Culinary Misfits, a trendy new bar and restaurant in Crown Point, Indiana, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with a remarkable AV setup that contributed to its unique ambiance. The project, managed by GKD Technologies and Andy Spolar of AWA Reps, utilized cutting-edge technology, including Crimson AV’s VW4600G3 Video Wall Mount, to create an immersive and dynamic dining experience.

Culinary Misfits wanted to establish itself as a go-to spot, not only for delectable food and drinks but also for a visually engaging experience. The establishment comprises a main dining area and an exclusive upstairs lounge available for private events. The challenge was to integrate an AV system that met the aesthetic and functional requirements of both spaces.

Dave Mackiney, an integrator with GKD Technologies and a seasoned professional with previous successful ventures with Culinary Misfits, collaborated with Andy Spolar from AWA Reps to design and implement the AV systems. The seamless integration of Crimson AV mounts, LG displays, and advanced control systems resulted in a visually stunning and operationally efficient environment. 

In the main dining area, a 3-by-3 video wall using LG commercial panels with the VW4600G3 Video Wall Mount features push-in, pop-out technology for easy service. The design allows for a flexible display of three full-size images, or overlaying them across four displays in a 2-by-2 configuration. The upstairs lounge features a 2-by-6 video wall of LG commercial panels, deployed with an unconventional utilization showing three full-size images across four displays. Additionally, in areas accommodating children, individual LG TV displays were mounted using Crimson ceiling mounts.

Ultimately, Crimson AV’s VW4600G3 Video Wall Mounts were selected for their numerous superior features, including the aforementioned push-in, pop-out technology for easy access to middle displays; six points of adjustment for precise alignment; up to 3 inches of depth adjustment to accommodate uneven walls; an 11-inch pull-out extension for easy wiring; lateral shift, vertical adjustment, and leveling for optimal positioning; and an integrated dual-keyed lock system for security.

When it came to control in both the main dining area and the upstairs lounge, the team opted for RTI systems, ensuring seamless management of the entire AV setup and providing an intuitive interface for staff and guests. For video distribution, they selected AVPro Edge’s MXNet video over IP, enhancing the flexibility and scalability of the video distribution system.

Culinary Misfits’ one-year anniversary celebration showcased the successful synergy of innovative AV solutions and meticulous planning. The Crimson AV VW4600G3 Mounts, coupled with LG commercial panels and advanced control systems, contributed to the restaurant’s atmosphere, making it a memorable destination for patrons seeking not only gastronomic delights but also a visually captivating experience.

The Rival Hotel in the chic and bustling Södermalm district of Stockholm is renowned as one of the city’s favorite meeting spots. A building with lots of history, it has remained dedicated to entertainment and hospitality since its beginnings in 1937. In 2002, the complex was purchased by Benny Andersson (from the legendary 1970s supergroup ABBA) along with two associates, and extensive redevelopment work began to shape the complex into what it is today: a luxury 99-room boutique hotel complete with bars, a bistro and café, modern meeting facilities and a theater.

The latest addition is a brand new bar named after Benny’s faithful Jack Russell terrier. Watson’s Bar offers food and drinks in a vibrant atmosphere with great music at the heart of the experience. A Genelec 4000 Series sound system ensures that the pulse never stops.

Rival turned to Adolfsson & Partners, a Stockholm-based firm that specializes in delivering turnkey building and interiors solutions, to conceive, design and deliver the new space. AV integration specialist Hages was engaged to design and install a fully integrated sound system capable of delivering a high-quality, relaxed music experience during the day as well as high-energy DJ sessions for the evening crowd.

Genelec loudspeakers had already provided many years of reliable service in the upstairs area of the hotel, so Hages had no hesitation in recommending a system for the new Watson’s Bar based on Genelec 4000 Series installation loudspeakers. “Our challenge was to accomplish a nice, full-bodied sound that would cover the whole of the new Watson’s Bar, from the leafy outdoor terrace through to the bar inside plus the reception and lobby,” says Hages’ Thomas Axelsson. “We decided on a combination of Genelec 4040 and 4030 loudspeakers supplemented by a 7360 subwoofer for low-end reinforcement. We had less than three weeks to turn the project around and quite a few space restrictions to adhere to, but I’m delighted with the results, as is the client.”

[ Related: Genelec Speakers Upgrade New York Pub The Dead Rabbit ]

Genelec loudspeakers had already provided many years of reliable service in the upstairs area of the hotel, so Hages had no hesitation in recommending a system for the new Watson’s Bar based on Genelec 4000 Series installation loudspeakers. “Our challenge was to accomplish a nice, full-bodied sound that would cover the whole of the new Watson’s Bar, from the leafy outdoor terrace through to the bar inside plus the reception and lobby,” says Hages’ Thomas Axelsson. “We decided on a combination of Genelec 4040 and 4030 loudspeakers supplemented by a 7360 subwoofer for low-end reinforcement. We had less than three weeks to turn the project around and quite a few space restrictions to adhere to, but I’m delighted with the results, as is the client.”

[ Related: Genelec Monitors in Valencia College's Sound & Music Technology Program ] 

“Genelec is an ideal choice for this type of installation where sound quality, tonal balance and high reliability are paramount,” says Axelsson. “Those were the client’s criteria, and Genelec ticks all of those boxes. It’s difficult to beat Genelec sound quality and reliability. Plus there was already an existing Genelec system in the bar upstairs that the client was very happy with, so it made Genelec a very easy choice. From our point of view, we also wanted the solution to be easy to install, and Genelec 4000 Series loudspeakers are active, which means no external amplifiers to worry about. This is an important point when you’re tight on space—and they also look great in the areas where they are visible. This is always a priority when architects are involved; they don’t like to see big ugly speakers cluttering up their design!”

For the Watson’s Bar installation, the majority of the loudspeakers are completely hidden; five 4030s are concealed behind grilles over wall-hanging shelves down the sides of the bar, and the 7360 sub is neatly hidden in a specially built compartment under a sofa. Four powerful white 4040s grace the upper bar. Zone configuration and DSP is handled by a Bose ControlSpace ESP-880A processor connected to a programmable CC64 interface panel for straightforward, fingertip control of all zones and sources. A DJ output as well as a central music solution is housed in a technical cabinet behind the bar. 

Hotel Rival’s CEO Jesper Henryson is enthusiastic about the guests’ reactions to the new venue: “The response we received from guests during our opening week was absolutely fantastic. Both hotel guests and Stockholmers alike seem to have found a common meeting place to relax and enjoy great food and amazing cocktails in an atmosphere of jazz, funk, and soul. Welcome to Watson’s Bar!” 

Genelec 4000 Series installation speakers • www.genelec.com/4000-series

Adolfsson & Partners • www.adolfssonpartners.se

Hages • www.hages.se

McDonald’s flagship restaurants are the newest generation of burger restaurants. Featuring menu ordering, delivery to the table, a newly-integrated McDonald's App, WeChat applet member points, mobile payment ,and electronic menus, these quick-service restaurants boast a stand-alone order-counter on the first floor, an interactive electronic game that uses vertical projection and somatosensory technology to allow kicking of a ‘virtual’ ball on the second floor, and a spiral staircase that connects the two floors.

To provide the appropriate auditory ambiance, each restaurant features a commercial sound system courtesy of Bosch.

Each of the flagships’ music and public address systems has a Bosch Plena Mixer Amplifier at its heart. This feeds to a LC6-100S-L ceiling mount Compact Sound Speaker System: a complete loudspeaker package, designed for background and foreground music in restaurants, bars, patios, and retail. It consists of a high-performance, ceiling-mount, 8-inch subwoofer module with a crossover network to support the four ceiling mount, 2-inch, satellite speakers. Easy connections at the subwoofer support either 4 ohm or 70/100 volt signals. These restaurants also will have a Plena Mixer Amplifier at the heart of their sound systems, which will feed to LC4 loudspeakers.

For each of the floorplans used by McDonald’s flagship restaurants, Bosch has designed a special configuration of the commercial speakers to deliver sound. This was developed using EASE Address, an acoustic-modelling software. “With the acoustic analysis, we are customizing the sound system for each individual restaurant, to provide nothing but the best sound in each location,” commented one of the Bosch designers.

So how did McDonald’s know that Bosch was the right choice? First, Bosch presented its extensive portfolio of sound systems throughout chain restaurants worldwide. Next, McDonald’s decision-makers were invited to Bosch’s Experience Center where they tested a variety of speakers, configurations, and accessories. The combination of Bosch's sound portfolio and the visit to the Experience Center was enough to convince the team at McDonald's that Bosch could deliver more than competing systems.

“McDonald's has invested a lot in background music, because we know that it gives customers good feelings, and good feelings bring more and better business," said Ma Lijie, Director of the Development Department for McDonald's China. "McDonald’s needs a good music system, and Bosch's wide product range meets our needs very well.”

Bosch will supply sound systems to all McDonald's flagship restaurants and some of the chain's smaller restaurants over the next several years—a period when McDonald’s plans to add many new locations in China.

Munro Acoustics recently deployed an end-to-end Harman Professional Solutions audio system at the Flea Bazaar Café, a first-of-its-kind dining and entertainment concept in the Lower Parel district of Mumbai.

Owned and operated by Impresario Group, the 7,000-square-foot café features 13 separate restaurants, a marketplace for local lifestyle brands, and a bar that serves local beers and craft cocktails. The Flea Bazaar Café also includes a community performance venue that hosts standup comedy, plays, DJs and live music, and more. The space features a unique pulley mechanism that can quickly lift the tables and chairs to the ceiling and create extra space for audiences, as well as a van that serves as the DJ booth.

Impresario Group hired longtime audio partner Munro Acoustics to design a state-of-the-art audio system that would complement the aesthetic of the Flea Bazaar Café and deliver even sound coverage in the highly reverberant venue. To ensure an even, smooth and enjoyable music experience for guests, Munro Acoustics selected a complete Harman sound reinforcement system comprised of JBL VRX line array speakers, JBL SCS Spatially Cued Surround loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers and dbx digital signal processors.

“Integrating the system in a highly morphable space such as Flea Bazaar Café was quite challenging,” said Kapil Thirwani, partner, Munro Acoustics. “We worked with the architects to make the subwoofers an integral part of the stage. The DJ plays through a van and we created a plug and play provision to disconnect the DJ van when not in use to free up the space for gigs. The venue was highly reverberant, and we faced some initial hiccups due to the complexity of the system design. However, the combination of the JBL VRX line array system and the JBL SCS loudspeakers worked well for this requirement. We chose Harman as our preferred audio solutions company for its wide range of JBL Professional loudspeakers, end-to-end solution offerings and their extensive service support network.”

The main house system includes six JBL VRX 932LA-1 compact line array speakers paired with four JBL VRX 918S 18” high power subwoofers, which are suspended from the venue ceiling. Two additional JBL VRX 918S cover the flea stall, kitchen garden and pan stall areas. Four JBL SCS 8 Spatially Cued Surround loudspeakers are used for side-fills around the main performance area, with six additional JBL SCS 8 installed at the flea stall, pan stall, and kitchen garden area. Although they are commonly used for cinema applications, the JBL SCS loudspeakers are ideal for installations where sound reinforcement needs to be provided in a compact space with flexible mounting options. The system is powered by Crown XTi 6002, MA 5000i and XLi 1500 amplifiers, which deliver reliable, uninterrupted power for performances.

“When I think of a bazaar, it brings back fond memories from my childhood,” said Prashant Govindan, senior director India & SAARC, Harman Professional Solutions. “Street food, shopping and entertainment have been all brought together in this innovative yet modern setting. Although the installation was complex, the Harman Professional and Munro teams worked together to create a versatile audio experience. One of the things that I admire about Kapil is his creativity and innovation. By combining JBL cinema surround loudspeakers with a JBL line array solution, his team was able to create a unique and immersive sound experience for guests.”

When you meet the owners of Newport Beach’s famed beach hangout Mutt Lynch’s, you immediately know you’re not only dealing with local history, you’re dealing with family history. The 40-year old, family-owned dockside restaurant/bar is named after the owner’s grandfather, a WWII veteran, and is one of those places that the locals would like to keep a closely guarded secret.

While patrons appreciated the bar’s rustic vibe, Mutt’s AV system had become extremely outdated. All the speakers had blown, staffers could not easily control the space’s AV, and there was no protection against the frequent power spikes and surges the venue was experiencing.

Rick Geller, owner of local integration firm Vector Media Solutions, was initially hired to simply replace the venue’s failing speaker system. However, what this popular old beach hangout needed was a complete renovation, one that would do the Lynch family proud. And Geller says he knew Elan would be the “perfect automation system” to keep Mutt Lynch’s vibe rolling for generations to come.

“I suggested Elan for two major reasons,” Geller began. “One was price point as the system I was replacing, along with being old, was also quite costly, and the Lynch family didn’t want to deal with another huge price tag. The other was knowing I could easily upgrade and integrate Elan quickly and seamlessly. Add the ease-of-operation factor, as Mutt Lynch’s is typically jammed with people and the staff has no time to deal with clunky tech, and Elan was an immediate match for this install.”

Once approved, Geller installed three Elan gSC10 controllers and an Elan 1616A amplifier to immediately address the staff’s need for hassle-free control. He also added an Elan HR200 remote to help them change channels on 33 televisions, and an Elan KP7 wall-mounted keypad to control the venue’s AV with ease.

To replace Mutt’s sound system, Geller brought in 13 SpeakerCraft outdoor speakers that immediately took the venue’s music experience to new heights and handled the rough elements inherent with a bar on the beach.

After opening in 1976, Mutt’s had to move in 1982 after a fire destroyed its original Balboa Peninsula location. The 100-year old brick building at its current Newport Beach location presented Geller with a few interesting challenges, not the least of which was its unique rafter ceilings—the staff at Mutt’s made it clear that it was important that this installation be done without changing the venue’s rustic-beach feel the place was known for.

“The rafter ceilings leave a lot of the wiring and power plugs exposed so you see that stuff, and that is the style they wanted to keep. It is all part of the vibe going on there. There’s t-shirts and the like on the walls, and they wanted me to preserve this feel,” Geller explained. “So, I used jhooks for the wiring that went right down to the RE42 OmniMount rack I used, which was also visible to patrons, something the owners also loved.”

Once the “don’t disturb this vibe” mantra was delivered, the ELAN system’s ease-of-use took center stage. “We are always a bit apprehensive to get new technology and then figure out how to work with it, but with our new control system by ELAN it was easy to learn and every employee picked it up immediately,” said owner Ryan Lynch. “There was literally no learning curve, and the app makes it easy to control the AV via the staff’s iPhones.”

Geller was even able to customize the ELAN controller with a button on the app called “Game Day” that is used during the football season; this allows staff to instantly switch the AV system to the various NFL football games taking place on Sunday afternoons.

Lynch added that the SpeakerCraft products also delivered big for Mutt’s: “the crispness of the sound coming out of our SpeakerCraft speakers are amazing. You know you have quality sound when you see people dancing and following along to the lyrics of a song.”

With power brown-outs pretty common for beachfront establishment, Geller relied on Panamax surge protectors, and more specifically, the company’s BlueBOLT technology that resides within—a real-time, cloud-based control and monitoring system to handle power spiking and surging issues.

“The BlueBOLT software helps self-heal the system and also provides remote energy management functionality,” Geller explained. “This perfectly protects against these spikes and surges that can happen. I can program the entire system to reboot at a specific time using BlueBOLT. It provides the ability to easily control and monitor the system’s power source remotely.”

Geller added that due to the remote backup, monitoring, and surge protection capability, BlueBOLT has virtually eliminated service calls for him.

“I also added the Furman F1500, not only for how great it performs and because it’s also BlueBOLT compatible, but for how trusted the Furman name is in the AV industry,” Geller said. “The Furman name carries a lot of weight. And that name simply looks great to have in the rack.”

All of this was the kind of insight Lynch was looking for when he initially hired Geller for the quick speaker swap out, and the reason why this project ultimately turned into so much more.

“Working with Rick Geller and Vector Media Solutions was a great experience. They listened to our needs, were easy to work with, and executed the plans quickly and efficiently,” Lynch concluded. “They were very flexible in dealing with our restaurant hours and coming in to install at nighttime as to not disturb regular business. What we were looking in a new AV system was one that was of the very high quality yet easy to control and that is exactly what we got.”

The downside to the install? There’s just one according to Lynch: the local secret of Mutt Lynch’s may not be such a well-kept secret after all.