Music is an important part of the owners’ and guests’ relaxation and entertainment experience on yachts. Having a DJ aboard takes it to an entirely new level. Better yet is hiring an audio specialist with premium performance-venue experience design and install a discreet, flexible setup. A newly installed superyacht audio system lets a DJ bring concert-quality sound to nearly any exterior area aboard a particular 177-foot (54-meter) yacht. Music can play on one deck or connect multiple social spaces, from the sundeck to the beach club.
The owner of the confidential superyacht, which Delta Marine built, wanted more than separate speakers providing background music throughout the decks. He wanted guests to remain connected to the experience—and to one another—regardless of where they gathered. A total of 16 guests can stay aboard and enjoy the sundeck, main deck, and beach club. Montana Pro Audio therefore created a system capable of delivering concert-quality sound throughout the yacht’s alfresco entertaining areas. It uses equipment from L-Acoustics, whose systems power concert venues, theaters, and major live performances.
Notably, the project marks the second collaboration between the owner and Montana Pro Audio. The company previously installed a superyacht audio system aboard the owner’s 114-footer (35-meter). When the owner acquired the 177-footer, the brief expanded accordingly. “The goal was to outfit the vessel with discreet, professional-level products that provide a nightclub-level audio experience throughout the boat,” says Aaron Fisher, director of business development for Montana Pro Audio.
The recently completed first phase covers the megayacht’s three primary exterior decks. Speakers and subwoofers integrate into the sundeck, owner’s deck, and main deck, all as visually unobtrusive as possible. One of the more unusual installations, meanwhile, is in the watertoy garage/beach club. Speakers mount beneath the overhead garage door. When the door rises, they move into position above the beach area, providing music for guests swimming, using watertoys, or relaxing.
Additionally, the superyacht audio system includes a separate flexible DJ setup. Connection points throughout the decks and garage let the DJ start playing wherever the gathering takes place. The crew further can switch the music to flow throughout the yacht. This flexibility was important to the owner, accommodating everything from a handful of people at the beach club to a big party spreading across several decks. It also eliminates the need for a permanent DJ station in one area.
While the adaptability offered by L-Acoustics was important, so, too, was ensuring the desired sound would flow—and flow from equipment up to the sea’s challenges. “L-Acoustics components are engineered for environmental resilience, ensuring they are ready for the deck out of the box,” Fisher says. “We were able to meet the project’s timeline because these enclosures are built to handle humidity, salt air, and spray as standard manufacturing design.” Simultaneously, they’re for open-air spaces where wind can be a negative factor. The yacht’s own engineers and the L-Acoustics team coordinated efforts with Fisher. The crew’s knowledge of the megayacht’s physical structure helped determine proper cable routing, for example. It also ensured proper mounting and penetration points without detrimentally impacting surrounding spaces.
The owner isn’t done yet with turning his yacht into an extraordinary acoustic experience. Phase two of the custom superyacht audio system comes next year. The main saloon, dining room, media room, master suite, gym, and wheelhouse will all get special equipment. Finally, a deployable system will grace the yacht’s bow, for another alfresco entertaining option.
L-Acoustics l-acoustics.com
Leave a Reply