Perched atop London’s Sea Containers hotel, 12th Knot, a rooftop bar, is known for its stunning views, stylish design, and vibrant ambience. But now, the rooftop bar sounds as good as it looks. Working with 1 SOUND’s UK distributor CUK Group and London-based integrator Tateside installed a full 1 SOUND audio system to enhance the venue’s energy, from relaxed afternoon lounging to busy weekend DJ nights.
Clever Coverage in a Design-Led Space
The upgrade at 12th Knot was driven by the need to meet the venue’s evolving demands, as the existing audio system had fallen short. Over time, speaker placement and sound coverage had become uneven. The objective was to implement a new system that offered consistent, high-quality audio throughout the space, while complementing the bar’s sleek interior design and enhancing overall performance. “It was time for a proper upgrade, and 1 SOUND stood out as an ideal solution,” Explained Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside.
Tateside chose Cannon C8s with Cannon C4s as support in smaller areas because of their sound clarity and output with a small form factor. These coaxial loudspeakers offer even distribution and a warm, full sound—ideal for a venue like this where the vibe changes throughout the day. Their compact profile and Tateside’s tailored mounting approach for a room that had walls of glass windows allowed them to place the Cannons in optimal speaker positions without disrupting the space visually.
Bass that Brings the Room Together
To round out the system, SUB310 subwoofers were installed for deep, clean low-end support. With the right amount of power and precision, the SUB310s add the kind of bass you can feel, while being implemented in a way to not overwhelm the room.
Tateside used Powersoft Unica amplifiers to power this system with scalable amplification and included a Q-SYS Core processor for signal processing and audio networking with Dante.
A Thoughtful Fit for a Demanding Venue
As part of the design, the system was tuned to handle the varied needs of the venue: background music during quieter hours, DJ sets during events, and everything in between. Thanks to the combination of compact Cannons and powerful subs, the result is an audio experience that flows with the space, not against it.
“It was important for us to commission something that just works, something high-fidelity with great coverage and a system that is intuitive for the team to use day in, day out,” continues Cornish. “This wasn’t a small job. It was a fair investment from the client, and we needed to get it right, visually, sonically, and operationally. We wanted to give them the best system they could have.”
From initial design to final install, this project is a strong example of how 1 SOUND’s products and partnerships, along with Tateside’s detail and care, help deliver elevated sound in modern hospitality environments.
For More Information on 1 SOUND in the UK: [email protected].
Installation by: Tateside Products Used: Cannon C4, Cannon C8, SUB310
