Audio setup for coffee shop
Discussion
My better half is opening a coffee shop/lounge very soon and of course she has asked me to get involved with getting it ready.
One thing I cant seem to sort is the audio requirements. Aside from the Music licence and app etc, I'm trying to figure out what hifi to put in there. Its about 50sq. metres and square and I'd like 4 speakers in the room (one in each corner).
I have a surplus to requirements Arcam A20, two B&W bookshelf speakers, Bluetooth receiver, CD player and all that, but the Arcam wont support 4 speakers.
I then started looking at second hand Bose stuff, which appeals because of the small speaker footprint and base tube which can be hidden, but I don't know if I still need an amp with that.
I don't want to spend much more than about 500 quid, so utilising what I have would be ideal. Ultimately I want a warm soft sound for relaxing music, but if I wind it up a bit it still sounds good.
Any ideas?
One thing I cant seem to sort is the audio requirements. Aside from the Music licence and app etc, I'm trying to figure out what hifi to put in there. Its about 50sq. metres and square and I'd like 4 speakers in the room (one in each corner).
I have a surplus to requirements Arcam A20, two B&W bookshelf speakers, Bluetooth receiver, CD player and all that, but the Arcam wont support 4 speakers.
I then started looking at second hand Bose stuff, which appeals because of the small speaker footprint and base tube which can be hidden, but I don't know if I still need an amp with that.
I don't want to spend much more than about 500 quid, so utilising what I have would be ideal. Ultimately I want a warm soft sound for relaxing music, but if I wind it up a bit it still sounds good.
Any ideas?
We sell background audio kits of various types for this use starting from a couple hundred pounds, PM if you like. But what are you going to play through it?
You'll need a PPL licence for radio. You could use royalty free music (although a PPL is probably cheaper in the long run) and there are some subscription streaming services for background music.
Whilst "So" is a big cautious he/she is right, but at the same time you need to have good coverage of the area without having the volumes too loud, so 4 speakers is definitely better than 2, new business or not you don't want people leaving because it's too loud/too quiet...
You'll need a PPL licence for radio. You could use royalty free music (although a PPL is probably cheaper in the long run) and there are some subscription streaming services for background music.
Whilst "So" is a big cautious he/she is right, but at the same time you need to have good coverage of the area without having the volumes too loud, so 4 speakers is definitely better than 2, new business or not you don't want people leaving because it's too loud/too quiet...
So said:
Yes! Don't spend a dime on anything, if you can avoid it. Use what you have, somehow.
Why? Because it's a new business and stands a high chance of failure. It's a coffee shop, which increases that chance.
Thanks for the vote of confidence!Why? Because it's a new business and stands a high chance of failure. It's a coffee shop, which increases that chance.
It isn't just a coffee shop - She will be running Art workshops, evening life drawing classes and other stuff too - coffee and cake are just another draw for the customer. Not expecting to make millions, but its location should mean a steady little business.
I don't really want to spend anything on the audio front, but recognise that I might need to to create the right atmosphere.
If you know whether the speakers you have are 4 or 8 ohm you can run two off each channel
https://geoffthegreygeek.com/how-to-wire-four-hifi...
https://geoffthegreygeek.com/how-to-wire-four-hifi...
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 1st March 10:53
How about....eBay the Arcam A20 (should get a fair value for it but I can't say/suggest what) and look for a second hand AV Amp from eBay. I bought a Kenwood unit (KRF-V5030D) for £10.50! It was local so no postage. The AV Amp will support 4 (or more) speakers, is likely to have a radio receiver (if you buy a unit with one in it) and you'll probably have some money left over from the Arcam to buy another set of speakers (again second hand from eBay - I bought some Mission bookshelf speakers for circa £31). With the rest of the kit you have, this should be fine.
Oh and this lot above (Kenwood AV Amp, Mission speakers, previously owned Sony Sub and iPod dock) now feed the music in my double garage! Can't have it too loud else the neighbours would complain!
Oh and this lot above (Kenwood AV Amp, Mission speakers, previously owned Sony Sub and iPod dock) now feed the music in my double garage! Can't have it too loud else the neighbours would complain!
24valve said:
So said:
Yes! Don't spend a dime on anything, if you can avoid it. Use what you have, somehow.
Why? Because it's a new business and stands a high chance of failure. It's a coffee shop, which increases that chance.
Thanks for the vote of confidence!Why? Because it's a new business and stands a high chance of failure. It's a coffee shop, which increases that chance.
It isn't just a coffee shop - She will be running Art workshops, evening life drawing classes and other stuff too - coffee and cake are just another draw for the customer. Not expecting to make millions, but its location should mean a steady little business.
I don't really want to spend anything on the audio front, but recognise that I might need to to create the right atmosphere.
Having spent only shirt buttons on start-up costs firstly increases the chances of success (marginally) it also lessens the impact of a business failure.
I've got some hifi separates that you can have as a gift if you can collect (Nottingham). Also some Tannoy speakers which have seen better days but which work okay.
So said:
Not meaning to put a dampener on things. But I've seen, owned and advised enough start-ups to know that if there's a way of testing the concept cheaper, then do it. If it can be done at no cost, that's better still.
Having spent only shirt buttons on start-up costs firstly increases the chances of success (marginally) it also lessens the impact of a business failure.
I've got some hifi separates that you can have as a gift if you can collect (Nottingham). Also some Tannoy speakers which have seen better days but which work okay.
Thankyou - I think I kinda mis-understood what your were getting at earlier. I completely agree though, and almost everything else in the shop has been done so as not to be a big burden on startup costs, or at least if things do go wrong, they can be removed/sold on/used elsewhere etc.Having spent only shirt buttons on start-up costs firstly increases the chances of success (marginally) it also lessens the impact of a business failure.
I've got some hifi separates that you can have as a gift if you can collect (Nottingham). Also some Tannoy speakers which have seen better days but which work okay.
Thanks also for the offer of the hifi equipment, but I'll struggle to get to Nottingham anytime soon and I think you are right, I'll utilise what I have (I might just use my home hifi (Leak 2200 with 4 celestion dittons - not small, or discrete, but lovely sound) until I have time to really think about whats working and what's not.
skilly1 said:
2 pairs of jbl control 1. They come with wall brackets and in silver or black. £79 per pair. Connect to suitable amp. Plug in tablet with Spotify account and away you go.
Good call, except finding a suitable amp is a bit hard, and if I were going down that route I might as well use my existing B&W's.Plus, you cant use spotify in a biz environment.
I used a W audio epx 300 to connect 4 jbl. Connected to a behringer dcx2496le, and a mixer.
However I am powering 8 jbl and a sub, I have 3 Amps so set up is a little more complicated.
What about using Panasonic sc-all05eb-k multi room speaker. £80 at curries. However you need power at each point!
However I am powering 8 jbl and a sub, I have 3 Amps so set up is a little more complicated.
What about using Panasonic sc-all05eb-k multi room speaker. £80 at curries. However you need power at each point!
Edited by skilly1 on Friday 2nd March 09:01
Edited by skilly1 on Friday 2nd March 09:04
Just testing out "Soundtrack Business" - which is built by the same people as spotify. looks quite good actually. You cant play exactly what you want, but the pre-defined playlists seem good for different environments. its a shame they don't bundle the music licence in with it somehow, but it is what it is.
It's not a market we get involved in but a cool enough place near me as has Sonos units on wall brackets and seems to work very well. Just size them depending on requirements - 1s for background, bigger if you want a bit more oomph.
I'd find that less hassle to install and maintain than something wired back to an amp.
I'd find that less hassle to install and maintain than something wired back to an amp.
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