Nestled in the heart of Palm Springs Calif., Reforma offers a triple threat of entertainment. Here, the multi-room venue includes a full bar, a fine-dining experience and a nightclub. Given the diverse nature of the venue’s spaces, Reforma needed a sound system that would offer the ability to both blend and separate experiences. For this, Pioneer PRO AUDIO XY Series and CM Series provided the most suitable solution. In so doing, it offered the flexibility and sound quality the venue required.
Since its opening in December 2022, the 9,000-square-foot venue has brought Latin American culture and cuisines from Mexico, Central and South America to the City’s historic downtown main strip. It thus embodies pan-Latin energy throughout. Additionally, the 750-plus guests can enjoy executive chef Erick Hernandez’s creations in the main dining room. They can also enjoy one of the many themed nights ranging from EDM and Latin to drag shows in the nightclub and bar space.
As construction for the venue began, Reforma owner Rob Giesecke and his team conducted a noise study to determine the best sound system solution that would complement the building’s architectural design and encapsulate energy while also being respectful to neighborhood residents.
Designing the System
Giesecke thus enlisted Alex Montenegro, owner and system designer at Sonus Systems. Montenegro then helped specify and deploy a solution that suited the venue’s needs. Additionally, the ownership group has existing purchase and experience with Pioneer PRO Audio at Reforma’s sister venue, Chill Bar. As a result, this familiarity provided everything they needed to choose the brand for their next venture.
“We’ve worked with Alex for quite some time, since we installed a Pioneer system at Chill Bar in 2019,” Giesecke explains. “The system he installed for us had a level of robustness that I have not experienced with any other sound system. To this day, the system has held up extremely well. So, we knew we would go with Pioneer PRO AUDIO again.”
Outfitting the Solution
Alex Montenegro provided various products from Pioneer PRO AUDIO’s XY Series. Per a statement, this series is a versatile and dynamic loudspeaker series suitable for a wide variety of venues and applications, regardless of size. The team thus replaced the warehouse ceiling of the raw space with the decorative ceiling of the original department store. They then integrated speakers in both the dining room and event space. The team also tuned the units to accommodate each room’s specific needs while also providing flexibility to be synced or utilized separately.
Among the products, the team utilized 12 of the XY-2E which allows the venue to build point-source arrays in a wide variety of configurations. The XY-2E maintains the favored X-phase system. At the same time, it enables individual control of the 8-inch cone driver and 1-inch compression driver.
“Pioneer PRO AUDIO’s products have always been high-performing and reliable but what is so favorable about the XY Series specifically is how they continue to upgrade them,” Montenegro shares. He adds, “For example, the ease of integration into our space is highly desirable as they can put them into various clusters.”
Additionally, Reforma utilized Pioneer PRO AUDIO’s surface mount CM Series. Per the compant, the small surface mount speakers are perfect for discreet installation in a variety of spaces where reliability is crucial while producing high-quality sound. Within the series, the team utilized 18 CM-S56T throughout the bathrooms, corridors and lounges, which are built to blend and fill tight spaces with punchy sound.
Successful Implementation
The team had a successful soft-opening during Pride Week 2022 featuring DJ Harvey as its first performer. “If you want someone to christen your sound system, DJ Harvey is your guy.” Giesecke remarks. “Harvey called the system a monster and was happy with the results, like other artists who have performed since.” Reforma officially opened its doors on New Year’s Eve.
“Pioneer PRO AUDIO is very proud to be a part of such a versatile venue,” John Powell, president at AlphaTheta Music Americas shared. “Our XY Series was built with the goal to easily integrate into any space while producing clear, outstanding sound quality.”
As Reforma Palm Springs continues to blend nightlife and dining experiences; Pioneer PRO AUDIO’s XY and CM Series will continue to encapsulate the venue’s energy through reimagining sound.
