Described as having a “retro-chic French touch,” with a “calculated racy edge,” Josephine’s is Washington DC’s newest and most exclusive hot spot in a city reputed for its burgeoning nightlife. The club opened to rave reviews in April 2008, not just thanks to the sumptuous decor based on 19th century French opulence, but also to the superlative quality Lab.gruppen-driven EAW sound system designed and installed by the BAHA Design Group.
BAHA Design’s Alex Haje explained that the design process for Josephine faced a number of challenges: “The main issue was overcoming the limitations imposed by the height restrictions and the many structural supporting columns and beams in the space. My partner, Mood Bacho, was integral to the project’s success with his background in installation, construction, and nightlife venues. He brings years of experience to the table working at clubs and lounges; which contributes greatly during the design and installation phases,” noted Haje. “We knew going into the project that the owners, David Karim and Alain Kalantar, wanted a sound system that would provide high SPL and clarity throughout the frequency spectrum. We chose the EAW Avalon Series for its space-saving design and superior sound production for club systems. We then needed an amplifier capable of matching and reproducing that quality, so we selected Lab.gruppen.”
“The Lab.gruppen brand has proved itself beyond doubt in both the touring and the installation market and truly developed a formidable reputation in a short period of time,” continued Haje. “That is a testament to the quality, reliability and sonic image produced by these amplifiers. We specifically chose the fP 6400 and fP 3400 from Lab.gruppen’s renowned fP Series because of the Class TD® architecture and the flexibility offered by their Matching Load System (MLS™) feature.”
The system features a total of twelve EAW Avalon loudspeakers supplemented by six further EAW subwoofers driven by two Lab.gruppen fP 6400 and five fP 3400 power amplifiers with processing from Dolby Lake. Lab.gruppen’s Matching Load System allows the user control over power transfer into individual speaker loads, thereby guaranteeing performance and reliability whatever the impedance.
Indeed, even the Washington Post made reference to the sound quality in its opening review, describing the sound system as “amongst the best in the city, with crisp highs and deep bass no matter where you stand.” Alex Haje observed that it is most unusual for the sound system to be mentioned at all in a non-audio review; “They’ll talk about the music, the decor and the price of drinks, but it’s rare that the sound system itself gets mention, so we take that as a double compliment!”