Located in the heart of Hollywood on Cahuenga Boulevard sits Grandmaster Recorders. It offers a unique experience with three different venues in one, with a deep connection to some of the most well-known recording artists of all time. From 1971 through 2016, Grandmaster Recorders saw the likes of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Metallica, and the Foo Fighters record chart-topping hits within its walls. Owned by renowned producer and engineer Alan Dickinson until his passing in 2016, Grandmaster Recorders was purchased by the Botanical Group, who opened the Grandmaster Recorders restaurant, rooftop, and bar in the fall of 2021.
With such a rich history, it was important to keep to the building’s roots and pay homage wherever possible. Studio 71, the venue’s bar, now occupies the space that was previously the Grandmaster recording studio, and the bar sits where the recording room was. The main dancefloor area occupies the old live room, and the “Gold Room” is where the vocal booth once sat. Studio 71 regularly features live music, especially on the weekends, and focuses on elevated, eclectic programming. Being in the heart of Hollywood means Grandmaster Recorders welcomes both local and international guests daily.
“For lack of a better example, where we’re located is kind of like the Times Square of the West Coast,” said Chase Hodson, programming director at Grandmaster Recorders.
When Hodson first began working at Grandmaster Recorders, the venue used a different speaker brand he didn’t love. He also saw an opportunity to incorporate some 70s flare in Studio 71 and set out to find custom speaker cabinets. Already familiar with Pioneer DJ’s first XPRS series speakers, the XPRS2s seemed like an obvious choice, and Hodson found the wood cabinet particularly aesthetically pleasing. He also needed to ensure that new speakers would stand up to the high-quality standards of music and talent showcased at Studio 71.
Hodson had a particular interest in making sure the sound produced wouldn’t disrupt the overall vibe of Studio 71 and brought in the XPRS2 series in April of 2023. Pioneer DJ’s XPRS2 Series, built upon the hugely popular XPRS Series, is ideal for a setup such as Studio 71 because of its superior sound performance and audio intelligibility, providing a premiere audio experience for performers and listeners alike.
He set up two XPRS1152S subwoofers on either side of the DJ booth, and placed XPRS122s near the entrance of the dance floor area, providing powerful sound throughout the venue. The XPRS1152S features a frequency response of 45 Hz – 120 Hz, a maximum SPL of 129 dB, and offers three different DSP preset modes — Boost, Extended LF, and Normal — to suit different listening environments. The XPRS122 is the larger full-range speaker counterpart in Pioneer DJ’s XPRS2 Series. Featuring a 12” woofer and 3” voice coil with a 1” exit compression driver and 1.75” voice coil, the speaker delivers comprehensive sound coverage across mid to large audiences and venues. Boasting a frequency response of 48 Hz – 20 kHz and a maximum SPL of 131 dB, the versatile loudspeaker delivers powerful sound built to thrive in even the harshest of sound environments, such as a live DJ set.
“I think the dance floor is pretty unique because the room itself is very conducive to a certain type of acoustic style and feels very warm. When you walk from the bar and transition into the main dance floor area, there’s a considerable shift, which is very powerful. It kind of invites you in and gives you a hug.”
Hodson needed to make sure the new speakers could handle different types of music played in the bar, whether a live band or DJ, and be mobile enough for reconfigurations for different events. He and his AV team frequently need to reconfigure speaker setups, and he was pleased by the fact that the XPRS2s were lightweight enough for one person to move and equipped with four different DSP preset modes—Live, Music, Speech, and Floor Monitor.
“The ability for the speakers to be a bit modular in terms of their weight and size combined with the power they put out has done wonders for us.”
Overall, Hodson continues to be pleased with the performance and appearance of the XPRS2 Series. He looks forward to welcoming more talent to Studio 71 and creating a unique, premium experience for his guests. Whether it be a club night or a live music night, Grandmaster Recorder’s Studio 71 will continue to wow and inspire those who step within its famed walls.
Product List
XPRS122 12” full-range active loudspeaker
XPRS1152S 15” reflex loaded active subwoofer
OPUS-Quad Professional all-in-one DJ system
