio system.

As the establishment has a main dining area, VIP rooms and two terraces, Simone del Ferro, General Manager of the restaurant, wanted smooth operation of the system with zoning functionality. The ability to control source and volume in all zones and presets based on time were all key.

Delivering the functionality needed when considering the various zones and regular live music and DJ performances, Thailand-based integrators Aura Visual System specified and installed an AHM-16 audio matrix processor – which offers cost-effective, uncompromised processing for smaller multi-room environments including bars and restaurants.

The AHM-16 is a 16×16 audio matrix processor featuring 8×8 local analogue I/O that can be expanded via an ecosystem of remote audio expanders via an optional SLink card. The AHM also features Scheduled Events, enabling time-triggered preset recalls for automated operation throughout the working day with no input required from staff at the venue.

AHM is fully compatible with Allen & Heath’s Custom Control, a customisable, cross-platform control app, providing elegant, bespoke control over installed audio systems, allowing the integrator to freely design multiple user interfaces, tailored to different user levels and/or device types. A pair of touchscreens, CC-7 and CC-10, are available from Allen & Heath for easy operation by non-technical users.

Teamed with a loudspeaker solution from Void Acoustics which complemented the aesthetics of Isola, the venue benefits from low-latency high quality audio.

The restaurant regularly has DJs performing during the later hours of the evenings, so it was important to have an adaptable, high quality sound system in place that could handle the demands of the establishment. With Allen & Heath’s Custom Control app, accessed via a wall-mounted CC-7 touch panel, del Ferro can easily access and manage the music source selection, level control, preset recall and more.

“We have customised the GUI of the touchscreen controllers to make them blend in with the floral and lemon wallpaper décor,” said Phankom, Sales Manager for Aura Visual System. “Easy operation was an important factor. The restaurant manager doesn’t need to be concerned with Automatic Noise Compensation, processing with crossover filter, limiter and delays on every input and zone. They simply want to change the volume or source in between greeting guests and overseeing dining operations.”

With a unique decor that is more like an Italian or Moroccan bistro, the fine dining establishment now enjoys quality, easy-to control audio through a system that doesn’t disturb the carefully crafted visual experience.