CHINA: Optimal Audio has delivered a carefully tailored loudspeaker installation at the Shanghai Metropolitan VIP Lounge, where Cuboid series loudspeakers have been deployed to complement the venue’s heritage-inspired aesthetic while meeting the acoustic expectations of a style-conscious clientele deeply connected to Shanghai’s historic ballroom culture.

The installation was designed around a demanding performance brief that prioritised musical clarity, controlled low-frequency response and consistent coverage throughout the venue, while also maintaining an environment where conversation could flow naturally without excessive volume levels. Particular attention was given to preserving warmth and definition across ballroom standards and dance music, while avoiding overpowering bass or uneven coverage beneath the venue’s acoustically challenging octagonal dome.

To achieve this, the venue deployed a combination of Optimal Audio Cuboid 10 and Cuboid 12 loudspeakers across different areas of the space.

Within the lounge and booth seating areas, Cuboid 10 loudspeakers provide detailed mid-range reproduction designed to sit comfortably beneath conversational levels while maintaining musical clarity and warmth. The system’s user-rotatable HF horn and 90-degree horizontal dispersion characteristics were also utilised to maintain even coverage throughout the seating environment.

Across the dancefloor, Cuboid 12 enclosures were selected to deliver deeper low-frequency performance while maintaining tight rhythmic definition. Featuring 12-inch drivers capable of extending down to 62Hz, the system reportedly provides sufficient headroom to sustain consistent performance during extended operating hours without audible strain or distortion.

Beyond sonic performance, the Cuboid series’ trapezoidal wooden cabinet design also allowed the loudspeakers to integrate discreetly within the venue’s classic interior design language, which features crystal chandeliers and traditional Shanghainese woodwork. Flexible mounting options and rotatable HF horn configurations further enabled precise coverage control across the venue.

A significant acoustic challenge reportedly came from the lounge’s prominent ceiling dome, which introduced complex reverberation characteristics into the space. According to Optimal Audio, the passive two-way design of the Cuboid enclosures helped manage these reflections effectively, resulting in a controlled and balanced listening environment capable of supporting long-duration operation while maintaining intelligibility and tonal consistency.