Restaurant Setup

[gourmetsaint]

I'm opening a new restaurant/bar. It will be called the "3am Blues".

Live music Fri, Sat evening, Sun arvo. Small stage with screen behind and video projector on ceiling.

I want a system which will has good sound for CDs and music DVDs (like annual tribute to SRV) but can handle some PA as well. 7.1 processor? Use 'B' speakers for extra coverage? No "floor standing" speakers except subwoofers. I might make a couple 4th order bandpass ones. Drivers are "protected" inside boxes.

Good coffee, cocktails, drinks, food - from breakfast to midnight. I want people to come for the music too - even if not live for the night.

Room will be rectangular, 15m x 12m. High ceilings.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Mark

[Essential Audio]

For a restaurant i'd look more into smaller PA speakers, you might want to consider some Redback PA speakers.

Your restaurant sounds like a great place to hang out - especially on SRV tribute night - i'm still annoyed i only got into his music after he died! Are you in Melbourne?

[gourmetsaint]

Wharfedale have some hifi wall-mounted PA stuff too. I'll look at them. What about the receiver/amp setup?

I'm in Kiama on the NSW South Coast.

[Essential Audio]

Yes, Wharfedale have some great stuff. You could also look at Peak Audio and dB Technologies. I'd be happy to provide a quote on any of this stuff if you decide it's what you need. As for amplifiers you are likely to need some serious power as well as reliability as you are likely to run this stuff on a heavy duty cycle. I'd recommend some 19" rack mounted installation stereo amplifiers. There's heaps of them around. Peak Audio, Redback, Biema, Wharfedale are the brands i can supply but others worth looking at are Alto, Yamaha, Crown and Mackie to name a few.

Will you also require a small mixer with mic? Are you planning to have live bands as well? All this can add up to a lot of equipment (and cost!!!). Either way a small portable or fixed 19" rack would be a neat and compact way of keeping everything together. It's also easy to allow extra room in the rack so that the system can be built up over over time as business and funds allow without having to find another "spot" to shove the newest addition. If you haven't already guessed i'm also a muso so i have a lot of interest in this area (whether i'm selling the stuff or not ;-) ).

[MR BMW]

You might want to consider Boyd speakers. Absolutely awsome. He has PA STUFF which l would consider audiofile. Recently set up a pub for live sound and a CHURCH.
Cheers and GOOD LUCK with your venture.
Ange

[Marc]

You are starting to sound very one eyed and biased Angelo. Yes Boyd's PA stuff does have a great reputation, I myself used one of his PA's for a few years for running events, but there are many other suitable recommendations that could be made also.

[Mike.L]

Electrovoice make some fantastic small monitors for just what you describe....certainly one of the best for what you want.
http://www.electrovoice.com/

[MR BMW]

Originally posted by Marc
You are starting to sound very one eyed and biased Angelo. Yes Boyd's PA stuff does have a great reputation, I myself used one of his PA's for a few years for running events, but there are many other suitable recommendations that could be made also.
YES YOU ARE SO CORRECT .
Try to audition speakers that don't have horns to get a different perspective.
Amps suggest top Yamaha and Crown.
Some electronics to control room sound also.

[gourmetsaint]

What about a processor and active speakers? My inputs will be a feed from a PC (CDs, MP3s and streaming radio), DVD player and a small mixer for live work. Budget? <20K?

[Essential Audio]

DB Technologies have a large range of active speakers, check out their Opera range. As far as a processor is concerned i have no specific recomendations. IMHO you will be wasting money on any expensive "high-end audiophile" systems since being a restaurant the noise floor will be high and the finer details of the music will not be heard even if they are there.

[gourmetsaint]

I'm not looking for "high-end audiophile" but I am looking for something more dynamic, warm and full than some of the PA systems and other cheap crap I have heard.

[Essential Audio]

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you look at cheap crap. There is a lot of crappy PA systems out there which must be steered clear of. I guess at the end the day it all comes down to budget.

[Tweaky]

Sujjest you read or suscribe to "VENUE MAGAZINE"

[gourmetsaint]

I'm not looking for "high-end" audiophile sound. However, I would like good detail, dynamic and warm and I haven't heard a PA system which would give me that yet. The bands would prolly bring their own systems so the live system is a "like to have". We are wanting to do an "open mike" jamming night every Thursday. In the meantime - I want good sound for all customers and staff with the ability to turn it up for DVD nights.

[Mike.L]

follow the link i posted earlier... electrovoice are one of the worlds leading brands for what you want for a reason .... from there im sure you can find the local importer and from there local supplier and from there.... the world is your oyster

I use their s40 mini monitors for an outdoor entertaining area setup and for a small monitor they are superb...

[gourmetsaint]

I'm now looking at PC controlled JBL Pro 4328's and 4312SP subwoofers being fed from PC based digital output via decoder box like the Creative Decoder DDTS-100 ... What do you think?

[the_wonderchild]

good luck with your venture and hope eveything works out well.....:smile: