We have been on many factory and supplier visits over the years, but last week was a particularly special trip to K-array with our Technical Director Marcus Jackson-Baker, Senior AV Designer Darja Peterca, and Matt Holland, our representative for K-array.

We are currently working on a number of projects that make use of a broad range of the K-array product catalogue, and we have had fantastic support from Matt as we have developed both our designs and our knowledge using solutions such as K Framework to model the spaces we are working within.

A very kind invitation out to Tuscany was made, and we flew into Florence on a slightly damp Monday afternoon. The factory is around 45 minutes away, and the drive takes you through some beautiful Tuscan hills and reservoirs as you wind your way there. We dropped our bags at the hotel before heading to the factory; the weather meant that the planned barbecue was served in the boardroom instead.

We were not quite prepared for what we found when we walked in. At first glance, it was a fairly conventional boardroom with a large table, projection screen and all the usual fixtures and fittings. What we had not expected to see was a full wood-burning barbecue grille in one corner of the room, already loaded up with ribs and sausages. It certainly got us thinking about the next refurbishment of our own meeting room – although we are not entirely sure what fire regulations would have to say about that. We were introduced to other dealers and K-array staff, but most importantly to Alessandro Tatini, one of the founders of K-array and our host and chef for the evening.

What followed was a fantastic evening of conversation, great food and wine, showcasing the very best of local produce. We enjoyed a selection of meats and cheeses before moving on to the barbecue, with ribs, sausages and some magnificent cuts of steak cooked to perfection (anyone who prefers their meat well done would have been disappointed).

We have been on many factory visits before, and most suppliers will take you to a local restaurant – we have had some fantastic meals with our partners. But this felt different; more intimate. Having the owner and founder of the company cooking for us with such passion made it a genuinely memorable evening.

The next day, we were taken into the K-Hall to begin our training. The K-Hall is a large, fully functioning concert venue which allows K-array to demonstrate almost all of their ranges.

We spent the day with the team, who ran us through the product ranges with enthusiasm. We mixed learning with listening, working our way from the incredibly small Lyzard speakers all the way up to Kayman and Dragon systems. Breaks for espresso were very welcome—there appeared to be several La Marzocco machines in the building, and the K-array team are clearly excellent baristas as well.

It was a great first day and reinforced why we had selected certain products for specific applications across our projects. Being in a large space meant we were able to hear the arrays at energetic levels and walk around the room, experiencing the consistent response that a line array should deliver.

We then headed back to the hotel to freshen up before returning to the factory for dinner, followed by an evening concert in the K-Hall. Not only were K-array staff invited, but the doors were open to the local community. It was fantastic to see so many people from the area coming together; sitting, chatting, and enjoying the atmosphere before watching the band.

The band was excellent, playing mostly original funk tracks with great musicianship (and occasionally wearing animal head masks). Of course, it sounded great, with large Kayman arrays, subwoofers and front fill delivering an impressive performance throughout the space.

It was also great to see how K-array gives back to the local community. As a company that can at times be a noisy neighbour, they have clearly established a thoughtful approach that allows them to test systems while maintaining a positive relationship with those around them.

The final day was shorter, as we were flying back that afternoon, but we started with a tour of the factory. It is always valuable to see how things are made and tested, and K-array did not disappoint. The care and attention to quality was evident throughout. We were even able to experience cinema subwoofers being tested down to 15Hz, which was quite something.

With the weather much improved, we were also able to experience outdoor demonstrations, including a Kayman array performing across the park while maintaining impressive sound quality throughout. We were also treated to a demonstration of the Dragon systems, delivering an incredible level of precise energy – while not directly aimed at the residential market, they were nonetheless very impressive to experience.

Every member of the K-array team we met was a credit to the company. Their enthusiasm and passion for what they are creating was genuinely infectious.

It really was a special couple of days and left a lasting impression on us. K-array clearly creates exceptional solutions, but does so with real passion and care. We are very grateful to Alessandro, Massimo and their incredible team for their hospitality, and to Matt and Louise.

We now look forward to progressing and delivering a series of projects that feature K-array and to specifying more of their solutions going forwards.