Expo AV And Martin Audio Agree Strategic Partnership In Southeast Asia

Twenty years on from its 2006 founding, Singapore-based EXPO AV Pte has entered a strategic partnership with Martin Audio, aiming to further raise the loudspeaker manufacturer's profile across Southeast Asia.

The two firms' relationship stretches back nearly the full lifespan of EXPO AV. Gerard Rodrigues' company made its first Martin Audio purchases—a W8LM and W3—within a year of launch, "all of which sounded awesome", he reported. The firm subsequently added MLA, "which was a gamechanger".

From the outset, EXPO AV set its sights on becoming a full production rental staging provider focused on the MICE sector (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). In 2008 it broadened its capabilities by opening DK Studios, dedicated to design and content production.

"We are a strong supporter and believer in the Martin Audio brand and philosophy," Rodrigues continued. "We have always been attracted to the quality of the sound and the Martin Audio tradition, and throughout its history it has always maintained a belief in great-sounding loudspeakers. We run almost the entire Martin Audio family within our inventory — from Wavefront Precision to FlexPoint."

A further catalyst has been EXPO AV's ties with Dave McKinney, founder of Generation AV, Martin Audio's representative for the Asia Pacific region. "Dave and I got together a few years ago and were already speaking about our next line-array purchase, after MLA. The trust and relationship were great and so it made the decision much easier."

As preferred AV partners to venues including Singapore Expo and D'Marquee @ NTUC Downtown East, as well as a new, as-yet-unannounced site, EXPO AV placed its largest Martin Audio order to date late last year. The package is headlined by a 36-box WPC system, alongside multiples of SHX218, SX218 and SXH118 (flown) subwoofers, eight XE300 monitors, and strong representation from the larger FlexPoint models (FP6, FP8 and FP12).

"Making the WPC purchase was almost a no-brainer," Gerard Rodrigues said. "The Wavefront series always delivered best-in-class audio quality and once Dave and his team went through all the details it made our decision to purchase WPC much easier."

The new rig has seen immediate deployment. "It's been out constantly since we took delivery — covering all events which have taken place in the larger venues here in Singapore. During this time, we invited customers / system integrators to take a listen … and they have loved it."

EXPO AV is also stepping up its outreach around the portfolio. "We have a very strong marketing team that manages the various social media platforms. We arrange a product showcase every fortnight to inform customers and potential customers as well as regional partners of our new products. We’ve also invested in advanced photographic equipment to capture equipment and shows, all of which are shared with Generation AV and Martin Audio through tags.

"Support from both Martin Audio and Generation AV has been exemplary," Rodrigues added, highlighting assistance with effective deployment of the DISPLAY prediction software.

Looking ahead, Rodrigues believes the breadth of Martin Audio solutions now on hand strengthens EXPO AV’s market standing. "Many sound engineers that we work with have only good things to say about the system and we are starting to see an upward trend of new users adopting the brand — not because of heavy marketing, but for the quality it produces. Our customers are happy with the brand, and therefore so are we."

martin-audio.com