FOREVER sounds like paradise with KV2 Audio in Wuhan
A spectacular opening night in November heralded the launch of the FOREVER Club in Wuhan, China’s biggest nightclub project in 2022. Situated in the Xintiandi business district of Wuhan, FOREVER uses fashion, art and music to create a new entertainment landmark. In keeping with the rest of the ultra-high-class décor and astonishing ceiling creations, FOREVER has also invested in a state-of-the-art audio system, the flagship VHD5 from KV2 Audio. This marks the second VHD5 installation in a Chinese nightclub, the first being at TAXX II in Shanghai in 2021.
Financed by Chinese entertainment giant, Noah’s Ark Group, FOREVER Wuhan is a 5,000-square-meter venue consisting of three main areas: the principal 2000-capacity ‘House Style’ hall, a smaller ‘HipHop’ area, and several private KTV rooms. The main hall contains some breath-taking trussing structures, sophisticated lighting and 3D effects as well as the ultra-powerful KV2 VHD5 system which was specified, designed and installed by Guangzhou Idee International Sound System Co., Ltd. (IDEE) part of KV2’s Chinese distributor AVMedia.
“As with everything else in the FOREVER club, the investors wanted a sound system that was out of the ordinary – something that would create an experience never to be forgotten,” says AVMedia’s Mr Tony. “Noah’s Ark were already familiar with KV2 as they’d previously replaced systems from other extremely well-known audio brands with KV2 in five of their other nightspots around China, as the other systems simply didn’t live up to their expectations. When I suggested the flagship VHD5 for FOREVER, they didn’t hesitate.”
Mr Tony specified a L/R system comprising a VHD5.0 mid/hi and a VHD8.10 low/mid element per side with two VHD2.0 frontfills. 16 x ESD12 2-way full range loudspeakers (known as TIME12 in China) act as a fill system for the numerous private booths and VIP areas, while 50 x ESD1.18 subwoofers provide powerful sub bass reinforcement. 24 of the 50 subwoofers cover the 16m in front of the DJ booth, with eight subs built into the front of the booth itself and eight subs flown per side. The remaining 26 units are built into seating booths distributed across the back of the room. Power, processing and control for the VHD systems are supplied by dedicated VHD power units, VHD5000, VHD5000S and VHD2000 respectively. Finally, a pair of powerful ESM312 monitors act as DJ monitors.
Audio for the (much) smaller HipHop room – just 150 capacity – is provided by a pair of ESM312s, a pair of TIME12s and twelve ESD1.18 subs.
“What never fails to impress with KV2, and in particular the VHD systems, is the ability to cover such vast areas with so few boxes, yet the clarity and precision wherever you are in the room is simply unrivalled,” enthuses Mr Tony. “FOREVER aims to impress at every level – visually, aesthetically, and sonically – it is certainly right up there with TAXX II as one of the world’s superclubs. We’re very proud to be part of the FOREVER experience.”
Main system:
- 2x VHD5.0
- 2x VHD8.10
- 2x VHD5000
- 2x VHD5000S
- 2x VHD2.0 (as Frontfill)
- 2x VHD2000
- 2x ESM312 (Dj monitoring)
- 16x TIME12 (Fills)
- 50x ESD1.18
Hip Hop Room:
- 2x ESM312
- 2x TIME12
- 12x ESD1.18
RUFUS DU SOL turns up the heat with KV2
Award-winning Australian electronic dance music combo RÜFÜS DU SOL is currently in the midst of a world tour that has taken them throughout Europe before heading over to the US and terminating in Australia (via New Zealand) at the end of the year. The group has enjoyed huge success in their native Australia and has since relocated to Los Angeles to further their international reputation – clearly now well established as the band has just received a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for ‘Alive’, the lead single from their fourth studio album, ‘Surrender’. As part of their European tour, the trio recently played a sold-out gig in Prague at the 3,000-capacity Forum Karlin using KV2’s flagship VHD5 system.
RÜFÜS DU SOL’s relationship with KV2 began in earnest last year in early 2021 when KV2’s technical support director for the APAC region, Angus Davidson – himself a highly respected FoH engineer – met Cam Trewin, a Melbourne-based studio and live sound engineer. “Cam had recorded a live set with RÜFÜS DU SOL at The Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert which had been mixed in Dolby Atmos for the video in Los Angeles,” explains Davidson. “I told him about Red Road Immersive, the Dolby Atmos studio I had built during lockdown. He then talked to the band and they decided to remix the live set at Red Road for release on Apple Music.”
The studio is based around 14 x KV2 EX Series speakers and is the first studio in APAC to be certified by Dolby. Trewin was extremely impressed with the sound of the KV2 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos system, as was Dale Becker from Becker Mastering in LA, who commented, “Wow, friend, you do quite the incredible work. This translates to my room perfectly. I'm so impressed!” The live set made it to Number 3 on the Apple Spatial Hits playlist and is still up there over a year later.
Fast forward to August 2022 and RÜFÜS DU SOL are in Prague as part of their European tour. The opportunity arises for the band to use KV2’s flagship VHD5 system, and thanks to Trewin’s extremely positive experience with KV2 products at Red Road Immersive and then at the legendary New York club, Avant Gardner, he jumps at the chance. “RÜFÜS played the Cityfox Odyssey over New Year’s Eve at Avant Gardner this year, and they loved it,” remarks Davidson. “Avant Gardner is one of our biggest VHD5 installations to date and sounds amazing. Cam was delighted to be able to use one in Prague.”
In conjunction with UK-based production company, Production Value, who was responsible for the European leg of the tour, KV2 supplied a VHD5 system for main left and right, plus 16 x VHD4.21 subwoofers combined with 4 x VHD2.18J subwoofers in a cardioid configuration. 4 x EX26 provided front fill. “It was great to hear the VHD5 system stretch its legs on the RÜFÜS DU SOL gig – for me it really confirmed its standing as the best large format point source system on the planet,” says Davidson.
Cam Trewin was just as enthusiastic: “I was very impressed with the power output of the VHD5 system and the even coverage and clarity in the top-end. The subs had great low information and response, especially for a show like RÜFÜS DU SOL which demands clean undistorted sound with powerful bottom-end.”
KV2 powers up Electric Bay festival in Torquay, Devon
Described as a ‘game-changing music weekender’, Electric Bay is a unique open-air dance music festival that takes place over two days in the stunning Torre Abbey meadows on the Torquay seafront. Following a completely sold-out first edition last year, the 2023 event promised to be ‘bigger and better’ at every level, with a bigger production, a larger stage, an even more powerful sound system and increased facilities and food and drink options. The 2023 lineup featured some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Hedex, Pendulum LIVE, Dave Rodigan, Andy C, Gardna Live, Sub Focus, and many more. Festival organisers and renowned electronic music promoters, Louder Events, once again turned to local AV rental experts, Future Technical Solutions (FTS) who supplied a kicking KV2 sound system.
“FTS has a working relationship with Louder in other venues for both live and DJ sets, so it was natural that they asked us to quote for last year’s event,” describes FTS managing director, Neil Carpenter. “We specified KV2’s VHD system, having already used it for events up to 5000 people on the same site. Electric Bay 2022 brought in 7000 people, but I knew it could do the job. Admittedly, Louder’s production manager, Alex Anderson was dubious at first, but he decided to go with us, and I’m delighted to say he was more than happy with the results!”
Based on the resounding success of the first edition, Louder Events decided to up the ante for 2023 with an even bigger production, this time for 10,000 revellers. Anderson once again turned to FTS for the audio system package. “We had fantastic coverage and superb sound quality across the site last year using our VHD system, and I was confident that it would handle 10,000 people with no problem,” notes Carpenter. “However, we had to do some EASE Focus simulations to convince Alex that we didn’t need delay towers! The system has to face the sea so as not to disturb local residents, which limits coverage towards the long part of the site. However, I’ve always felt that a line array system would cause more problems that it would solve in attempting to cover the complete site rather than a point source system like KV2 that gives great energy in the areas that need it with less than half the number of boxes.”
FTS supplied a pair of VHD2.0 and a VHD1.0 per side as a flown L/R system. Bass and sub-bass was provided by four VHD2.16, eight VHD4.18 and eight VHD2.21 arrayed in front of the stage, along with a pair of ES1.0 as centre fills. “Essentially it’s the same system as last year with the addition of a fourth pair of VHD2.21s and the ES1.0 centre fills which worked really well and covered the whole of the listening zone with ease,” says Carpenter. “The biggest changes were to the DJ monitor system on stage – last year we used VHD1.21s with ESD15s, largely because Carl Cox has used ESDs before and likes them. However, we had a few issues with sub bass travelling behind the stage and causing noise issues for some residents, so this year we went for an ES rig comprising a pair each (one per side) of ES1.0, ES2.16 and ES1.8. This gave us more bass control options and definitely worked much better for us. The final change was that we added six ESM12 floor monitors to the package to replace the non-KV2 monitors we used last year, as I gathered that wasn’t a popular move!
“Needless to say, the whole system performed amazingly and we’re already looking forward to next year!”