Planet K’s rebuilt Tokyo live venue standardizes on Allen & Heath Avantis console
Background and context
Planet K, a long-running live music venue in Tokyo’s Kichijoji district, has reopened in a new location after closing its original space in 2022 due to building redevelopment.
The club, which has hosted local acts for more than two decades, relaunched in September 2023 a short distance from its former site. The move coincides with Planet K’s 25th anniversary and a complete refresh of its audio infrastructure.
For the new room, the venue worked with Japanese distributor Hibino and systems integrator Tomoca Denki to design a sound system aimed at both day-to-day club use and more demanding events. At the centre of the upgrade is Allen & Heath’s Avantis digital mixing console, supported by a GX4816 remote I/O expander on stage.
Key announcement
Planet K’s production team selected the Allen & Heath Avantis as its main front-of-house console, citing a need for higher channel counts, improved audio resolution and a workflow that would be familiar to younger engineers.
The Avantis system, specified with 96 kHz processing, 64 input channels and 42 mix buses, replaces the more limited 32-channel setup used at the previous venue. The installed configuration also includes a Dante expansion card to support future multitrack recording and additional I/O expansion.
According to technical staff, the GX4816 stagebox has simplified the venue’s infrastructure by consolidating stage connections over a single cable link to the console. The increase to 48 stage inputs has reduced the need to repatch for different genres or visiting acts and accommodates the growing number of line-level and wireless sources.
Engineers at Planet K report that the move to Avantis has changed how they approach mixing at the club, with particular emphasis on the perceived clarity of high frequencies and the ability to shape depth and front-to-back positioning using faders and onboard processing tools.
Industry impact
For mid-sized live houses in Japan and elsewhere, Planet K’s adoption of a higher-spec digital platform illustrates how regional venues are aligning their technical capabilities with those found in larger halls and touring environments.
The decision to install a console with 96 kHz processing, extensive effects and integrated audio networking reflects several wider trends:
- Rising expectations from artists and audiences for sound quality, regardless of venue size
- Increased demand for flexible I/O to handle hybrid setups involving live bands, electronic instruments and playback devices
- Growing interest in multitrack recording for content creation, rehearsal review and live releases
From a workflow perspective, the move also underscores how digital mixing platforms are being used to streamline cabling, speed up changeovers and offer resident engineers more tools without expanding the physical footprint at front of house.
Why this matters
Planet K’s rebuild highlights how independent venues are using technology to future-proof their operations and stay competitive in a changing live music market.
By investing in a console platform with headroom in both channel count and features, the club aims to accommodate a broad range of events, from emerging local bands to more complex productions that require detailed processing and recording.
For event professionals, the project suggests that systems traditionally associated with larger venues are becoming attainable for smaller rooms, potentially raising the baseline for audio quality across local live scenes. It also demonstrates a practical deployment of stagebox-based I/O and audio-over-IP readiness in a compact, club-sized space.
Allen & Heath positions Avantis as a mid-range digital console designed for venues, rental and live production; further technical details on the platform are available on the manufacturer’s website at allen-heath.com.
