Located just half a kilometre from Melbourne’s Sandridge Beach, PM Port Melbourne is a luxury apartment building with sweeping views of Port Phillip Bay and the CBD. Recently opening its doors at the very top of PM Port Melbourne sits Sol & Luna, a rooftop bar and restaurant featuring a 360-degree view across Melbourne and beyond.
The venue is split into two separate zones; Sol being the outdoor bar area and Luna being the restaurant area. When management decided to add loudspeaker coverage in Sol, local installer RKP Engineering was approached to install suitable weatherproof systems. MX801 high-fidelity loudspeakers from Quest Engineering were chosen, as they offered an ideal balance of design characteristics for the space: high performance audio combined with all-weather protection, at a compatible price point.
Robert Pejovski, managing director of RKP, says he chose the MX801s primarily for their build quality and sonic characteristics-
“The sound quality is top notch; there isn’t anything else like them for this kind of budget- they really excel at cost-effective venue audio and I really like that they’re an Australian brand. They’re solid and so they’re often my go-to system for jobs like this.”
The MX801 is a two-way, full range speaker system capable of delivering a very high SPL for its size, thanks to a custom designed 8” LF driver. Both the MX801 and its smaller variant, the MX601, include an installation-friendly “aim and clamp” mounting bracket system, which features a high strength, tool-less locking mechanism. Combined with a refined appearance that helps blend the loudspeaker into any environment, Quest’s MX series has become a favourite of installers seeking to balance performance, cost, and ease of installation.
Supplied to RPK Engineering via Radio Parts- West Melbourne’s premium electronics wholesaler- the MX801’s Australian-designed aesthetics are on full display within Sol. Sitting neatly under the vertices of Sol’s sunroof, the MX801’s optional white finish helps it harmonize with the venue architecture.
“Sol originally featured 6” loudspeakers from another brand, but due to the outdoor location, the audio output wasn’t really cutting it; so we moved onto to the MX801. As it turns out, after installing the white MX801’s, we found that in Luna, the restaurant section, there were already black MX601s installed! So it turned out to be a match made in heaven, integrating well with their Sun and Moon theme.”
Especially well-suited to those spaces exposed to the elements, the MX801 features a sealed enclosure design and additional weather resistance connector covers (IPMX1), ensuring complete outdoor protection and enabling the loudspeaker system to be rated up to IP67. RKP Engineering chose to add the optional IPMX1 due to the system’s roof location and close proximity to the venue’s infinity pool.
“As a musician with an interest in audio technology, I have a good understanding of what makes a venue sound good and how to tune one,” explains Robert. “The MX801s never disappoint in this regard and to top it all off they’re aesthetically pleasing. I have some peers that also swear by them; they’re a bit of an installer’s secret.”
