Help needed for audio / PA setup in pub / restaurant

D

doorstop

Audiophyte
Hi there

I've been asked to sort out the music / PA for a pub / restaurant which is opening in April. I have just a £1.5k budget...

The venue is made up of 3 areas; sliding doors to 1 area with arches separating the others. It is certainly not a music venue so music won't be blaring out, but that's not to say that music isn't popular with patrons.

Dimensions; Room 1: 5.5m x 6.5m (low ceilings)
Room 2: 4.5m x 6.5m (high ceilings)
Room 3: 7.5m x 6.5m

Ideally, I'd like a single music source (laptop / iPod) with 5 pairs of speakers, 2 of which will be outdoors. I was planning to use in-ceiling speakers but have been informed that this is not allowed so must use wall-mounted ones instead. There also needs to be a way of using a microphone through the PA. What is most important is the ability to drop the volume of certain speakers to certain levels depending on what is happening and how many people are in the pub.

What I have so far: 1 x Cambridge Audio A5. 2 x microphones (Shure SM58s) Laptop with huge library of music. iPod with huge library of music.

Everything else will need to be bought - I'm not opposed to second hand ebay bargains.

I want to keep the number of amplifiers down as much as possible - was hoping to have a single amplifier to power the 5 pairs of speakers (if 5 is enough) but this might be completely out-of-the-question. I'm aware that the A5 certainly isn't capable but thought about using this for the outdoor pair of speakers? Was also hoping for a single music source but again, not sure If I'll need more than this.

The installation will be completed at no additional cost but I also need to cover the cost of cables etc.

Any help would be gratefully received as I'm finding this much harder than I anticipated!
 
BMXTRIX

BMXTRIX

Audioholic Warlord
The use of a microphone through the system complicates things and you really should not be looking at residential product, but commercial product.

That is, you need a mixer of some sort, and that mixer could be a standard mixer (microphone in, source in, single output) or it could be a matrix audio mixer which allows for different zones to play different things at different levels. I actually don't work with standard mixers much, but instead use digital matrix mixers which provides similar functionality in less space, but needs to be programmed.

If it were me though...
Polycom Teleconference Vortex EF2201 and EF2280 | eBay

That gives you up to 12 channels of audio input (6 stereo pairs). More accurately, up to five different stereo sources could be put into it, and two microphones. It includes phantom power to run the mics.

Then, the 12 outputs allow for up to 12 individual mono rooms to be run. Yeah, complete overkill, but for $80US (right now) with power supplies and a backup, it's a great price.

So, all your sources run into that unit, then the output would go to something like this:
Crown cts 8200 Professional 8 Channel Amplifier No Reserve Don'T Miss It | eBay

This will get you amplification for 8 ohm, 4 ohm, or 70v/100v speakers in all your rooms from a single amplifier which is designed for long term use in less than ideal conditions. Each room will be individually amplified and can have its own source, or a combination of sources as desired.

Volume control for individual rooms, at this point can happen in one of several areas. First, you can adjust the gain on the back of the amplifier for each room/speaker as desired. Or, you could use the digital matrix mixer and adjust sound to each room as appropriate.
If that's all to complex, you could then add volume controls in-line with the output of the amplifier to adjust volume for the rooms.
If it were me, I would pick up a used Crestron control system and a touchpanel and put some mic level and program level, and source control right onto a visual touchpanel interface which would make it easy to change and could be password protected.
Crestron MC2E Compact Control System with Ethernet | eBay
Crestron CNPWS 75 75 Watt Cresnet Power Supply | eBay
Crestron TPS 6L | eBay

From the amplifier, speaker wire out to your speakers. There are dozens of different types of speakers out there that run all over the place on pricing. Generally, you will get what you pay for and since we aren't there, I'm not really going to specify a on-wall type speaker which is appropriate for your setup needs and budget. But, the amplifier will definitely be able to handle up to two 8 ohm speakers per channel for up to 16 speakers driven, or many more depending on how you wire things. This system will be robust ensuring long term reliability, and depending on some of the options you throw in, it will be as easy to use as you want it to be.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
The problem is he is obviously in the UK.

I personally would use a commercial mono PA amp with a 70 volt system.

The OP needs to understand that this is not a commercial sound forum, although some of us have experience.

The other issue, is that electrical codes are way tougher in the UK than the US. That pays off by the way, as electrical fires are common in the US and rare by comparison in the UK.

My advice is to call in a licensed contractor. Unless you are experienced, I doubt we can talk you through this. I have been away from the UK for a while, but I have a nephew who is an electrician and we talk quite a bit on visits. Your systems and codes are poles apart from ours, to say nothing of you having 240 volts and us being 120 volts. Most of the equipment you will need will likely be made in the UK or for the UK in the Far East, for instance TAO sell quite a bit. I used a lot of TAO equipment in a church installation I did with my late father some years ago.

For your protection, I strongly advise getting good professional help.
 
D

doorstop

Audiophyte
BMXTRIX & TLS Guy - thank you both so much for taking the time to respond.

Someone else recommended this: InterM PA6000A 6 Channel 240 Watt Installation/ Zone Mixer Amplifier 100V / 4 Ohm but the more I look into it, the more I realise I'm way out of my depth. I think I'll take your advice and leave it to the pros.

Thanks again and all the best.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
BMXTRIX & TLS Guy - thank you both so much for taking the time to respond.

Someone else recommended this: InterM PA6000A 6 Channel 240 Watt Installation/ Zone Mixer Amplifier 100V / 4 Ohm but the more I look into it, the more I realise I'm way out of my depth. I think I'll take your advice and leave it to the pros.

Thanks again and all the best.
That was a very sensible decision.
 

Latest posts

newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top