Optimal Audio unifies El Santo’s spaces
Optimal Audio unifies El Santo’s spaces
A three-zone audio upgrade at Bangkok’s El Santo has brought the Mexican restaurant and bar’s dining room, terrace and late-night bar under a single control system, while retaining elements of the venue’s existing audio infrastructure.
At the centre of the installation is an Optimal Audio Zone 8P, an eight-zone audio controller with onboard DSP and eight channels of integrated 100W amplification. Rather than replacing the existing amplification, the Zone 8P was added as the system hub, allowing sources to be routed independently and each area to have its own mix, level and EQ.
The controller provides four stereo line inputs, two microphone inputs and two HDMI inputs, while its integrated amplification allows it to drive the bar directly without a separate amplifier.
Day-to-day operation is handled through Optimal Audio’s WebApp, enabling staff to adjust levels and switch sources from a phone or tablet. Programmable presets allow the system to transition between different settings for lunch, evening and late-night operation without manual intervention.
In the all-day dining room, the system uses the venue’s existing loudspeakers to provide consistent background audio while maintaining conversation. Futhermore, the semi-outdoor terrace is independently zoned, allowing its source and level to be controlled separately from the surrounding rooms.
The late night bar features three of the manufacturer’s Cuboid 8 loudspeakers powered directly by the Zone 8P. The compact two-way passive cabinets incorporate an 8-inch driver and rotatable high-frequency horn, providing a 90° dispersion pattern across the space. Additional low-frequency reinforcement for DJ sets is provided by a single Sub 10.
The resulting system allows each of El Santo’s three areas to operate according to its requirements while remaining part of a unified audio infrastructure, from background music during daytime dining through to higher-energy late-night operation.
