United States. Located in the heart of Miami, E11EVEN is a unique and immersive place that lives up to the name "super club". With almost 2,000 square meters dedicated to pure high-level entertainment, the venue is part entertainment area, part lounge, with four bars that provide continuous 24-hour service, which makes E11EVEN a highly sought-after club for both public and private events.
It has featured artists such as Drake, Lil Wayne, P Diddy, Diplo, Zedd, Ludacris, Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, Halsey, Dada Life, Future, Carnage, Dash Berlin, A-Trak and Markus Schulz, among others.
Offering luxury, sophistication and a unique experience, the venue has received numerous awards, including the best new concept, and has been included in nightclubs' list of the 10 best nightclubs in the United States. It's clear that this $40 million landmark, which works seamlessly as a nightclub and after-hours, has been placed on the map as a must-see club.
A large part of E11EVEN's award-winning experience is due to attention to detail when it comes to cutting-edge technology. This was clear from the club's first contact with John Fiorito, specialist in design and facilities for nightlife and hospitality of E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio, who designed the new audio system of the premises.
"In 2016, E11EVEN owner and creator Dennis DeGori was not happy with the previous installation company and I had just been offered the position of East Coast Director at Sound Investment Audio. Michael Meacham, the owner of idesign, has known me since 1992 and informed the owners of E11EVEN that Sound Investment had hired an audio technician he trusted. Michael made the presentation to the E11EVEN partners and they gave me a trial period to strengthen their relationship with Sound Investment Audio," explains John.
"After two years of building a strong and trusting relationship, the owner asked me to improve the sound and I started weighing design and product ideas. For two years as an audio designer, installer and manager of Sound Investment we sold many DAS Audio products. We checked that the speakers had fantastic sound quality, plus the product was readily available and there was excellent support from DAS Audio Spain. So we started talking about a top-notch product for nightclubs that would leave the competition behind in all aspects of sound and price."
Such was the dedication to sound quality on the premises, that the E11EVEN Group and DAS Audio announced a partnership to launch a new brand of sound systems: E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio. The Miami-based corporation and leading Spanish sound manufacturer have reached a strategic agreement to offer a new way of understanding sound and entertainment.
John continues: "Working together with Javier Navarro, head of engineering at DAS Audio, we developed a state-of-the-art product that offers superior sound quality to the competition and at an affordable price. The cost of insurance for a nightclub, the cost of construction, or rent, if the entrepreneur does not own the building, in short, the expenses to open a large nightclub are astronomical... My sales experience confirms that operators always cut back on lighting or sound when it comes to choosing a budget. DAS Audio's new E11EVEN sound offers the highest quality at an affordable price, so when you make a budget for a customer, they don't get a scare. For this reason E11EVEN is a partner of DAS Audio, and idesign is the first authorized designer and installer of the product."
The two companies bring different approaches to a sector where service is as important as product. In recent years, the club scene has evolved generating new needs for owners and technicians. That's why pre-sales, training and technical support are the foundation of E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio's business vision.
"Much progress has been made in the use of video and lighting to generate special effects in nightclubs, but there is still much to be done in the non-visual elements. Our intention is to elevate the audience experience to a sensory feast full of surprises and create memorable experiences," adds Gino LoPinto, operating partner of E11EVEN.
The new brand has been created to bring sound back to the forefront of the sensory experience of nightclubs, and that's something that has been achieved at E11EVEN, as John explains below: "The creator/owner of E11EVEN instructed me to make the sound like that of a studio; clearer voices, cleaner low frequencies and everything that was necessary."
"The design process started by incorporating the demands of the artists, live music and DJ, for E11EVEN. When designing a DJ sound system, we want it to run at 60% of the maximum volume. We take this approach to ensure that there is no distortion, that components wear less, that amplifiers are not overloaded, and that the guest interaction experience is the best."
"The center court, Party PIT, has speakers designed with the precise coverage of the room to ensure good coverage in all areas. All the places where a customer can sit or stand allow to hear all the frequencies: there are no dead spots or lack of intelligibility. All areas of the club - all VIP areas and the Day Club - are designed under the same concept and the appropriate coverage. The system works in stereo with mono subwoofers."
The systems selected for the Party PIT are four ES-112, eight ES-215, four ES-221 and two ES-30A from E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio. In addition, the Day Club uses five ES-10s, the lower VIP area has eight ES-26s, and the meeting area also includes three ES-26s. The restaurant system consists of four Artec-306 systems and two Q10 subwoofers, while the rooftop features eight ES-26s, four Arco-4Ts and four Q10 subwoofers.
"All amplifiers are DAS OEM manufactured by MC² Audio. Bipolar Class A/B for high frequencies and Class D for medium and subwoofers. MC² Audio has a long history as a manufacturer of some of the best sounding amplifiers, so it was the choice," adds John.
"DAS Audio, in collaboration with NST Audio, has developed its own E11EVEN Sound processor, which runs at real 96K for the main Party PIT. We believe this company is leading the future in signal processing. The other areas of E11EVEN are controlled by BSS Audio BLU-160, with multiple BLU BOB2 for additional outputs. The whole system is controlled by an iPad using Logic."
"For the DJ team, it's all Pioneer. We use the DjM900nxs2 DJ mixer, and four Pioneer CDJ3000. For the live show, the tables and microphones depend on the rider and vary depending on the show and the needs of the artist."
Dennis was impressed with John's work at his club: "John practices the art of sound installation. Its genius lies in the ability to install the sound elements in the right configuration to allow the resulting sound to create the space. John has been and continues to be an essential asset helping us achieve our vision at E11EVEN."
According to Gino: "E11EVEN has become a lifestyle brand and that carries with it the responsibility of always looking for the best. Sound quality and production are at the top of our list and that's why we've partnered with DAS Audio to create E11EVEN Sound, the world's best-sounding club system."
"E11EVEN has become a global destination for guests and world-class talent. Great live performances, DJs and 24-hour ultra club shows offer a truly unique experience. Sound, lighting and production are everything to us, which is why we've looked everywhere to find the best sounding nightclub system in the world, and we're very proud to call it E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio."
Although the new audio system has been a great success, it has not been without its difficulties. However, the forced closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the works could be completed in a much more comfortable timeframe.
"The biggest challenge is that E11EVEN is a 24-hour venue and we have limited time to get things done. During COVID-19, while the venue was closed, an incredible renovation was able to take place, which has taken E11EVEN to a whole new level," says John.
Along with the audio system, the lighting and visual elements of E11EVEN were also meticulously planned to offer a truly impactful experience in all areas of the premises. Michael Meacham, owner of idesign, began the creative design process with Dennis DeGori and architect Tom Telesco of Telesco Associates in early summer 2013.
"It was a synergistic process between the three of us. Dennis had some very innovative ideas of what he wanted, Tom and I started from there and together with Dennis we collectively created what is now E11EVEN."
"The lighting works well for this venue as it adapts to the centrally located hydraulic circular stage that allows E11EVEN, as a hybrid of nightclub and cabaret, to feature aerial performances every night, first-class DJs and special shows. All the lighting in the main room has specific aspects and characteristics that allow to obtain energetic and dramatic effects, according to the needs of the premises", adds Michael.
Michael concludes, "E11EVEN is one of our favorite customers and we consider Dennis DeGori and the E11EVEN partners as a family. Dennis always has a clear vision of how to position himself to be the best nightlife destination and offer the best experience to customers."
John also adds to the enthusiasm for the E11EVEN project: "What makes E11EVEN so special and what is so successful is the culture and leadership adopted by the creator and owner, Dennis DeGori. E11EVEN treats its customers as if they were gold, they go above and beyond to ensure the best performances and the best show."
"The positive way the owner/creator and partners treat people is passed on to everyone to enjoy the E11EVEN experience. The staff is amazing, and this is the perfect example that you need to invest to make a profit, and treating customers and your team correctly is the way to grow a company and make projects go well."
Thanks to the most advanced technology, a solid work culture and a successful place, E11EVEN is positioned and consolidated as one of the best nightlife experiences in the world.
