Elevating Experiences Above the City — The Sound Design of NOX, The Westin Powai

Client: Nox, Westin Powai

Market: Hospitality

Location: Mumbai

Project Overview

Located on the 36th floor of The Westin Powai, NOX offers panoramic views of Powai Lake and a dual-purpose ambience — a sophisticated European and Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant by day that transitions into a vibrant rooftop lounge and party space by night. The system was designed by AudioTechnik India™️ with support from GENERATION AV to perform seamlessly across these contrasting environments, delivering precise tonal balance, controlled dispersion, and consistent intelligibility. The system supports background music and DJ sets, featuring a distributed audio setup across multiple zones to ensure uniform coverage and even frequency response throughout the venue.

Challenges

  1. Expansive glass facades leading to strong reflective surfaces and complex acoustics.
  2. Requirement for consistent frequency response and SPL level across multiple seating and lounge zones.
  3. Designing a system that maintains intelligibility and tonal consistency across fine-dine and party modes.
  4. Preserving the aesthetic integrity of the rooftop architecture while optimizing speaker positioning and cable routing.

Design Goals

  1. Achieve even SPL distribution with controlled frequency coverage across all zones.
  2. Maintain high intelligibility and clarity despite reflective glass and open surfaces.
  3. Provide flexible system control and tuning for mode changes between dining and high-energy playback.
  4. Integrate the sound system unobtrusively with the architectural and visual design of the space.

System Design and Implementation

The distributed audio system delivers a soft sound signature and uniform response across all zones, ensuring sonic coherence from dining areas to the DJ lounge. Signal management, zoning, and optimization are handled via the HH Audio SP48 DSP, with dedicated presets for Fine Dine and Party modes. Amplification is powered by LEA Professional smart amplifiers, offering networked control, monitoring, and stability. Optimal Audio Cuboid 12 and Cuboid 8 loudspeakers provide precise directivity and balanced tonal character, while HH Audio TRS1800S subwoofers deliver controlled, impactful bass enhancing the immersive experience.

Results

  1. Even SPL distribution and consistent tonal balance across all zones.
  2. Controlled dispersion and improved intelligibility despite reflective glass surfaces.
  3. Seamless transition between background ambience and high-energy playback modes.
  4. A visually integrated, acoustically balanced system that enhances the rooftop dining and nightlife experience.