Among America’s top pub business owners and one of New York City’s best-known restaurateurs, Danny McDonald is known for the development, construction and operation of modern pubs. Starting in 1995 with the Swift Hibernian Lounge, which Crain’s New York contended ‘revolutionised the Irish Bar scene’ in the city, his portfolio grew to include Puck Fair, Ulysses’ Folkhouse, Pier A Harbor House and The Dead Rabbit. His latest venture can be found in the newly renovated Penn Station below the Beaux Arts-designed James A. Farley Post Office Building.
Called The Bar and located in Manhattan’s Moynihan Train Hall, this an elegant venue in dark walnut and polished brass, and in keeping with McDonald’s quest for the best, uses Genelec loudspeakers to create its sound ambience.
Specifically, ten Genelec 4430A Smart IP Installation Loudspeakers were installed by NY-based system integrator Osbee Industries.
The loudspeakers are soffited in the ceiling of the bar area, lending sound to the eight television displays that make The Bar an elegant sports-watching venue. The A/V system, designed by Osbee, is networked with Crestron control and Symetrix processing, and 4430As are connected to that network via Dante.
‘The Genelec loudspeakers, which Danny has used many times before in his restaurants, were the perfect choice here,’ says, Osbee President, Dave Raines. ‘They’re compact and fit into the wood soffit above the bar in such way that they’re practically invisible, yet still have plenty of output power. They’re compatible with Dante, as well as open streaming standards such as AES67, so they’re able to be networked, and they also have PoE functionality, which streamlines the system design. Plus, they sound fantastic, so they really check all the boxes.’
In fact, this was Osbee’s first Genelec installation, and Raines was duly impressed with the Genelecs’ ease of installation and performance. ‘It’s a great installation loudspeaker,’ he agrees.
McDonald knows hospitality, and also knows it’s not limited to food and drink. ‘We’ll want the atmospheres in the restaurants and bars to reflect the times and places and people,’ he says. ‘We’ll want them curated for the moment.’
The Bar will play music and show videos that complement what many patrons have come to see, whether it’s a Rangers game or a Billy Joel concert. ‘That’s where the Genelecs really shine,’ McDonald says. ‘They’re studio-monitor quality, so the sound is really excellent. We’ll have some acoustic music in here, such as jazz on Wednesdays, and the Genelecs give it elite-level sound.’
As importantly, the Genelecs help encourage the room’s social pace. ‘We call it choreographed conversation,’ McDonald explains. ‘If people are shouting to get the bartender’s attention, they’re doing it to get over the loudness of the sound system. It’s not supposed to be that way. We space the Genelecs out roughly eight feet apart, and it creates the perfect balance – you’re surrounded by music but you can talk easily, without having to shout, and you still get the impact of the music. That’s the beauty of the Genelecs. They let us get the environment right.’
More: www.genelec.com/smart-ip
