As well as being the largest motor racing team in Japan, ARTA is also a recognisable brand with a range of high quality, luxury products to its name including custom cars, watches, and apparel. The new ARTA Mechanics & Inspirations is a converted warehouse in the Shinkiba area of Tokyo that serves as a hub where visitors can immerse themselves in the complete ARTA brand experience. The installation of Genelec’s 4000 Series loudspeakers throughout the space elevates that experience, and underscores ARTA’s commitment to promoting its high values.
According to ARTA’s Naoto Oyama, the industrial feel of the warehouse environment offset against luxury products was the ideal setting to represent the raw but cool image of motorsports. The Genelec loudspeaker system plays a significant role in creating that ambience. “As the name suggests, we are here to inspire our customers, and the atmosphere of the space plays a crucial role in that,” says Oyama. “We consider sound as one of the most important tools for creating atmosphere, so a high-quality audio system was very important for us. Genelec fulfilled all our criteria, namely premium quality audio, elegant design, ease of installation and ease of use.”
The venue deploys six compact 4020 loudspeakers discreetly distributed throughout the space. Staff can choose from a variety of specially curated playlists to match the mood of the day or the particular event. Genelec’s 4000 Series models are equipped with an ISS power-saving function that automatically detects the absence of an audio signal – putting the loudspeaker into ‘sleep mode’ accordingly – making them extremely easy to operate and more economic to run. Installation was also very straightforward thanks to Genelec’s active design, which means no bulky external amplifiers to house and no extra cabling.
Oyama is very pleased with the results. “What I especially notice when playing background music is that you can hear the sound perfectly no matter where you are in the store – coverage is perfectly consistent throughout. Furthermore, it never interferes with communication in the store, such as conversations with customers, which is crucial in creating a comfortable space. The audio remains clear, detailed and perfectly audible, but it never impinges on conversation. This may seem like an obvious point, but I think it’s amazing!”
Oyama is also a fan of Genelec’s elegant Nordic design and compact dimensions. “The design matches really well with the industrial feel of the store – and I like the fact that the loudspeakers are made of recycled aluminium, that feels like a really good fit for us in motorsports. I’m also impressed with the sound we achieve from such compact boxes – collectively they fill the space with sound and perfectly reproduce the atmosphere of the racetrack.”
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