Ultra powers Downtown

Live music has become a staple of the retail experience in many Indonesian malls, with scheduled acoustic sets, weekend events and resident performers becoming regular fixtures, with relaxed evening performances being held in open-air atriums, food courts and lifestyle lounges. Having specified a Meyer Sound self-powered system for the Downtown Walk outdoor stage in their Summarecon Mall Bekasi (SMB 1) development in 2013, the Nagaria family reviewed their options in advance of Summarecon Mall Bekasi Phase 2 (SMB 2) in February 2026.

Reflecting the musical passion of co-owner and director Soegianto Nagaria, the original Meyer Sound loudspeaker system continues to faithfully address packed crowds each evening. Comprising eight UPQ single 15-inch enclosures and four 700-HP ultra-high-power subwoofers, the covered stage of the outdoor Downtown Walk attraction has been entertaining patrons and visitors almost every night for the past 13 years. The self-powered theme extends to the wedge monitors with the deployment of up to eight trusted RCF ART 425 active speakers. To cater for the bigger weekend crowds, Meyer Sound distributor PT Promedia Sejahtera Raya (PSR) was recently commissioned to readjust eight UPJ speakers as delays.

As live entertainment continues to play an increasingly important role in attracting visitors and extending dwell times within Indonesian retail destinations, Summarecon Mall’s investment in a second Downtown Walk stage demonstrates a commitment to both performance quality and long-term reliability. By combining proven Meyer Sound durability with a modern networked audio infrastructure, the mall has created a scalable platform capable of supporting nightly performances and larger weekend events alike, ensuring that live music remains a defining feature of the visitor experience for years to come.

Continuing to operate without problems in an outdoor environment characterised by high heat, extreme humidity and rainfall, the original setup is an advertisement for the reliability of Meyer Sound’s self-powered philosophy. The impressive credentials at the SMB 1 Downtown Walk stage yielded a favourable ROI. Although the management wanted to extend the UPQ and 700-HP speaker combination to the new stage located at SMB 2, the discontinuation of the subwoofer demanded a closer inspection of the latest Meyer Sound technology.

Following a proposal and demonstration by PSR, an Ultra-X80 point source speaker and 2100-LFC subwoofer pairing was specified for the new stage. Designed to provide the power, clarity and performance of multiple line array loudspeakers in a single box, the Ultra-X80 enclosure can deliver a total linear peak output of 141dB SPL. Coupling two 12-inch neodymium-magnet cone drivers to a rotatable 95° x 40° waveguide married to a 4-inch high-frequency compression driver, the concentric-driver design also incorporates Class-D amplifier technology.

Suspended on hoists on either side of the SMB 2 stage, dual Meyer Sound Ultra-X80 enclosures provide the long-throw dispersion required. Comprising a 21-inch driver with four voice coils, the 2100-LFC subwoofer produces a linear acoustic output and low-frequency extension down to 30Hz. Two pairs of 2100-LFC subwoofers are ground-stacked in cardioid mode for the SMB 2 stage, with two further subwoofers complementing the existing RCF TTS 18-A 18-inch models at SMB 1. An additional pair of Meyer Sound Ultra-X40 cabinets have also been supplied for portable setups or as fills when required.

An Milan AVB audio network has been established via Cat6e connection between the Meyer Sound Galileo Galaxy 408 audio processor loaded with presets and the loudspeaker outputs. Taking advantage of the Nebra integrated software platform, the Ultra-X80 incorporates both analogue and Milan connectivity. “This has been made possible with the addition of two rackmounted Luminex GigaCore 30i switches,” confirms PSR managing director Yosua Heriyanto. “The AVB digital audio signal path is simpler and, despite the conversion, the audio resolution is excellent, and the signal is clearer and much softer.”

Connected to racked Waves Ioniq 24 I/O units, digital audio mixing is now conducted from the control surfaces of compact Waves eMotion LV1 Classic live mixing consoles on both stages. Deemed sufficient for the current setup, each stage is equipped with two Ioniq 24 stageboxes that can handle up to 48 inputs. With built-in audio processing and inherent plugins, many engineers in Indonesia appear to be very familiar with Waves.

“The LV1 Classic mixer is best-in-class on many levels but, for SMB 1 and SMB 2, there is no competition,” explains Heriyanto. “Different bands and engineers operate the console every night, with the majority already familiar with Waves plugin technology. Their settings can be installed and they can insert their desired audio mixes. It’s truly intuitive, as the snapshots and presets can be easily changed to maximise the plugin effects. When touring, live sound engineers can load their preset files into the console, and they are generally very familiar with the plugins. It’s easy to use and provides a quick tool for sound checking and for turnaround between the acts.”

The addition of four SurgeX SEQ-1216i power sequencers provides ample protection against electrical surges. “The electricity in Indonesia is unstable, and the power input can vary, sometimes creating harmful spikes,” says Summarecon Mall sound engineer Rio Supriyanto. “The inclusion of the SurgeX SEQ-1612i power conditioners has regulated the electrical input.”

Previously existing Shure ULX-D and SLX-D wireless systems continue to serve the nightly requirements of all the artists and performers on both stages. Artists preferring an IEM solution to wedges can adopt the Shure PSM 300 IEMs that are available. Frequency congestion within the mall has not marred any performances to date, with the wireless Beta handheld transmitters working flawlessly. “With Wireless Workbench software downloaded on an iPad, I can detect interference, battery and signal strength of all the transmitters and receivers on both stages,” asserts Supriyanto. “Likewise, the LV1 consoles can also be monitored and controlled over Wi-Fi using the Waves MyFOH remote control software installed as an app on the same wireless iPad.”

The harsh acoustic environment of the Downtown Walk is mitigated at weekends when crowds become effective sound absorbers. “The tenant retailers do not complain about the SPLs as most of them enjoy the music and the crowd it brings to this area,” confirms Supriyanto, who has become a self-confessed fan of the Californian loudspeaker developer. “Having endured for 13 years to date without problems, the proven weatherproof characteristics of the Meyer UPQs bring as much peace of mind as the company’s current eight-year warranty does. Meyer Sound has provided the Downtown Walk with proven quality, high SPLs, intelligibility and clarity that sets this mall apart from others.”