A Cozy 36 SQ.M. Condo Space

When it's time for a fresh renovation of a condo space, homeowners usually compromise on their wish list, due to lack of space. But not this client of mine, they have a very long checklist. To help them with the space planning, they engaged the services of renowned Interior Designer Carol Peña of PSID, and Audio Artist Manila, for the home entertainment system.

They remembered that during the pandemic, their space was uninspiring and they wanted to make it quarantine proof. The inspiration is to make it look like a cozy, boutique hotel room.

Both of my clients love watching movies on Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and YouTube content. They also love listening to different music genres, from 80's New Wave to contemporary Electronic Dance Music.  

It needed to check all the boxes:

1) A Dolby Atmos (5.1.2) true surround system.

2) A Wi-Fi based digital streaming system for listening to Spotify and FLAC lossless audio files ripped from their own CD collection. 

3) An analog turntable for playing their vinyl records.

The wife didn't want to compromise on viewing experience so she chose a 65" LG OLED C Series. 

The Film Maker mode setting was selected, for a real cinema experience.

Rear speakers were carefully measured to the sides of the sofa bed. 

Wires were embedded on the floor going to the wall-mounted speakers.

Atmos height-channel speakers were placed above the sofa for a 3-dimensional movie theater-like sound.

Onkyo TX-NR6100 with Dolby Atmos is the engine powering the 5.1.2 speakers. It is THX certified, and 8K HDMI 2.1 equipped. Wi-Fi and Ethernet ready for wireless streaming.

Working with an interior designer means that we have to select speakers that will blend with the design aesthetic. We chose the Focal Dome with satellite speakers that are made in France.

The subwoofer is your non-conventional square shaped cabinet. Sleek looking with a glossy piano finish. Let's get ready to rumble!

Dolby Atmos height channel speakers and same Focal brand speakers for timbre matched sound.

Not your average ceiling-mounted speakers. The complex crossover parts really make the sound fill-up the room.

The rear speakers were mounted on a concrete wall. 

Careful planning went thru the tube and wiring underneath.

The award-winning Rega P1 Plus with built-in phono stage was chosen for its simple but elegant design. Playing Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" produced a signature warm analog sound.

When you embed HDMI cables on the wall, you want to make it future-proof.  We used Audioquest, ultra high speed certified HDMI cables that is 8K ready. Look for the QR code that can only be scanned by the HDMI cable certification app to ensure it's authenticity. Yes, not all HDMI Cables are certified.

A nice galley kitchen layout with a full electric induction cook range with oven. "Make your own Margherita pizzas".

The husband wants a small wireless streaming speaker while cooking some Italian dishes. We chose the Ikea x Sonos Symfonisk Wi-Fi Speaker.

A compact 4-seater dining table that is extendable to a 6-seater when needed.

A bedroom that makes you feel relaxed with a nice muted colorway. 

The built-in light is great for reading the Bible during their quiet time.

The wife told me laughingly, that sometimes she misses their condo whenever they check-in to a hotel during vacations. Their home really gives true meaning to a nice staycation.

Mary Help of Christians Chapel - Don Bosco Mandaluyong

I can still remember two years ago when my friends from high school and college called me as they organized a reunion at the University of the Philippines alumni homecoming.  It is held annualy every month of December.

It was also at that time when I got a call from Don Bosco Mandaluyong Rector - Fr. Chito Dimaranan that they were considering to upgrade the public address system at Mary Help of Christians Chapel.

The old public address system was a Ramsa® analog mixer/amplifier and compact loudspeakers mixed with different brands of subpar microphones installed in the early 90s.  It has served them well, and it's time to retire them.  

The goal was to design a new high quality sound system that has high sound intelligibility, simple to use, and reliable enough to take on a daily beating.

When I first saw the building from afar, I knew that there is some history behind these walls - until this sign confirmed it.  This was a historic place in setting the "Philippines 1896 revolt" against 300 years of colonial control from Spain.

The Bose DXA 2120 Mixer Amplifier was the heart of the system.  It includes digital signal processing presets engineered specifically for Bose speakers.  One of the most important features why we use this specific component is that after careful setup and tuning, we can lock the settings to prevent people who love to tinker that often result in a bad sounding system.

We also used Panasonic® EMT to provide cabling protection to the audio cabinet.  It is a building standard that is guaranteed to last for years.

A chapel is truly one of the most challenging spaces for good acoustics due to hard surfaces that reflect sound everywhere.  

The Quiklok® brand were chosen as mic stands that were placed at two lecterns.  It has solid construction and weight.

A Bose DS40 SE was installed based on its foreground, background music and speech reproduction capabilities.  It is compact in design with a sound dispersion of 125° degrees, and it is just right for a narrow chapel while still providing great sound coverage on the farthest side of the benches.

I remember when we took out the old Ramsa® speakers, the previous contractor just used concrete nails to hold the speaker brackets on the arch wall.  The old Ramsa® speaker brackets also can't be tilted downwards at an angle, causing sound to project only at the back rows of the congregation.

We installed three units of Shure® SM58 microphones.  Legendary mics used by pop idols, rockstars, and even Presidents.  It has a cardioid pattern that can resist background noises and potential feedback.  In 2016, Shure released a 50th anniversary SM58 microphone.  Enough said.

At the back of the red lantern is also a Bose DS40 SE used as a monitor so preachers can also hear their speech and adjust accordingly.  The old system doesn't have a monitor speaker.

This chapel can accompany 80 people comfortably.  They hold 3 masses here daily. 

We also made custom mic panels that are easy to access for three wired microphones.  No more expensive batteries for daily operations.  Neutrik® interconnects were used through the installation.

They play an old Yamaha keyboard which they also intend to replace.  But after I learned that they just use the internal loudspeakers of the keyboard, I suggested that we can hook it up the new sound system for an even sound throughout the chapel.  

I used a dbx passive direct box to connect it to the amplifier, and when they heard it, they were blown away by the old Yamaha keyboard's potential.  No need to buy a new one.

Going back to the University of the Philippines alumni homecoming, I wasn't able to attend the reunion together with my friends, since I have a commitment to finish the new sound system in time for Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo (Dawn masses) which starts on December 16.

It is one of the most distinctive Christmas tradition for Catholics in the Philippines.  Glad that we finished our commitment on time.  First things first!

With the gracious admin staff of Fr. Chito Dimaranan.

Upon turnover of the system, Fr. Chito Dimaranan said "I'm very satisfied with the sound system upgrade, my voice sounds more natural, the congregation can hear the mass more clearly without ear fatigue". 

You know Audio Artist Manila have put together a high quality audio system when after 2 years of rugged use (3 masses daily), until now they haven't called in for any adjustment or repair.

8 Wack Wack Condominium

My client called me and happily shared with me that he's got a brand new turntable as a birthday gift from his then 19-year old model girlfriend.  He wanted me to help build his analog Hi-Fi system.  I must confess, at first, I thought he got a beginners turntable, something flimsy, with no easily available parts.  A brand that's targeted for the very young generation (mostly pre-teens to early teens) to help them get started into spinning records.  

But when I asked the model of his new turntable, I was astonished - it was an ONKYO CP-1050 Direct Drive Turntable.  An audiophile quality turntable from ONKYO.  How can a millennial from the digital age be spot-on when choosing an analog turntable as a gift?  Maybe, I was too quick to judge, and I learned my lesson well.

ONKYO CP-1050 Direct Drive Turntable

High quality S-shaped Tonearm with cartridge included.  Detachable headshell compatible with aftermarket cartridges.

Good looks, Great build!

So I quickly designed a system revolving around the new turntable without breaking the bank.  What better way than to partner it with an integrated amplifier with the same brand from ONKYO.  

ONKYO A-9030 Integrated Amplifier with built-in moving magnet Phono stage, just plug and play.

We didn't scrimp on great sounding bookshelf speakers.  The obvious choice is the award-winning Bowers & Wilkins 685 S2 speakers.

B&W 685 S2

Double dome aluminium tweeter for natural spacious treble.

Kevlar fiber cone midbass driver.

After setting-up and some fine tuning.  I placed David Benoit's, Every Step of The Way album, and played "The Key To You".  My client's mother sang to the tune with glee.  "I'm used to the true authentic sound of vinyl records which I grew up listening to", she said.

With the revival of vinyl records nowadays, her family can now recollect their lost favorite albums in vinyl format.  And the last time I heard from my client, he now has a vinyl album of Bruno Mars and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), which he enjoys listening with his model girlfriend.

Thank you for trusting Audio Artist Manila!