The electrifying spirit of the 90s returned to Bochum last month for Wonderful Days – The Classic Rave. Once known to clubbers as the Tarm Center, the city’s legendary Bochum Event Center was transformed into a three-room haven for ravers, clubbers and lovers of authentic old school sounds. Across the venue, euphoric rave anthems, timeless trance and techno classics filled the space, powered by a beautifully coordinated system from HK Audio – giving listeners more than a nostalgic experience, but transporting them straight back to the era itself.
Across the venue’s three rooms, national and international acts including Westbam, Charly Lownoise, Jam El Mar, DJ Quicksilver and Da Hool kept the energy high with a soundtrack rooted firmly in the golden era of rave. Behind the scenes, the system design had to adapt to the venue’s varied spaces – from low ceilings and wide dancefloors to dedicated VIP areas – requiring a carefully coordinated HK Audio setup across all three spaces.
In the main room, known as Pottperle, the system was designed to provide premium DJ monitoring while preserving clear sightlines for VIP areas and large-scale LED installations. A trusted “Texas Headphones” configuration formed the core of the monitoring concept, offering performers a familiar and confidence-inspiring setup. Six COSMO C 8 units paired with dual CF 118 subwoofers delivered powerful, articulate monitoring directly at the booth, ensuring clarity, punch and headroom throughout each set. Dedicated CX 12 and CX 8 systems provided consistent coverage for VIP sections while maintaining the visual integrity of the space.
“The venue’s in-house system was originally designed for smaller concerts and didn’t fully cover the VIP areas,” explains Karel Noon, Application Support Engineer at HK Audio. “Because we couldn’t fly speakers in the back of the room and had cable run restrictions, we used a distributed setup with compact CX 8 loudspeakers. That allowed us to deliver clear sound in the VIP spaces without being visually intrusive.”
DJ monitoring in the main room required a different approach. “The existing subwoofer setup created a lot of low-frequency spill onto the stage,” Noon continues. “So, we used a classic ‘Texas headphones’ configuration with three high-power line array elements per side stacked on subwoofers. This gave the DJs extremely high SPL and clarity, while keeping the sound focused at the booth and preserving the sightlines in the room.”
In the Loft area, the system design adapted to the venue’s more compact dimensions. With a ceiling height of just three metres and no possibility for rigging, the deployment relied on ground-stacked solutions. Eight CX 210 LT units combined with six CS 218 subwoofers ensured wide, even coverage across the expansive dancefloor area, while careful calibration kept the system within the venue’s 99 dB limit without sacrificing the energy expected from a classic rave environment. CS 118 subwoofers and CX 15 tops provided focused, reliable monitoring for DJs throughout the night.
In Place2B, the layout called for a system that could balance powerful sound with a more refined listening experience in the adjacent VIP area. Six L9 210 LTA units paired with six 118 Sub BA subwoofers formed the core system, delivering controlled low-end and detailed mid-high response throughout the space. Additional L9 112 XA units were deployed exclusively for the VIP section, creating clear acoustic separation while maintaining a cohesive sonic character across the room.
“Both secondary rooms had very low ceilings and strict SPL limits, and they also faced each other,” says Noon. “So the system needed to deliver strong sound on the dancefloor while keeping spill into the neighbouring room under control. Ground-stacked CX 210 and LINEAR 9 systems gave us the coverage and power we needed without overshooting the space. We also had great support from our partners Acoustic Pleasure and LiMu Media, who helped ensure the system was implemented smoothly across the venue.”
For the artists, the result was immediate. Having performed through the COSMO monitoring system, DJ Quicksilver said: “The event was a complete success. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the audience attentive and appreciative. Performing under these conditions was a real pleasure.”
Reflecting on the sound system, he added: “The system absolutely impressed me. Powerful, clear sound across all frequencies and an impressive dynamic range. I’ve rarely played on a system that combines such clarity, power and presence. It gave me, as a DJ, the confidence to fully focus on the music and the audience. A true premium experience.”
More information about HK Audio: www.hkaudio.com
