HARMAN and Intellitech Systems Take Part In A Detroit Revival at Bistro 82

Left to right: Chadi Shaya (Owner of Intellitech Systems),
Andy Combs (Owner of IAV Sales, HARMAN Rep.),
Aaron Belen (Owner of Bistro 82 & Sabrage),
James Ure (Business Development Manager
Eastern Region, HARMAN Professional).

ROYAL OAK, Michigan – Detroit has always been a city of resiliency, and that was resoundingly evident at the Valentine’s Day opening of Bistro 82 in the city’s Royal Oak suburb. Completely remodeled and renovated, the 2-story establishment offers superlative French cuisine in its restaurant while its Sabrage ultra lounge is a chic addition to the area’s nightclub scene. Bistro’s clean, contemporary design is accented by an open, spacious layout with splashes of color and plenty of natural lighting, with an audio system featuring HARMAN’s JBL, Crown and BSS Audio components to complement the world-class food and surroundings.

“This was a complete ground-up remodeling project, which gave us the freedom to perfectly tailor the audio installation to the first floor Bistro 82 restaurant and second floor nightclub,” said Chadi Shaya, owner of Detroit systems integrator Intellitech Systems. Bistro 82’s main and VIP areas are served by 14 JBL Control 65P/T full-range pendant speakers, mounted 10 feet above the floor using a suspension cable system. Additional first-floor speakers include six JBL ASB6112 single-12-inch subwoofers and five JBL AC16 2-way dual-8-inch speakers that are horizontally wall mounted. The speakers are powered by four Crown CDi 4000 amplifiers and networked using a BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-100 signal processor with digital audio bus and a BLU-8v2 programmable zone controller, which can independently route different audio and video sources to different areas in the restaurant.

The Sabrage lounge system is designed to deliver high-SPL audio – over 40,000 watts worth of peak power. Energy on the main dance floor area is fueled by six JBL AM7212/26 high-power 2-way loudspeakers, chosen for their clear, full-range, high-impact sound and compact design. The AM7212/26 loudspeakers are grouped to provide concentrated sound to the dance floor while not overpowering the rest of the nightclub. In addition, there are two ASB6125 and two ASB6115 single-15-inch subwoofers and seven JBL AC28 dual-8-inch loudspeakers, the latter mounted horizontally on the ceiling and aimed downward towards the dance floor. The loudspeakers are driven by Crown Macro Tech 12000i and 9000i amplifiers, networked together with a separate BSS BLU-100 processor.

All amplifiers, processors and A/V equipment are housed in a central ventilated equipment rack located on the first floor. In addition to its audio capabilities, the Bistro 82/Sabrage system features video and smart automation control that enables operation of the system via an iPad, iPhone or computer as well as the BSS wall controllers.

The team at Intellitech Systems invested over 200 hours of design and engineering into this project, using AutoCAD to lay out all the loudspeakers and subwoofers and EASE (Enhanced Acoustic Simulator for Engineers) acoustic modeling software to ensure optimum audio quality. Due to building architecture, there were some challenges – “On both floors, one entire wall consists of all windows,” noted Shaya, “and in the second floor night club we had to deal with a low ceiling.” To minimize the effects of the windows’ hard reflective surfaces, Intellitech sprayed surfaces on both floors with soundproofing material that not only helped reduce the amount of reverberation but also helped to separate both floors from each other acoustically. The EASE simulator enabled Shaya to choose the loudspeakers that would be best suited for each section of the interior spaces, and place and aim the loudspeakers for best sound coverage while minimizing unwanted reflections from the windows.

“I have to point out that the level of support we received from HARMAN Professional and the quality of their products helped make this project successful,” Shaya emphasized. “The all-HARMAN system architecture ensured total compatibility all around, and the BSS Audio Soundweb London processors allowed us to easily integrate iPad and iPhone control, which adds to the ease and convenience of operating the system.”

“We feel this is a breakthrough for the city of Detroit,” Shaya concluded. “It will definitely set a new trend for future bistros, bars and nightclubs.”

IntelliTech Systems Inc. (www.intellitech-systems.com) is a Detroit based company that integrates imaginative and thoughtful technology into daily life. IntelliTech is a full service engineering, design and installation of all low voltage products: Pro Audio/Video, home automation, home theater, lighting control, window shade control, climate control, camera surveillance and intercom systems. Services include project design (CAD), installation, programming, and training for varieties of application in the residential and commercial industries. IntelliTech Systems is an Energy Star partner and a member of the USGBC, with engineers actively working towards a green world offering advanced solutions to our customers that preserves natural resources while also minimizing costs. In addition, the company is dedicated to providing unparalleled service to customers providing them with an additional level of comfort, security, convenience, and conservation.

HARMAN designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 14,800 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.7 billion for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2013.