Milan boasts a rich history celebrating art, design and innovation, so it’s no surprise that entertainment and a nightlife are an important aspect of everyday life. In venues that bring people together, high-quality sound plays a crucial role in crafting the experience. K-array, renowned for its exceptional high-quality and innovative sound solutions, has become a brand of choice for integrators looking to solve audio challenges in venues across the metropolis. With an unbeatable combination of technical expertise and Italian heritage, the products have effortlessly enhanced a variety of architecturally challenging spaces, from restaurants and bars to Samsung’s new Smart Arena.
When it comes to dining, music plays an important role in influencing the mood and overall enjoyment of the meal. The bustling and often loud Mercato Centrale required a premium background audio system to elevate guest experiences without dominating the atmosphere. Located at Milan’s Central Station, the buzzing ‘street food’ style space features various food corners offering diners the opportunity to explore a variety of cuisines. Integrators installed 20 K-array Kobra-KK52 passive loudspeakers, paired with ultra-thin, high-performance Rumble-KU210 passive subwoofers. A selection of Vyper-KV52 units, with Rumble-KU26 subwoofers for low end, were also used.
Mercato Centrale’s multiple seating areas and food stalls presented a complex audio challenge, however Kobra’s Pure Array Technology (PAT) was able to deliver natural sound and a perfect phase response, emitting audio uniformly in the unique space. Its narrow vertical coverage also helped to minimise sound spill towards the ceiling and floor, increasing intelligibility and lessening distracting reverberation. The Kobra-KK52’s FLOOD coverage option delivers the wider exposure necessary for such a large space without affecting sound quality, whilst the ultra-thin Vyper-KV52 passive loudspeakers provide low distortion and focused coverage. The sleek, compact form of both the Kobra and Vyper loudspeakers allows them to blend flawlessly into the already visually busy space.
K-array loudspeakers are also dish of the day at Otivm, a fine dining restaurant and cocktail bar bringing high-end entertainment to the city. The venue is renowned for its dinner shows featuring live music performances and dancing. At midnight, the space transforms into a nightclub, requiring a high-performance audio system that can adapt to this changing atmosphere. To meet these multifarious requirements, a versatile system comprised of four Dragon-KX12 loudspeakers and two Thunder-KMT218 I subwoofers was chosen.
The Dragon-KX12 is a traditional coaxial 12” loudspeaker offering powerful point source audio. Delivering a peak SPL of 132dB and a frequency range of 120Hz to 19kHz, it’s ideal for Otivm’s diverse audio needs, providing high intelligibility for live performances as well as crisp, powerful sound during club nights. The loudspeakers’ elegant steel exterior and discreet size allow them to deliver quality audio without intruding on the venue’s sleek, luxury décor.
Located in the trendy NoLo neighborhood of Milan, Ghe Pensi Mi entices patrons with its fun mix of craft beers, stand-up comedy and DJ sets. After many years of less than perfect sound, the venue wanted to raise the audio quality whilst minimising noise pollution for nearby residents. As experts in advanced directivity control technologies, K-array products proved to be the perfect solution.
Four Kobra-KK52 passive line arrays were installed at intervals along the side walls to ensure even and directional coverage. The bar’s irregular dimensions and hard surfaces pose significant challenge, causing reverberations that only add to the already noisy environment. Kobra’s Pure Array Technology ensure crystal-clear phase coherence and sound projection, so that live music, DJ sets and spoken word can be heard clearly, even when the bar is busy.
The most technically challenging aspect of the project was installing two Thunder-KS1P subwoofers in cardioid configuration, directing bass frequency more effectively to the front whilst reducing it in the rear, therefore minimising dispersion towards the outside of the building and reducing impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. One powerful and efficient Kommander-KA104 amplifier with integrated DSP finished off the system configuration, its compact nature ideal for venues with limited space.
“You can hear the difference. People who come here for the sound really notice it, even international guests,” comments Ghe Pensi Mi founder, Matteo Russo. “Many have complimented us on the audio: it’s not just powerful, it’s also incredibly pleasant. It doesn’t tire you out.”
Turning its expertise to a corporate setting, K-array recently enjoyed a successful technology partnership with Samsung at the new Samsung Smart Arena. This multipurpose arena was built as part of a wider urban redevelopment project, providing a multifunctional, business-centric space for corporate events and business meetings. Its round room uses innovative architecture and sound-absorbing materials to create a unique acoustic atmosphere, optimal for speech and audio playback.
To further elevate intelligibility, four K-array Python-KP-102 I loudspeakers and two Rumble-KU315 subwoofers were installed. The Python-KP102 effortlessly reproduces the entire vocal frequency range with exceptional clarity; ideal for speech reinforcement and multimedia presentations. Rumble-KU315 subwoofers are the most powerful subwoofer in the Rumble series, so it had no problem in delivering excellent coverage to this refined, high-performance setting.
The Samsung Smart Arena boasts impressive green credentials, designed to be a sustainable and climate-resilient venue. K-array’s durable products made from easily recyclable materials, help to support the project’s vision of a more circular and sustainable technology lifecycle.
Across Milan, K-array has been making waves with its audio solutions, helping hospitality and cultural venues bring people together and enhance everyday pleasures with high-quality audio.
“As an Italian manufacturer, it’s always exciting to be involved in projects locally and see different spaces come to life with our solutions.” K-array Brand Manager Lorenzo De Poi explains. “The versatility of the K-array ecosystem means our products can be found in a rich variety of environments, from restaurants and bars to corporate settings. We're thrilled that our solutions are being trusted to deliver results throughout a diverse mix of environments in Milan.”