Yamaha Delivers a Refined Sonic Experience at Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza

In November 2021, the Hotel GrandBach brand—known for its unique philosophy of “healing and inspiration through food and music”—expanded its presence with a new property in Tokyo’s prestigious Ginza district. Rooted in a tribute to the serenity and harmony of Johann Sebastian Bach’s compositions, the Ginza hotel elevates this ethos through an immersive audio environment powered by Yamaha’s professional sound solutions. And to bring this vision to life, the establishment turned to Yamaha Professional Audio – a leading brand rooted in music culture and sonic excellence.

The hotel has integrated Yamaha’s VXC Series ceiling speakers, VXL1B-8 slim line array speakers, and VXS10ST subwoofers across its multi-level premises, including public zones and private guest areas. The installation and system tuning were overseen by Takeshi Suzuki, who was with Green Hospitality Management Co., Ltd. at the time and responsible for the technical deployment. Overseeing the broader concept and operational execution was Toshihiro Sato, General Manager and Executive Chef of Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza.

“The name GrandBach embodies our commitment to offering experiences with a deep resonance, much like the beautiful harmony, serenity, sophistication and elegance found in Bach’s music. It also reflects our desire to create a hotel filled with heartfelt hospitality. Just as Bach held a deep reverence for both music and family, we strive to bring joy to each and every guest. We have continuously increased our pursuit of ‘healing and inspiration through food and music’, which includes offering live performances for our guests to enjoy” explains Sato, who continues, “Establishing this concept has enhanced our dedication to sound and music even further. Nearly all the background music played throughout the hotel consists of works by Bach. The atmosphere changes, depending on the time of day and season, with carefully-selected pieces providing guests with a serene environment.”

The system was carefully designed to integrate with the hotel’s architectural aesthetic. In the second-floor reception area, Yamaha’s ultra-slim VXL1B-8 line arrays and VXS10ST subwoofers are concealed within the ceiling and walls, providing a nearly invisible yet immersive soundstage. Sato informs, “The speaker installation plan was nearly finalized during the early stages of the interior design process, so 240designstudio, the company responsible for the interior and logo design, carefully incorporated the shape and characteristics of the speakers into the overall design. This allowed us to install them seamlessly into the ceiling and walls, making them almost invisible. The sound quality of Yamaha speakers exceeded our expectations. The immersive experience of being enveloped in music that seems to come from nowhere is truly exceptional.”

The restaurant on the first floor, Wald Haus, offers guests ‘Wellness Cuisine’—meals crafted for nourishment and comfort. Background music, primarily classical works, is delivered through Yamaha VXC ceiling speakers. “We wanted our guests to fully enjoy its unique menu, while being able to engage in conversations with one another and our hotel staff,” says Sato. “The Yamaha system achieves that balance perfectly.”

Suzuki adds, “The system is very user-friendly. daily operations can be easily managed using the external control panel on the wall”, noting that the presets are configured via the MTX3 matrix processor, which make it easy even for non-technical staff to manage audio levels using the DCP1V4S-US wall-mounted control panel. Furthermore, Suzuki shares that when simultaneous control of both audio and visual equipment is needed for specific situations, the system employs the use of AMX’s touch panel interface.

In the multi-purpose boardroom Wald Tür, also located on the second floor, the Yamaha system provides clear audio projection for conferences, private dining, and culinary demonstrations. “The VXL1B-8 is extremely slim and compact, yet it delivers ample volume and excellent sound quality, making it a perfect fit for the spacious second floor area. Additionally, using the subwoofer alongside it has enhanced the depth of the sound, making Bach’s background music even more pleasant and immersive,” notes Suzuki. “Installing the line array speakers, which provide clear and well-projected sound, was definitely the right choice. Furthermore, we have installed three wall-mounted control panels, ensuring that when the room is divided into two separate spaces, each area can independently adjust volume levels and other audio settings for added convenience.”

Last, but certainly not the least; at the heart of the magnificent hotel lobby sits a Yamaha S6X-ENPRO ENSPIRE PRO Disklavier self-playing grand piano. Performances recorded by emerging artists are synchronised with video footage and played back on Yamaha soundbars installed in every guest room, offering guests a lifelike concert experience in private. Live salon concerts are also hosted in the lobby, streamed in real time throughout the hotel.

By blending live music, thoughtful design, and advanced audio technology from Yamaha, Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza sets a new benchmark for hospitality; as it creates a holistic environment that elevates every guest interaction. As Sato concludes, “With the hotel’s unique Wellness Cuisine complementing the experience, I am sure that many guests with refined tastes in both music and food will want to return time and again.”