INDIA: In the heart of Mumbai’s Lower Parel district, a 150-year-old cotton mill comes back to life as Permit & Co. – a high-energy bar that pays homage to India’s prohibition-era speakeasies. Within this industrial-chic setting, AudioTechnik India was tasked with an intricate challenge — to engineer a sound system that energises a packed night scene while preserving the intimacy and clarity needed for conversation.

The venue’s heritage architecture presented formidable acoustic hurdles — soaring ceilings, reflective surfaces, and the preservation of original Burmese teak meant that no traditional acoustic treatment could be applied. Despite these constraints, AudioTechnik India meticulously designed and commissioned an aesthetically appeasing distributed audio system, using a bouquet of high-performance products from Optimal Audio, HH Audio, and LEA Professional that ensures even coverage, precise intelligibility, and a warm, balanced tonality across every zone.

At the core of the system are Optimal Audio Cuboid 15 and 12 passive speakers, strategically positioned to direct sound onto the floor while reducing reflections. According to the team, the Cuboid series speakers’ tight dispersion and rotatable horn enabled precise projection onto the floor, thereby resulting in minimal energy directed toward reflective surfaces and a vastly improved direct field coverage in the listening area.

Impactful low-end reinforcement comes from an HH Audio TNA-2800SA active subwoofer, while HH Audio TRE-1001 active monitors provide crystal-clear feedback for DJs and live performers. System control is centralised through an HH Audio SP26 2-in/6-out DSP and an HH Electronics Q16FX 16-channel analogue mixer for flexible live operation; while a LEA Professional CS1504 smart amplifier manages presets that shape the sonic character and simplify the signal chain.

“The goal was to achieve high energy without losing clarity,” said a spokesperson from AudioTechnik India. “Every element—from dispersion control to preset tuning—was carefully designed to respect the space’s natural acoustics while delivering a truly immersive experience.”

The result is a sound environment that feels as refined as it is dynamic—a sonic tapestry that elevates both the music and the conversation; as Prashant Govindan, Director of Generation AV India (the official representatives of Optimal Audio, LEA Professional and HH Audio in the country), concludes, “When sound design, aesthetics and performance all come together seamlessly, the results are mesmerizing! Permit & Co. now stands as a striking example of how precision audio engineering can harmonise with architectural heritage to create a venue that’s both acoustically and aesthetically exceptional. A big thank you to the AudioTechnik India team for making this happen and for making this one of our favorite hangouts in Mumbai!”