The University of Surrey Students’ Union in Guildford is the home to Rubix, the campus based nightclub, which recently had a new £80,000 sound system installed that included a full Turbosound loudspeaker system.

The multi-levelled nightclub has a capacity of up to 1,500 students and sits directly on top of the Students’ Union building. There are five areas: the main dance floor, Haris, the Bottle Bank, PJDs Bar and the main foyer and walkthroughs.

Rubix is also used as a social space during the daytime. On Thursdays it is turned into a bustling market place selling fruit and vegetables, cakes, bread, jewellery and numerous other campus essentials. The Harubix International Café is open every day selling snacks and drinks.

The venue has hosted many a top DJ and band in the past, with the likes of The Darkness, Rachel Stevens, Carl Cox, Scott Mills, Tim Westwood, James Hyman, John Digweed, Travis, The Twang, DJ Yoda and Paul Oakenfold.

Ian Lipp, technical manager of Rubix explains the reasoning behind the new install: “The previous system was 10 years old and sounded like it needed replacing. The old one was a cross between an installation and a touring rig that we used in our other venues. We wanted to get a rig installed that was designed purely as an install for our club without the requirement of needing it to be used elsewhere.”

The Turbosound products that make up the installation are seven Aspect® Wide TA-500 three-way loudspeakers, five Aspect® TA-500HM two-way downfill loudspeakers, six TSW-218 high power sub bass, three NuQ-12s, two TCS-101Cs, two TCS-081CW weatherproof loudspeakers, eight Impact 50s, five T-45 amplifiers, five T-25 amplifiers, two Turbosound LMS-D26 controllers and an LMS-D24 controller.

The system was designed by Jeff Woodford of London-based LMC Audio Systems and installed by Dee Couchman of Scan Audio ltd - Redhill Surrey. Jeff introduced the University to the Turbosound range when they initially approach him to specify a system for the venue. He comments, “I specified products from the Turbosound range for the entire venue; they have a good variety of well designed and constructed products.

“The Aspect TA-500 was first choice for the main FOH system, the controlled dispersion of the Polyhorn™ technology made directing sound around the odd shaped room very easy, and coupled with the TA-500HM as downfills, the dancefloor and balcony/FOH position both have ample sound coverage. Then using the NuQ and Impact ranges to distribute sound to the other areas, the venue has a good, well-defined sound throughout. From low level lobby areas to high volume front of house, the Turbosound system delivers exactly what I expected from the design.”

Lipp added: “Turbosound is a well known brand to engineers, DJs and audiences. Because our club has a unique layout it is not suited to a line array system and we wanted an up-to-date, cutting edge product. We tried Aspect at GuilFest and then again in our club. We were very impressed with both the volume and the clarity over a wide range of material from quiet acoustic acts to loud rock bands and club nights. Also, with Turbosound being a local company, it fitted in well with our environmental policies.

“The Turbosound speakers are well built, have high SPL with good clarity and faithful reproduction,” continues Lipp. “It’s a vast improvement over the old system. We didn’t think that many audience members would even notice we had a new system, so we have been very pleased by the number of people that have commented favourably or have been overheard commenting on it.”