The haute cuisine satisfies all the senses: it\u2019s the idea of Tanya Holland, owner and executive chef of Brown Sugar Kitchen, who has decided to complete the offer of the venue with sound quality.<\/strong><\/p>\n The new Brown Sugar Kitchen<\/strong><\/a>, in Oakland, California,<\/strong> was equipped with a Meyer Sound Constellation system<\/strong><\/a> for the 85-seat dining room.<\/strong> The system includes sixteen Ashby-5C<\/a><\/strong> full-range ceiling loudspeakers augmented for ample bass by 10 MM-10XP<\/a><\/strong> miniature subwoofers. All loudspeakers employ MeyerSound<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s IntelligentDC technology,<\/strong> which combines the sonic benefits of self-powered loudspeakers with the installation ease of distributed constant voltage systems. Fifteen miniature cardioid microphones<\/strong> are discreetly mounted around the ceiling for ambient sensing, and a D-Mitri<\/a> digital audio platform<\/strong> provides inputs and outputs as well as flexible acoustical emulations using the patented D-VRAS<\/strong> algorithm. System levels and presets are controllable via an iPad<\/strong> remote.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A challenging task at Brown Sugar Kitchen<\/strong><\/a> was represented by the glass-windowed front and hard flooring of the restaurant. Consequently, the ceiling was made highly absorbent, and remaining walls were treated to minimize sound reflections. In that respect, several Meyer Sound Libra<\/strong><\/a> custom acoustic panels served a dual role, both absorbing sounds and greatly contributing to the visual ambience of the space. <\/p>\n \u201cThe soundtrack has always been important to Brown Sugar Kitchen<\/strong><\/a>\u201d, says Tanya Holland<\/strong>, nationally renowned as a leading exponent of contemporary soul food cuisine, earning multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand<\/strong> awards. \u201cIt\u2019s crucial that music we play \u2014 a mixture of soul, R&B, American pop and some classical \u2014 is integrated into the customer experience in a way that is always enjoyable and never competing in volume with noise from the kitchen or other people\u2019s conversations. We\u2019ve done that with Constellation<\/strong><\/a>, and the results are really amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The complete audio system for Brown Sugar Kitchen<\/strong><\/a> was installed by BugID Audio Video Design and Integration<\/strong><\/a> of San Francisco<\/strong> under the supervision of Matt Lavine<\/strong>. Other key components on the input side include an Apple Mac Mini<\/strong> (for the Spotify<\/strong> music service), a Sound Devices USBPre2<\/strong><\/a> preamplifier, and a StarTech 17-inch<\/strong><\/a> video monitor. The Extron<\/a>-equipped DJ panel<\/strong> includes a Rolls MB15b Promatch<\/strong><\/a> for converting unbalanced stereo inputs to balanced audio outputs.<\/p>\n
\nThe result is an airy and convivial acoustic signature, but in a controlled way that never allows the room to become over-excited and cacophonous. Constellation<\/strong><\/a> also creates \u201csonic micro-climates\u201d that allow easy conversation around the table while blurring voices from further away. Background or foreground music can be introduced and balanced to suit the mood and time of day.<\/p>\n