MANCHESTER, U.K. — Dry Live, a multi-use venue within the recently refurbished Dry Bar here, features a sound system designed by Jack Jennings of local audio specialists Masons. The Dry Bar, a landmark of the city’s Northern Quarter since 1989, recently underwent an interior upgrade in the bar and its newly refurbished basement music venue Dry Live. Tasked with equipping Dry Live, a Martin Audio Blackline H3H+ horn-loaded solution was selected.
The venue operators had stipulated that they wanted the audience to be able to get as close to the front of the stage as possible, while still having the desired system — “one that can offer all the punch and growl that you’d ever need”—a sound suited for both band and club events. Unfortunately, faced with ceiling height restrictions, the drop-height excluded the use of arrays or standard ‘portrait’ profile speakers.
“The system needed to have no permanent footprint on the floor and be flown as high as possible, out of the way when not in use,” Jennings explained. “The Martin Audio H3H+ full-range 3-way speaker fit the bill perfectly,” he said. “Its horizontal format, high power handling, high output levels and 70° x 40° dispersion characteristics all leant themselves to this install.”
Jennings specified four H3H+ enclosures lined up across the front of the stage area. Sub-bass is provided by four Martin Audio WS218X double-18 direct-radiating subs, two each on either side of the stage, fitted with castors so they can be easily removed when required and wheeled into a storage area.
The entire system is powered from just a 4U rack — containing a dedicated Martin Audio DX1.5 2×6 digital controller and three Martin Audio MA switchmode amplifiers.
“This elegant set-up provides huge amounts of power and reliability and allows the venue to operate the system without fear of any technical issues,” concluded Jennings.
