In a city that vibrates to the rhythm of emotions, Malquerido bet on turning heartbreak into a show. And behind every unforgettable night, there is a dBTechnologies sound system that sustains the intensity with clarity, power, and precision. An innovative installation backed by the experience of Audio Concept Venezuela, where technology becomes part of the soul of the place.
There are spaces designed to please, and others built to move. MALQUERIDO, in the heart of Caracas, was born with a clear premise: to provoke an integral experience that combines gastronomy, cocktails, and entertainment with Venezuelan identity.
“The goal is for the customer to say, ‘this is a place where I feel good, and I sound good!’” says Adelso Fuenmayor, the project’s creative director.
Inspired by the iconography of heartbreak, telenovela characters, and the hymns of Latin pop that marked generations, MALQUERIDO combines emotional memory and contemporary design to create a unique experience.
Here, heartbreak resonates with its own strength. And only sound at the right level could turn it into an experience.
“Since it was born, we always used the premise of giving strong potential to entertainment,” he says. “The idea is that every night has its own identity and is part of a larger narrative.”
The calendar proves it: Wednesdays are for Malqueridas, a digital karaoke with more than 10,000 songs in different keys; Thursdays bring Piano Season, acoustic sessions where customers request iconic songs—from soap operas, from their childhood, from their wounds—that a pianist interprets in real time; and Saturdays, the resident show The Stages of Heartbreak with Thalía and Génesis, two artists who connect with the audience emotionally. To all this are added symbolic rituals that make the experience unique: burning a piece of paper with what you want to let go, or trying themed cocktails like Toxiciclina or Amor Propio. “Those details make people never forget the experience,” says Adelso.
And in that sensorial, emotional, and interactive context, sound not only accompanies, but must envelop and respond with absolute precision.
A Sought-After Sound, a Found Connection
The choice of dBTechnologies was not random. Adelso Fuenmayor had already worked with the brand on other projects and had it on his radar. “One of the restaurants I had previously developed used this system and it stuck with me. I looked it up online and discovered that the brand was available in Las Mercedes, Caracas, and I didn’t hesitate: I went straight to meet them. That’s where I met Cristian León,” he says.
The connection was immediate. Cristian, an expert in audio solutions and part of the Audio Concept Venezuela team, the distributor of dBTechnologies in the country, not only showed him the technical possibilities of the system but also guided him to find the perfect balance between power, design, and atmosphere.
“From the very first moment, I told him I didn’t want a bulky audio. Malquerido is a minimalist space, we couldn’t fill it with visible speakers as if it were a nightclub. I wanted visual cleanliness, but with sound that enveloped the audience from every corner.”
And so it was. The system was strategically installed throughout the venue: from the terrace, which holds up to 50 people and where the music accompanies without invading, to the bathrooms, which also feature sound ambiance. “I believe bathrooms say a lot about a restaurant. If the brand story continues there too, with matching audio, the experience becomes complete,” Adelso sums up.
Investing in Quality, Building Experiences
In Malquerido, every detail is designed to generate a memorable experience. And sound could not be left aside. “When you make this kind of investment, which is not minor, knowledge makes the difference. We could have chosen a more economical system, but Cristian was very clear about the strengths of dBTechnologies: quality, durability, precision. That convinced us,” says Adelso.
The project was conceived by Adelso and supported by Audio Concept Venezuela at every stage. From defining the concept to implementing the sound system and the overall aesthetic coherence. “What you see today is exactly what we dreamed of. We didn’t accept a design proposal that didn’t represent us. We wanted to enter the venue every day and say: we love this place and it reflects us.”
The technical decision about which configuration would be suitable for the venue was based on an artistic and emotional vision of the space. “Karaoke is something very intimate, homemade, but here we took it to another scale,” notes Adelso. It is not just about a stage: it’s 120 or 130 people watching you, several voices singing at the same time, open microphones, emotion in full voice. The system had to sound impeccable, with no margin for error. The one singing had to feel supported, and the one listening, completely enveloped. “The sound had to be up to the task, no matter what.”
For Adelso, choosing dBTechnologies was a strategic bet that today translates into trust. “I would recommend it 100%. The peace of mind you get knowing that the sound you have can adapt to everything and that it responds with power and clarity is priceless.” Between the durability of the system, personalized support, and post-sale service, the partnership with Audio Concept became essential. And behind every technical decision that made this result possible, one key figure emerges: Cristian León, the audio solutions expert from the Audio Concept Venezuela team.
From his perspective as an audio professional and project manager, another part of this story begins.
On the other side of this sonic experience, there was a technical mind fine-tuning every detail. Cristian León was the one who supported the project from the first showroom to the final tuning. His role was key in translating Malquerido’s vision into a system that both sounds and moves.
With more than two decades of experience in the audio world and 14 years as part of the Audio Concept Venezuela team, Cristian lives his work with a passion that he reflects in every installation he designs.
“I’ve always liked being able to satisfy the client’s needs,” he says. His path began in the world of rental and technical production, and it was precisely that journey that brought him closer to the company he now leads in the projects area. Since then, he has combined technical precision with creativity to translate ideas into sonic experiences.
“They rang the bell, so to speak,” Cristian recalls about the arrival of the Malquerido team, and adds: “They told me they had a venue with conditions different from the classic nightlife spots, that it wasn’t a nightclub, nor a restaurant… it was a mix. Something like a big karaoke.” He immediately understood that this was not a conventional installation, but rather a different bet: an open, glass-walled space where sound had to support both an emotional and aesthetic experience.
Malquerido was located in a new building, with no prior acoustic treatment. “It was a venue with a kind of duality. Totally enclosed where the tables are, but it also has a terrace that faces a major avenue,” Cristian explains. “We had to maintain that balance: some dB speakers inside the venue, and appropriate audio for the environment that could compete with the noise of the cars outside.”
What began with the search for “a couple of speakers” turned into a complete project. And as Cristian points out, the key was listening before installing: “As the project manager, I started gathering information… and we achieved what was done.”
From the first contact, Cristian noticed that the project had a different imprint. “Initially, they were a bit reserved, because in Caracas this is like a new trend. It’s not just one person singing, but heartbreak music, rancheras, ballads… and what happens is that everyone starts singing,” he explains. The need was not just power, but balance: “The idea was for it to sound good, but also for everyone to hear themselves. Nobody wants to scream to be heard. That balance is sometimes difficult.”
Adelso arrived with a clear vision of the experience he wanted to create. “He came looking for a solution,” Cristian confirms. “As we talked, I guided him. I made him listen to three different models and we had closed on one, but when he finished telling me the concept, I said: you have to listen to this other one.” That’s how the OPERA REEVO 212 from dBTechnologies appeared.
“I played two songs for him and as soon as it sounded, he said: ‘I like it.’ And he understood why I was proposing dBTechnologies. It has very good vocal projection, and for what they wanted—songs, emotion, people singing—it was perfect.”
The choice of subwoofers also had its own logic. “I like this sub a lot because it has 134 dB, it’s not too bulky, and I’ve always liked it because I find it very immersive,” adds Cristian.
The final configuration combined technical precision and functional design. “We installed a pair of OPERA REEVO 212s hung up—we had very good height, which helped us a lot—and two SUB 918 subwoofers,” Cristian details. The height of the hall was key to optimizing coverage, but it wasn’t the only factor to consider.
“The venue has a lot of glass, and glass is one of the biggest enemies at an acoustic level, especially for low frequencies, because they vibrate. That’s why it required time, patience, and precision to reach the ideal result. Thank God we have very good technicians, very dedicated, with patience… waiting until the venue had all the elements, because calibrating without furniture doesn’t make sense.”
The project was not only precise but also agile. “With us, it was fast. From the moment they pitched the idea, we closed it in a couple of days, and the installation was also done in another couple of days. It was all quite dynamic,” Cristian recalls. Although the installation was carried out in stages—interior, exterior, LED screens, and other visual elements—the audio system design did not present major delays. “The typical stuff in an installation: something hasn’t arrived, something’s missing… but everything flowed.”
After the soft opening, feedback quickly arrived. “They told me they liked it a lot. We talked a few days later and they were very satisfied. And I always say: if the client doesn’t call you, it’s because everything is working.”
Since then, the system installed in Malquerido not only works but stands out. “I’ve seen it on social media, friends have told me they’ve been to the venue… and so far, no negative feedback. Quite the opposite.”
Is there room to grow? “Maybe in the future, I understand they want to reinforce the terraces. The current system is very well calibrated for the venue’s concept, but we’ll be there when they need us.”
Behind every well-installed system is a team that understands both the product and the place where it will play. In this case, the technical leadership of José Luis Pineda—better known as Lagarto in the professional field—was essential to bringing the project to a successful outcome. “He was the one in charge of the installation, commissioning, and calibration,” Cristian highlights. “He’s part of the house and has a lot of experience in this type of configuration.”
For Cristian and his team, this project fit naturally within Audio Concept’s working philosophy. “It’s completely aligned with what we do: professional audio for gastronomic, commercial, and entertainment spaces. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to solutions designed for each place and each need.”
And he leaves a reflection that could apply to many other projects: “Volume isn’t always the most important thing. Many times, in audio, less is more. A well-dimensioned, well-calibrated, and well-installed system can achieve much more than filling a venue with speakers. It’s about knowing how to listen to what the space needs.”
Although direct technical contact is managed by his colleague Diego Reyes, Cristian maintains a close relationship with the dBTechnologies team at every trade show: “I always stop by the booth, see the demos, check out what’s new, stay updated. They’re a brand that supports you over time, and that shows in every installation.”
From a vibrant corner of Caracas, Malquerido demonstrates that even in challenging contexts, it is possible to bet on quality, creativity, and well-done work. “We live in Venezuela, we work in Venezuela, and we form a team that bets on innovation in every context,” says Adelso.
And in that honesty lies the strength of a project that chose to stand out, invest, and offer memorable experiences. With the technical support of Audio Concept and the backing of brands like dBTechnologies, the bet is not only heard: it is felt.
“This place is just crawling,” says Adelso. But if the sound is good from the very first step, the path looks promising.
