How to Design a Sound Reinforcement System for Hospitality Venues

This article is intended for system integrators, owners and operators of HoReCa venues, architects, designers, and technical specialists. It will be useful to anyone involved in creating a venue or making decisions that affect sound quality, ease of operation, and the final project budget. 

Starting with the Project Concept

At what stage in the development of a restaurant or hotel should a system integrator become involved?

Andrey Mashutkin: The integrator should be involved from the very beginning. Of course, this is not always possible. The most important thing is to involve the integrator at the design and documentation stage so that the architect can work alongside them.

I hope more integrators will adopt this approach. The integrator should help the architect address acoustics, lighting, and other aspects that directly affect the atmosphere and guest comfort.

Where should the design of a sound reinforcement system for a HoReCa venue begin: with the layout, the venue concept, the technical brief, or the operating scenarios?

Andrey Mashutkin: The design process should begin with collaboration between the architect, interior designer, and integrator. The architect and interior designer determine the lighting, visual appearance of the loudspeakers, and placement of acoustic panels, but these decisions do not always take sound requirements into account at an early stage.

I would say that room acoustics receive too little attention in many HoReCa spaces, including cafés, restaurants, shops, and coffee shops with sound reinforcement systems. Even very expensive equipment will not sound good if the acoustic properties of the space have not been properly considered.

It is therefore important to involve both the interior designer and the general contractor from the outset. The integrator needs to know where the cable routes will run, how the cables will be installed, and what type of cable will be used. I have seen many cases in which a general contractor used standard electrical cable for loudspeaker connections, even though this is a poor solution for several reasons.

What information should be obtained from the client before the system design begins?

Andrey Mashutkin: First, it is essential to understand exactly what the client wants to achieve. The integrator should identify the most appropriate solution based on the budget, the purpose of the space, and the atmosphere and level of comfort required for visitors.

Whether the venue is a café, restaurant, hotel, or another public space, the client must clearly explain how guests will use the space and what conditions need to be created for them. That is the starting point.

Based on this information, the integrator defines the project budget, selects the appropriate loudspeakers, coordinates their placement and appearance with the interior design, and works through the many other details.

The integrator should assess the project from both technical and commercial perspectives. The focus should not be limited to making a profit from the project; it should also be on how the selected solutions can help the client's business generate revenue over the long term. The integrator's role is to become the client's partner and support the development of the business.

Project Roles and Coordination

How should responsibilities be divided among the client, integrator, distributor, architect, interior designer, and engineering contractors?

Andrey Mashutkin: Coordination among the integrator, architect, general contractor, and relevant compliance and regulatory bodies is one of the most important aspects of a project.

Every project has a client or another stakeholder who appoints a consultant and an architect, or an architect who then brings in a consultant. In the best-case scenario, the architect and interior designer work alongside the integrator and consultant to develop solutions together and explain to the client whether those solutions will achieve the stated business objectives.

This communication is essential. When the project moves from contracting to installation, many parties are involved in its delivery and subsequent support, including both the distributor and the integrator.

Editor's Note: Roles of the Project Participants

Client: defines the business objective, budget, and operating scenarios for the space.

Indigo Forward: acts as an integrator and consultant. It analyses the venue, develops the project, coordinates the participants, and carries out system integration and commissioning.

Sound Creations: provides product and engineering expertise as the distributor. It helps select professional solutions and verify that they meet the project requirements, organises demonstrations, and provides supply, technical support, and training.

Joint approach: enables comprehensive project development, from the initial concept through commissioning and ongoing support

Systems outside the integrator's direct scope, such as IT infrastructure, power, and lighting, still need to be coordinated. The best approach is to use a shared set of CAD documents that is available to all participants, so everyone understands the boundaries of their responsibilities and can act accordingly.

What infrastructure must be planned before the fit-out begins, and which mistakes at this stage are the most expensive for the client?

Andrey Mashutkin: Before any work begins, the team must ensure that the cables are installed correctly and in compliance with fire safety requirements. It is also necessary to verify that the loudspeaker positions match the simulation prepared by the consultant or integrator.

All these details need to be coordinated with the interior designer and general contractor. It is very important to specify the power and audio connection points, as well as the network infrastructure, in advance so that the general contractor can implement everything correctly.

If this is not done and the general contractor works only from the architect's drawings, it can result in serious errors and additional costs for every party involved.

What should be considered when designing a sound reinforcement system for a restaurant or bar so that it supports different operating scenarios, provides consistent coverage, and does not interfere with conversation?

Andrey Mashutkin: Before designing a sound reinforcement system for a restaurant or hotel, it is necessary to define the purpose of the space, understand how it will be used, and determine the atmosphere and level of comfort to be created for guests.

This raises an important question: how should the audio, lighting, and control systems be configured, and how should they work together across different operating scenarios? All these elements matter.

I would also emphasise how sound is perceived in a restaurant. People come to talk with friends and family, and if the music interferes with conversation, that is a problem.

In hotels and restaurants, we use targeted equalisation and automatic ambient noise compensation. Depending on the time of day and whether an event is taking place, the sound level and overall character should remain comfortable for guests.

This requires an experienced integrator who understands these requirements, can programme the system, and can configure the controls so that hotel or restaurant staff can operate it easily whenever necessary.

Audio Zoning and System Control

How should audio zoning be organised in HoReCa spaces? How can a consistent atmosphere be maintained while allowing independent control of volume and audio content in each zone?

Andrey Mashutkin: Zoning plays an important role in restaurant projects and an even more important role in hotel projects. The design must take into account the conditions and purpose of each zone.

For example, an outdoor area may need to be divided into several sectors. Otherwise, the sound near the hotel walls may be perceived as louder than near a remote loudspeaker, even if that loudspeaker is 50 metres from the wall, because reflections from the surface reinforce the sound. This should be avoided.

Indoor zoning must also reflect the specific task. If a presenter is speaking to an audience, appropriate time delays may need to be applied to the loudspeakers so that the sound reaches each zone at the correct moment.

In a restaurant, the zoning principle may be different: each zone can have its own audio source, volume level, and other parameters.

How can the sound reinforcement system be managed so that staff can easily control individual zones and activate predefined scenarios?

Andrey Mashutkin: The main scenarios should be programmed in advance to make the system easy for staff to use. For example, separate modes can be created for background music, the evening programme, and events, with appropriate settings defined for each zone.

Modern DSP platforms such as Xilica allow centralised zone management and automatic switching between predefined modes according to the time of day or event format.

Xilica can be used to control not only the audio system and zoning but also other building systems, such as lighting and air conditioning. This allows the systems to work together and makes them easier and more intuitive for restaurant or hotel staff to operate.

Selecting Professional Loudspeaker Systems

What criteria should be used when selecting professional loudspeaker systems for restaurant projects?

Andrey Mashutkin: The choice of an audio system for a particular restaurant, café, or hotel is determined by the purpose of the space, its operating scenarios, and the atmosphere that needs to be created for guests.

With L-Acoustics, there is another important factor: installing a system from this brand on a dance floor or in a ballroom can increase the venue's commercial appeal and allow the space to be offered at a higher price.

L-Acoustics is a globally recognised brand associated with high quality. The brand itself does not need to be promoted. What matters is communicating that the venue is equipped with an L-Acoustics system and that it was deployed by a professional integrator with the expertise to design and deploy L-Acoustics systems correctly.

Common Mistakes in HoReCa Projects

What mistakes do clients most often make when designing audio systems for restaurants and hotels, and which problems only become apparent after opening?

Andrey Mashutkin: One of the most common mistakes is choosing a system solely on the basis of price. Integrators, users, and clients can all make this mistake.

Some people believe that selecting a good system is enough and that nothing else needs to be considered. In reality, the result of every integration project and the way guests perceive the space depend on many details. Attention to those details is what makes the project successful.

Room acoustics, lighting, equipment form factors, sound distribution, system programming, and control all matter.

Even equipment from a well-known brand does not, on its own, guarantee a high-quality installation or comfortable sound. The project must be assessed as a whole, and the integrator must be capable of coordinating all its components.

Budget Optimisation without Compromising the Result

How can the budget be optimised without replacing equipment with cheaper alternatives? Where can costs be reduced without noticeably compromising the final result?

Andrey Mashutkin: Modern technology offers more opportunities for budget optimisation. We live in a world where many devices are connected over a network.

Networked solutions can reduce the number of separate devices and long cable runs. Excess equipment and extensive cabling increase the budget and can also reduce system reliability.

The more components a system contains, the less reliable it becomes. That is simple mathematics, regardless of the brand.

The primary way to optimise the budget is therefore through careful planning. This begins with an understanding of the client's needs, the purpose of the space, and the conditions that need to be created within it.

Technology as an Investment in the Business

How does Indigo Forward's approach to preparing and delivering HoReCa projects help clients open venues faster, reduce risks, and make better use of their investment in technology?

Andrey Mashutkin: Indigo Forward has delivered many projects for restaurants, hotels, and event venues. By working closely with clients, we have helped them understand how technology can support their intended operating scenarios and take their businesses to the next level.

The main conclusion is that the more thoroughly a project is prepared, the more cost-effective and reliable it will be, and the more effectively the space will operate after opening.

For example, we may spend around a month preparing a project and then complete the installation in three days. We invest a great deal of time in preparation and do everything possible to ensure that the venue can begin operating within three days of the start of installation.

This is a very important principle that not every integrator understands. Our role is to help businesses generate revenue. The client is not simply spending money; they are investing in technology, and we provide solutions that help the business increase its revenue.

The Main Professional Lesson

What professional lesson from your HoReCa projects has had the greatest influence on your approach to subsequent projects?

Andrey Mashutkin: In my experience, one of the most important indicators of project quality is how the client perceives the integrator at the beginning of the relationship and how that perception changes by the end of the project.

At the outset, the integrator's role is to show the client, whether the owner of a hotel, restaurant, or café, how technology can help generate a return on investment and strengthen the business's position in the market.

When the client clearly understands this, both sides benefit. The client understands what the integrator is trying to achieve, and the integrator knows exactly what result must be delivered to support the client's continued business growth.

The key principle in designing a sound reinforcement system for HoReCa is to begin not with equipment selection, but with the venue concept, its operating scenarios, and its business objectives. Early involvement of the integrator, the distributor's expertise, coordination among all specialists, and careful planning make it possible to create a system that supports guest comfort, is easy to operate, and is economically sound.