Re: Audio distribution in a bar lounge

["mark_harrison_uk2" <mph@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Stephen Jones" <ukha@i...> wrote:
> I've been asked by a friend to put an audio system into a bar,
> but a bar isn't quite the same as houses, right?

Stangely enough, I was talking to a restaurant owner about this very
subject yesterday.

One of the problems with "sound systems in bars" is that they are
tradtionally regarded as plain costs - every pound spent comes
straight out of the bottom line.

Hence, most bars go for a "Richer Sounds" type solution - cheap
CD
player, cheap amp, cheap speakers, long run of speaker cable.

There's nothing wrong with that, and you can do an easy second zone by
making sure you get an amp that can drive multiple sets of speakers.

However, you might like to consider the whole "jukebox" metaphor
-
combine a sexy, but not so expensive touch-screen (Lilliput?) with a
sound server (MyHTTPC? XLobby?) and lo, a cool "customer can
choose"thing.

The advantage of something like MyHTTPC is that it has the concept of
a playlist - choosing a track adds it thereto, rather than replacing
what's currently playing.

The audio environment in a bar is always going to be hostile - sound
quality isn't going to be great, no matter how high end the kit,
simply because it'll be against (hopefully) large numbers of people
chatting - another reason not to blow huge amounts of cash on high-end
stuff.

Finally, remember gravity and how it affects spills - speakers on the
ceiling (or in it!) are always going to last longer than wall mounts...

Regards,

Mark