JAPAN: For more than three decades, Spotify O-WEST in Shibuya has been a proving ground where emerging artists sharpen their edge before stepping onto bigger stages. Now, with a new L-Acoustics K Series professional sound system installed in June 2025, the 600-capacity venue in Tokyo’s Maruyamacho district has re-engineered its sonic identity for the next generation of talent. Set in a neighbourhood that has defined youth culture since the seventies, O-WEST has long hosted everything from pop idols and jazz innovators to rock and rap acts, but its ageing point source system had begun to limit both coverage and long-term reliability in a space that runs live shows seven days a week.

Sound engineer Yuki Tanaka of Sonic Corporation, who oversees live sound at the venue, had been increasingly concerned about equipment that was becoming difficult to maintain and could no longer deliver consistent sound to every corner of the room. “I’ve worked as a venue operator and sound engineer both in Japan and overseas, so I know L-Acoustics signature sound,” explains Tanaka. “It has pristine audio quality and expressive power. When I see L-Acoustics on touring riders from international acts, I know it’s the real deal. I was confident this was the right choice for O-WEST.” The brief was clear: a system capable of handling the venue’s wildly diverse programming while future-proofing performance for international touring requirements.

L-Acoustics Certified Provider Bestec Audio designed a main left-right configuration built around four K2 enclosures stacked atop two KS28 subwoofers on each side of the stage, with in-fill provided by a pair of A10 Wide speakers. To serve audiences seated on the second-floor mezzanine, arrays of two A15 Focus boxes were rigged to the ceiling above each stack. The entire system is driven by six LA12X amplified controllers. Installation was carried out by Nagoya-based system integrators A&V Corporation, with the K2 enclosures—typically flown in a line array—ground-stacked using custom-made hardware to suit the venue’s physical constraints. Precise angling ensured that engineers working from the operations room at the rear of the main floor experience sound quality comparable to that on the audience floor.

Although Tanaka’s initial specification had listed L-Acoustics K3, the final decision favoured K2, selected for its maximum SPL of 147dB and low-frequency extension down to 35Hz, providing crucial headroom for everything from intimate acoustic performances to high-energy electronic shows. The entire installation was completed in just four days, a tight window carved out of a calendar that is occupied almost year-round.

The impact has been immediate. “The sound can be heard more clearly than before. It’s several times better,” says Tanaka, noting in particular the response to the A15 Focus systems covering the second-floor seating, where daily feedback highlights how dramatically sound quality has improved. “We record the operators’ impressions every day, and the overwhelming majority say that it’s improved compared to before.” The addition of KS28 subwoofers has extended the venue’s low-frequency response from around 80Hz to significantly deeper, opening the room to bass-heavy genres and the technical expectations of international touring acts.

With the L-Acoustics K Series now fully operational, Spotify O-WEST is positioned to continue its role as a launchpad for artists while embracing the evolving demands of modern live production. “I was involved from planning through to post-installation operations, and I was confident the results would be good—and they were,” reflects Tanaka. “When I heard positive feedback from visiting operators, I knew we made the right decision. I operate the system daily and I’m extremely satisfied.” As O-WEST looks ahead, the upgrade ensures that a venue synonymous with musical expression across generations can now deliver the clarity, power and consistency required to support whatever sound Shibuya’s creative future demands.