The club’s relationship with Martin Audio began when design engineer Rod Short joined the High Wycombe-based manufacturers back in April 1995. Rod had designed the original club system at The Empire, while working with his previous company - but quickly turned the club round to Martin. This time around he designed a system which was supplied through Dial Sound & Lighting in Yorkshire. Four flown Blackline H2s service the upper mids, while a similar complement of S218s create the sub-bass impact - one pair either side of the DJ rostrum, which is situated in the centre of the room. The system is tuned through Martin’s dedicated M3 Blackline controller and powered by Martin MA1400 amplifiers. A further pair of Blackline F10s act as DJ monitors.
Faulkner told us: "We wanted to create our own 70s room, with disco and jazz funk, by refreshing the space. So we blocked it off from the upper circle - and replaced the infill speakers. We have a long relationship with Rod Short so it was natural we should ask him to design the system."
The venue today trades three or four nights a week, and Rod remembers: "When it started out The Empire literally only had a background system but as its reputation grew so it needed more and more speaker power. They’ve done a wonderful job restoring the architecture of the venue to its former glory."
(Lee Baldock)
