If you're spec'ing a restaurant or bar from scratch, install these AV systems in this order. Skip the popular gimmicks, get the operational basics right, and your hospitality business runs cleaner with fewer headaches.
Priority 1: Distributed audio with zone control
The first thing that should go in is multi-zone audio. Not a single Bluetooth speaker. Not a TV-driven speaker setup. Real multi-zone with proper control.
Why it matters first
- Music sets atmosphere (the #1 driver of "feel" in hospitality)
- Volume zones let you adjust per-area (bar loud, dining quiet, patio different)
- Page-system override lets you announce
- Centralized control lets bar/wait staff adjust without IT knowledge
What to install
- Multi-zone DSP (Biamp Tesira, Q-SYS, or BSS — entry $2-4K)
- Ceiling speakers throughout ($150-300 per speaker, 1 per 100-150 sq ft)
- Zone control wall plates at each section ($300-500 per location)
- Streaming source (Soundtrack Your Brand, Pandora Pro, or local file server)
Typical cost
$8,000-15,000 for a small restaurant, $15-30K for a sports bar with patio extension.
Priority 2: Reliable POS-integrated TV switching (sports bars only)
If you have any sports component, the TV wall is the operational backbone of your business. Get this right BEFORE you decorate.
What to install
- Multi-source video switcher ($2-4K)
- Audio routing per TV (so you can match audio to whichever game is on whichever TV)
- Programmed presets (Sunday football scenes, Monday night, etc.)
- TV mounting + cabling done by professionals (cabling is what separates a clean install from a janky one)
- Cable + streaming source aggregation (DirectTV, YouTube TV, ESPN+, etc.)
What NOT to do
- Single HDMI splitter to all TVs (no audio control, no individual selection)
- Run cable to TVs without conduit / cable raceways (regret it during renovations)
- Skip the matrix switcher to save $2K (you'll regret it within 3 months)
Typical cost
$15,000-40,000 for a typical sports bar with 8-15 TVs.
Priority 3: Patio audio rated for outdoor
Outdoor audio is its own engineering problem. Indoor speakers in outdoor environments fail in 6-12 months — moisture, sun, temperature swings.
What to install
- IP-rated outdoor speakers ($300-500 per speaker minimum)
- Outdoor amplifiers in weatherproof housing (or run amp inside, speakers outside)
- Separate zone control for patio (different volume, sometimes different content)
- Ground-loop isolation (outdoor power often has issues)
What NOT to do
- Use indoor speakers outdoors (they'll fail)
- Run audio cables overhead without proper UV-rated jacket
- Skip the separate zone (patio always needs different volume than indoor)
Typical cost
$3,000-8,000 for a small patio, $8-20K for a larger outdoor space.
Priority 4: Digital menu boards (cloud-managed only)
If you're putting in menu boards, do it right. Cloud-managed CMS only — no physical USB swaps, no static images on PowerPoint, no "we'll just keep the menu in the back."
What to install
- Commercial-grade displays (not consumer TVs — they fail with 24/7 use)
- Cloud-managed CMS (BrightSign, Yodeck, or similar — $20-50/month per screen)
- Day-parted content (breakfast menu auto-switches to lunch at 11 AM)
- Per-location pricing variations (if multi-location)
What NOT to do
- Use consumer TVs for menu boards (will burn-in and fail in 18 months)
- Run menu via "USB stick we update weekly" (will not get updated)
- Use static images instead of dynamic content (loses 30-50% of menu-board value)
Typical cost
$2,500-5,000 per screen installed, plus $20-50/month CMS subscription per screen.
Priority 5: Live-music PA (if you book live music)
If you book live music regularly, having a permanent PA system is dramatically cheaper than renting per-show.
What to install
- Right-sized line array PA ($8-15K for typical bar/restaurant scale)
- Monitor wedge for performers ($1-3K)
- Permanent FOH mixer with stage box ($3-8K)
- DSP integration with main music system
What NOT to do
- Try to use the music system as a PA (insufficient SPL, wrong dispersion)
- Buy a "package" PA from Guitar Center (not designed for permanent install)
- Skip the monitor wedge (performers need it)
Typical cost
$15,000-35,000 for a typical permanent live-music setup.
What to skip
Avoid these popular gimmicks unless you have a specific business reason:
Skip: Karaoke systems
Most installs end up unused after 6 months. The novelty wears off, the operations team hates the wireless mic management, and the system collects dust.
Skip: Bar-jukebox replacements
Jukeboxes that take customer requests sound like a fun feature. In practice they create operational issues (offensive song requests, queue management, missing songs). Stick with curated playlists.
Skip: Gimmicky touchscreens at tables
Tablet-based ordering at tables sounds modern. In practice 70%+ of restaurants that install these remove them within 18 months. Not worth the install cost.
Skip: "Smart" lighting that the staff can't operate
Lighting integrated with phones / apps that requires installation walkthroughs to use. Bar staff will figure out one preset and never touch it again. Use simple wall plate scene control instead.
Multi-location standardization
If you have 3+ locations and you're installing AV at each, standardize from day 1:
- Same DSP brand across all locations
- Same content management for music and menu boards
- Same UI for staff control
- Centralized monitoring across all locations
The cost savings from standardization show up in year 2-5: faster troubleshooting, easier staff training across locations, central content management.
Service contracts for hospitality
Hospitality AV breaks more than corporate AV — bar splash, kitchen heat, late-night staff, frequent staff turnover. Plan for it:
- Quarterly preventive maintenance (clean cables, replace damaged speakers, firmware updates)
- 24/7 emergency response for sports bars (Sunday at noon a TV won't turn on = revenue lost)
- Monthly content rotation for menu boards (keep content fresh)
Service contracts for hospitality typically run 3-6% of install cost annually.
How we approach hospitality installs
We do restaurant + bar AV installs across our service area. Brand-agnostic, hospitality-specific operational design.
If you're opening a new location or planning an AV refresh:
- Send us your floor plan
- Tell us about your operational reality (sports? live music? multi-location?)
- We'll come back with a phased proposal
📞 (407) 885-5770 · 📧 info@axiosprosolutions.com
Have a project that fits this topic?
Skip the article — talk to the team that writes them. We get back to you fast, often within the hour.
Related reading
Other guides in this track.