Recommend speakers for a restaurant sound system


My company is opening a restaurant this summer. We want to install a great system that will be rugged enough to stand up to daily use but still deliver a great sound.

The space is 3600 square feet and the ceiling height is 20+ feet. We will be installing a spray on soundproofing system for the ceiling to reduce sound reflection.

I have been underwhelmed by the commercial systems that are sold for commercial applications. Can anyone suggest speaker systems and amplifiers that would deliver great sound?

The systems I have listened to are: (1) too bright, (2) too muddy with a significant loss of detail and (3) total lack of dynamic range.

We don't have an unlimited budget, maybe $5k to $7k for an amp and three sets of speakers.
jkeniley
Slightly confused. Is the music for you when the restaurant is empty or the customers? If I am in a restaurant with people and all kind of activities, I don't think I will be listening critically for any music (unless they are too loud). So it seems to me money can be better spent elsewhere.

Having said that, if you want to impress your customers, Martin Logan will always invite admiration (if nothing else, just for the looks). I still remember many years ago, some stereo shop put a pair of Martin Logan in the food court of a Toronto shopping mall, people were mesmerized and couldn't understand how music can be coming from a perforated surface.
The only PA system that even reasonably impressed me had TOA speakers. Their mini arrays spread the sound more evenly around a larger room and can be configured in many ways. A Bryston integrated should be enough juice.
Stick to something like JBL pro series or JBL EON - don't spend a fortune on great sounding speakers that sound great that your staff will all too easily blow up when cleaning up after the late shift. Consumer speakers are great sounding but they aren't robust.
Though rightfully sneered at for high end home use, the Bose 901's might be the ticket.
I have a little experience in this area, and I agree with Millicurie. Unless you are opening a supper club or dinner theater, music will just be background noise and no one is really going to notice the quality of your music delivery.

Also, with such a large area you are probably going to require multiple speakers and placement will be more for even coverage than best musical fidelity. There are decent commercial speaker systems that sound OK - not great but probably good enough under all of the talking, plates dropping, waiters and bus staff.

Good luck