Playing music is an important part of creating ambiance in a restaurant. Few people enjoy eating their food in silence, so setting up a great restaurant sound system can be a vital part of opening up a new restaurant or upgrading your current dining experience. This breakdown of what to look for in your new sound system will take the mystery out of shopping for one in the San Francisco area, Bay Area, Oakland, Palo Alto, or San Mateo. So, you can worry less and dedicate more energy towards choosing the perfect music for your restaurant.
Restaurant Sound System Components
There are many components to a good sound system that allow it to work as you want. For a professional setting such as a restaurant, it is important to choose an option that will deliver a high-quality sound throughout the space. Choosing the wrong kind of system can lead to a low-quality sound, making the music seem tacky. Luckily, avoiding this should not be overly difficult. When choosing a restaurant sound system, there are a few components to look for that can greatly increase sound quality.
Source
The source for your sound system is simply whatever device you are using as the origin point of the music. This may be a phone, laptop, or even a cd player. Most restaurant owners prefer to use something such as a laptop, which allows them to create specific playlists to match the ambiance they are going for. Step one of choosing a sound system is to choose something that will be compatible with your desired source. One option you can look into to improve your source is an upgraded sound card for your device.
Mixer
Mixers are the component of your speakers used to balance the levels of your music. Whether you need a deeper bass or are going for a more gentle background sound, a good mixer is necessary for getting the sound frequencies you want. While some sound systems come with built-in mixer setups, you may want an external mixer if you have multiple sources of music that need to be managed or if there are multiple rooms or areas in your restaurant with different needs, such as a bar, outdoor areas, and indoor areas. Depending on the scope of your sound system, you will have different needs for a mixer. Live music performances will require mixers with many channels, whereas a restaurant that is only planning on playing a few types of music with occasional karaoke or similar activities can get away with much fewer channels.
Amplifier
An amplifier plays a straightforward but important role in your sound system. It is simply the component that allows music from your source to play loud enough to be heard throughout your restaurant. The power of an amplifier is measured in watts, with a heavy-duty amplifier being in the thousands range for wattage. This may be necessary for huge restaurants wanting loud, widespread music. For small restaurants, you should not need nearly this much. There are many options for amplifiers in the 200 to 500-watt range that can work well as restaurant sound systems for small to medium-sized settings. Amplifiers are a vital component of a functional sound system; unfortunately, they can also be one of the most expensive components you’ll need. It is important to budget accordingly to ensure you can afford an adequate amplifier to go with the rest of the system.
Speakers
When you first thought about investing in a restaurant or bar sound system, the first component that probably popped into your mind was the speakers. While speakers are where the music itself will originate from, they are slightly less important than the components discussed above, which determine how well the music travels from the source. That being said, good speakers are still worth the investment. When choosing a speaker, consider that bigger, heavier speakers generally offer the best sound qualities. You will need to find a balance between something that will deliver the sounds you are looking for while still staying within your budget and fitting out of the way in your restaurant.
Purchasing a Quality Sound System
A restaurant sound system that delivers a good quality sound can be a big investment, and you’ll want to get your equipment set up right the first time. The first step is considering the size of your space and what your needs from a sound system are. If you’re ready to start looking into options that fit your space, contact us at Performance Audio. We’re happy to help you find the equipment you need in the San Francisco area, Bay Area, Oakland, Palo Alto, and San Mateo.
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