Located at the water’s edge in the Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood, elegant
Azumi Sushi continues the city’s fish-loving traditions, Japanese style, while fitting
in perfectly with the modern Inner Harbor’s trendy, upscale vibe. The stylish but
comfortable restaurant features a small lounge area with a DJ booth on one side, a
sushi bar in the back, and a main seating area. Designed by popular Baltimore
interior designer Patrick Sutton, its plentiful large windows, deep booths, glossy
bamboo tables, and low lights in the evening make it an attractive venue day or
night.

The space is long, narrow, and acoustically “live.” On weekend nights, a DJ spins
house music in the lounge. In keeping with the restaurant’s style, its management
sought a modern, first-class sound system that could support the music without
overwhelming patrons’ conversations or distracting from the decor.

Working with legendary Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center and systems
integrator (and DJ) Mike Denoe, they chose a Fulcrum Acoustic PA. Five Fulcrum
Prophile model S dual 8-inch coaxial loudspeakers handle the main space. Compact
and low profile, the Prophile S three-way, active system features Fulcrum’s
advanced, DSP-enhanced coaxial design, which enables very wide (100° x 100°)
dispersion. Its low-frequency transducer delivers impressive mid-bass impact for its
size. The loudspeaker’s horizontal orientation and trapezoidal shape allow it to be
positioned in a variety of locations, including extremely close to ceilings, while
remaining visually unobtrusive-perfect for an intimate restaurant like Azumi Sushi.

To support the DJ booth, Denoe installed one Fulcrum Prophile model M dual 12-inch
coaxial loudspeaker. Less than 40 cm tall, the Prophile M is a three-way, active
coaxial system that delivers maximum mid-bass for plenty of visceral impact. The
M’s conical horn provides 75° x 75° dispersion, making it particularly well suited for
near-field applications such as Azumi Sushi’s lounge.

“The Fulcrum Acoustic system turned out great,” Denoe recalls. “I was blown away
with how clean and even it sounds. The Prophile M’s dual 12-inch speakers sound
phenomenal in the room at any volume, even when you turn it way up.” The
restaurant’s management is more than pleased, he relates. “They rave over how
clean it is and how it sounds. They’re building another restaurant on top of the Ritz
Carlton hotel, and they want Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeakers for that install as well.
That says it all.”