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dbx ZonePRO goes the Xtra Distance in Amsterdam Icebar
dbx Professional Products has found itself operating in sub-zero temperatures in Northern Europe. For when Ditems Entertainment Group BV were planning their XtraCold Amsterdam Ice Bar on the banks of the Dutch capital’s Amstel River, careful consideration was given to the quality of the sound waves that would be wafting through the Arctic temperatures.
As the name suggests, everything in the bar is made out of ice — the walls, the bar itself, the seats and even the cocktail glasses are frozen. A temperature of –8°C is maintained and to endure these temperatures every visitor receives special thermal clothing including gloves before entering the Ice Bar.
To create the ‘Ultimate Ice Xperience’ Ditems Entertainment Group brought in ice artists from all over the world to produce beautiful sculptures. They also called on audio-visual specialists Vasco Showtechniek, who proposed a Harman Pro sound reinforcement solution — from the icebed up.
The company designed the XtraCold Amsterdam complex into three separate zones — the Ice Bar itself (dubbed ‘Some Like It Cold’), the toilets, and the XtraCold Lounge (‘Some Like It Hot’), using the dbx ZonePRO 1260 to route the signal sources accordingly.
In addition to zone control the DSP processor is used for loudspeaker management, system EQ and automatic volume control — optimising the performance of the eight white JBL Control 25AV’s mounted on the Ice Bar ceiling and powered by two Crown XLSD 402 amps. While space precluded the inclusion of a sub in the Ice Bar, the same wasn’t true in the Lounge, where a pair of JBL SB210’s provide low-end reinforcement to the eight white Control 25AV’s (hooked up to three Crown XLSD402 amps).
The whole system is controlled by the ZonePRO 1260 in combination with two ZC8 remote wall panels — one in the Lounge and one in the Ice Bar, confirms Vasco de Almeida, whose company has previously worked with the owners on other projects.
“The ZonePRO was the only practical solution — and it did the job perfectly,” he said. “The flexible routing and possibility of changing just about any parameter were essential in this instance, because some decisions were taken during the installation itself.”
In addition, says Vasco, the five inputs were important because the DVD player and show control computer are connected to the synchronised audio, video and lightshow in the Ice Bar. The Digitenne (delivering digital radio and terrestrial television signals) as well as the standard DVD player are also connected to the ZonePRO 1260, along with further feeds from a crew mixer in the Lounge and a laptop computer.
All of which is aimed at giving the visitor a sense of wellbeing in the classy interior, which was conceived by the famous Dutch designer Jan des Bouvrie. Hot and cold drinks are served — including contemporary cocktails — as well as a full menu. The venue was also chosen by Heineken to launch its new Extra Cold Beer.
27th October 2006
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