I've shared this on the Klipsch Community general Forum and hoping I'd also get some collaborative help and feedback here.
Reaching out for help from anyone in the community with knowledge, advice and expertise when installing a system in a commercial restaurant space. Writing this in a beginner-friendly tone because that is where I am now. I've been a lurker taking notes who has finally convinced a friend to splurge on a sound system that will be an exciting feature of his restaurant that I'm collaborating on. A high-efficiency horn-loaded system powered by SET tube amplifiers is the path I've chosen to approach this project.
The restaurant's build is almost complete, with interior finishings currently being applied. I've attached images of the floor plan and sections of the space with coloured markings for the whereabouts of the D.J. booth and speaker placement proposal for anyone interested in size and layout (yellow: booth, pink: speakers). A key with materials used is also included - there isn't much leeway to apply acoustic treatment. Maybe pyramid foam within the waffle spacing of the concrete ceiling. I also feel like the large floor to ceiling windows and wall tiles would create a lot of reflections, especially with how I'm planning to orient the speakers. I have suggested adding thick drapes to help remedy this for the owners, and there would be a few carpet art pieces hung that help in absorption as well.
I'm proposing 2 budget options:
Option 1 / Big-Budget Features:
Option 2 / Small Budget differentials:
There are a few missing puzzle pieces in the system due to my lack of experience, and I was hoping that anyone could kindly assist me. Looking for a receiver that will take the 3 different sources (in-house D.J. mixer output, DAC-Streamer Spotify output & guest D.J.'s controller output) and send the output signal to all the amplifiers powering the speakers. Would home theatre A.V. receivers work? I've checked the backplate of most A.V. receiver products, and they all have 'surround', 'front', 'center' labels for the different speaker outputs. I'm worried about whether each pair of speakers would get other signals - which wouldn't work in my application.
I've also done my best to map out how the sound system component network would work with a resident D.J. system in a booth, guest D.J. with an external mixer, and DAC for regular musical playlist programming when there's no D.J. performing.
Would love to hear everyone's advice and thoughts on how I've designed the proposed system and mapped it out. I'm not sure if I've got the number of speakers right - it's tricky since where I'm located doesn't have proper HiFi audio dealers in the country - I can't test any components. The purchasing decision must be made based on faith and expertise. As you now learned, a lot would be riding on this
This project aims to bring a hi-fi experience to a population and culture that is not exposed to it and be inclusive in presenting it the best way possible with the budgets at hand.
Your input would be greatly appreciated!
P.S. Any thoughts of anyone who had listened to the active Superwax mini by Pitt & Giblin from Australia compared to Hersey's or other speakers from the heritage line-up?
Reaching out for help from anyone in the community with knowledge, advice and expertise when installing a system in a commercial restaurant space. Writing this in a beginner-friendly tone because that is where I am now. I've been a lurker taking notes who has finally convinced a friend to splurge on a sound system that will be an exciting feature of his restaurant that I'm collaborating on. A high-efficiency horn-loaded system powered by SET tube amplifiers is the path I've chosen to approach this project.
The restaurant's build is almost complete, with interior finishings currently being applied. I've attached images of the floor plan and sections of the space with coloured markings for the whereabouts of the D.J. booth and speaker placement proposal for anyone interested in size and layout (yellow: booth, pink: speakers). A key with materials used is also included - there isn't much leeway to apply acoustic treatment. Maybe pyramid foam within the waffle spacing of the concrete ceiling. I also feel like the large floor to ceiling windows and wall tiles would create a lot of reflections, especially with how I'm planning to orient the speakers. I have suggested adding thick drapes to help remedy this for the owners, and there would be a few carpet art pieces hung that help in absorption as well.
I'm proposing 2 budget options:
Option 1 / Big-Budget Features:
- 2-3x pairs of Klipsch Hersey IVs - suspended or mounted on walls/columns upside down with a tilt angle. The horns would point downwards at the customers and the woofer closer to the ceiling to create a similar low-end response when placed ordinarily in a floor-standing position. The speakers will either be suspended by eye bolts and fender washers hung from a concrete beam waffle structure or mounted on french cleats on the structure's columns. They will be powered by:
- 2-3x Decware Super Zen Triode Amplifier would love to pair the Decware tube amps with the HIVs, but I'm concerned if they have enough oomph to drive the speakers to volume when it's a busy day at the restaurant
- 1x Condesa Carmen in-house analogue D.J. rotary mixer
- 2x Technics SL-1200MK7 Turntables
- 1x DAC/node streamer - undecided [BLUESOUND NODE or the AUDIOPHONICS RASPDAC an option for this budget]
- (DAC connected through USB or wirelessly streamed via Spotify Connect - Streamed via an iPad through a lighting cable to USB adapter or wirelessly through Spotify Connect connected via a node, respectively (streaming via chrome-cast is not an option because of its inability of gapless playback)). I've also heard that the new YAMAHA RX receivers act as streamers for Spotify Connect and other applications.
- Possibility of an independent DAC Schiit Modi 3+ for better sound (as subjective as that is for the setup)
- 1x Receiver to route all the incoming signal sources to the designated amplifiers and speakers - Need help in this department.
Option 2 / Small Budget differentials:
- 3-4x Klipsch RP-600M II - also considering fitting them upside down with a tilt angle. The horns point downwards at the customers and the woofer closer to the ceiling to create a similar low-end response when placed ordinarily in a floor-standing position. But the 600 IIs would be mounted on the walls/columns versus being suspended from the ceiling.
- 3-4x Reisong A10 - I heard great things & felt they'd be a good fit for the more budget friendlier option, but I'm concerned if they have enough oomph like the Decware Zen triodes to drive the speaker in a busy day
- 1x Vaira Instruments RD20 in-house analogue D.J. rotary mixer
There are a few missing puzzle pieces in the system due to my lack of experience, and I was hoping that anyone could kindly assist me. Looking for a receiver that will take the 3 different sources (in-house D.J. mixer output, DAC-Streamer Spotify output & guest D.J.'s controller output) and send the output signal to all the amplifiers powering the speakers. Would home theatre A.V. receivers work? I've checked the backplate of most A.V. receiver products, and they all have 'surround', 'front', 'center' labels for the different speaker outputs. I'm worried about whether each pair of speakers would get other signals - which wouldn't work in my application.
I've also done my best to map out how the sound system component network would work with a resident D.J. system in a booth, guest D.J. with an external mixer, and DAC for regular musical playlist programming when there's no D.J. performing.
Would love to hear everyone's advice and thoughts on how I've designed the proposed system and mapped it out. I'm not sure if I've got the number of speakers right - it's tricky since where I'm located doesn't have proper HiFi audio dealers in the country - I can't test any components. The purchasing decision must be made based on faith and expertise. As you now learned, a lot would be riding on this
This project aims to bring a hi-fi experience to a population and culture that is not exposed to it and be inclusive in presenting it the best way possible with the budgets at hand.
Your input would be greatly appreciated!
P.S. Any thoughts of anyone who had listened to the active Superwax mini by Pitt & Giblin from Australia compared to Hersey's or other speakers from the heritage line-up?
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