THAILAND: Bangkok venue Japanish has installed an Optimal Audio sound system designed to accommodate its transition from restaurant to late-night entertainment space. Operating from 5.30pm until 4am, the venue brings together Japanese and Spanish influences, with distinct audio requirements across its dining areas, terrace, DJ space and ancillary spaces.

Designed and specified by Wasee Karnchawee of Optimal Audio distributor ProPlugin, the installation centres on an Optimal Audio Zone 4 controller. Its four independent zones each have dedicated volume, EQ and source settings, allowing the venue to manage the sound environment according to the activity in each area. The terrace can maintain conversational levels while the DJ area operates at higher volume, without a private party in one section affecting the rest of the venue.

“The brief was really about separation. The client wanted the terrace and the indoor room to feel like different places, and that only works if you can treat them as different systems. Zone 4 lets us do that,” says Karnchawee.

Ease of installation and operation were also key considerations. The system combines Optimal Audio Zone control, ZonePad and the brand’s loudspeakers, avoiding the integration challenges that can arise when combining equipment from different manufacturers.

“We specified Optimal Audio because it’s so simple to install as well as being easy for staff to use. The appeal of the ecosystem is that you are not making products from different manufacturers agree with each other. Zone, ZonePad and the loudspeakers were specified together, so the install was cabling and configuration rather than problem solving,” Karnchawee explains.

For day-to-day operation, Optimal Audio’s WebApp allows staff to adjust volume in any zone using a phone or tablet. A wall-mounted ZonePad 4 provides an alternative, centralising source and level control across all four zones without requiring staff to use a personal device.

Indoors, the loudspeaker system combines Cuboid 8 eight-inch cabinets with Sub 10 ten-inch subwoofers. The configuration provides the output and low-frequency support required for DJ sets while allowing quieter areas to retain their intended atmosphere.

“What the client noticed first was that the audio quality is the same across the venue. You can walk from the terrace to the dancefloor, and the sound character does not change, even though the levels and the sources do,” says Karnchawee.

In the restrooms and a dedicated photo corner, where clear sightlines and an uncluttered appearance are priorities, ceiling speakers sit flush with the surfaces. The approach keeps the audio discreet while maintaining background music in these areas.

As Karnchawee puts it, “You want people to hear the music and never once look up to find where it’s coming from.”

The installation gives Japanish a flexible audio infrastructure that supports its changing operating hours and distinct spaces, with independent zone management and straightforward controls for staff.