808 Nightclub Berlin. Big Beats. Neighbor-Approved.
A club named after a legendary drum machine doesn’t seem to aim for quiet nights. Club 808 draws its name from the iconic Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer and lives up to it. The venue delivers big beats, high energy sound, and sold-out nights with acts like Rihanna, Pusha T, Juice WRLD, and Apache 207. But behind the scenes? A high-stakes balancing act: The club borders the landmarked BIKINI BERLIN shopping mall and sits just below the 25hours Hotel – where the dancefloor heats up while hotel guests hope for rest. That’s where smart sound design comes in.
Setting the Scene
Working with acoustic experts from MMT Network, and implemented by the trusted hands at Elektroakustik Neuenhagen, Club 808 chose a system from d&b audiotechnik – designed to deliver sound precisely where it’s needed, while minimizing spill into other areas.
Stylish interior, diverse crowd.
At Club 808, interior Architect Laura Rave has blended raw concrete and steel with soft velvet and wooden details. Music pulses. X-shaped light strips respond to the beat. A bar area with table service invites guests to settle in. The dancefloor sets them in motion. And the crowd? Diverse, open, electric. “We aim to bring people together from different scenes: We have hip-hop and electronic, we have people from the queer scene, and we have guests who also go to Berghain,” says Jakub Krajnik, Operations Manager at Club 808. “Our vision is simple: unite people through music and combine it with a gastronomic concept that is also financially viable.”
Challenge
Not a match: beats and beds.
But soon after Club 808 opened, it became clear: even with standard noise mitigation, hosting a party directly below sleeping hotel guests was a real challenge.
“One night the police were outside, and we thought – what now?” recalls Benjamin Bektas, Technical & Facility Manager at Club 808. “Turns out, the bass was traveling up through the building. The largest support column sits right behind our subwoofer stack. And low-end frequencies don’t respect floorplans.”
With a limiter: too quiet to dance.
Even a carefully tuned limiter didn’t help much: “The limiter was maxed out just to stay within range – but that meant the club felt more like a lounge. You could hear people chatting over the music. That’s not the vibe you want for the dancefloor. You need the sound to hit.”
Modelling the invisible.
Benjamin Bektas’ team made the first move – floating structural columns for acoustic isolation and damping all the ventilation systems. But the real game changer came with electroacoustic planning by MMT Network. The team built a fully digital acoustic model of the space – including all the angles and corners that make the club unique.
“There are a lot of sound-diffusing objects scattered around the room at Club 808, and we needed to model them accurately,” says Felix Maiworm, Project Manager Media Technology at MMT Network. “We built a BEM (Boundary Element Method) model to simulate low frequencies and used a ray tracing program to assess higher frequencies – especially those above 100 Hz. And the modeling showed us how the sound pressure could be kept away from certain problematic zones and actually arrive where it should: on the dance floor.”
The Solution
Cardioid setup. Controlled sound.
Achieving directional control meant choosing the right sound system. At the heart of the solution: d&b audiotechnik compact high-performance 18S-SUB subwoofer – in a cardioid setup.
“A cardioid arrangement prevents the bass from spreading omnidirectionally,” explains Michael Kinzel, Global Segment Manager for Hospitality at d&b audiotechnik. “We stack three subwoofers, with the middle one reversed to cancel unwanted frequencies behind the bass stack.”
The result: powerful, full-bodied bass on the dancefloor – and quiet comfort at the hotel: “We measured 23 dB in a hotel room above the club,” says technical manager Benjamin Bektas. “And even with the system at full power, it was 26 dB.”
A soundsystem you can’t see – but feel.
The magic of the club’s sound design comes from six E8 loudspeakers – small enough to hide, bold enough to power a room. “Guests can’t see them,” says Benjamin Bektas, “so they’re always asking where the sound is coming from. That’s part of the experience. The music wraps around you.”
When it comes to live performances and gigs played at Club 808, looks matter, too: A d&b audiotechnik speaker that sounds great and looks great earns its place on stage: “We searched for something high-quality and representative,” Benjamin Bektas adds. “The loudspeakers need to look good on the tech rider.”
Supporting the system are four 24S point-source speakers and one ultra compact B8-SUB for the low-end.
Authentic club vibes, no compromise on music.
“Club 808 represents a new generation of nightclubs – with a warm, welcoming vibe and international stars like Rihanna performing at arm’s length,” says Michael Kinzel from d&b audiotechnik. “We love working with places like this – where an authentic experience meets great hosting and great tech.”
Conclusion
Well-rested hotel guests, thrilled clubbers.
The investment in premium audio technology from d&b audiotechnik has paid off, says Club 808’s Benjamin Bektas: “When the sound is good, people want to stay longer. We have regulars who show up at opening and stay until closing – and they come back the next time.”
By the time Club 808’s last guests leave at sunrise, the hotel guests above have enjoyed a quiet, uninterrupted night.
