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If you’re near Berkeley, CA, one of the owners of the restaurant Comal also owns a sound company that builds that kind of system, and they use Comal as a showpl

If you’re near Berkeley, CA, one of the owners of the restaurant Comal also owns a sound company that builds that kind of system, and they use Comal as a showplace. The effect is astounding - it’s an industrial-style design, and it’s got auditory “ambiance”, but you can have a full conversation at normal speaking volumes with everyone at the table. It’s the kind of thing where once you experience it, you’ll judge the hell out of any other “fancy” restaurant you go to that doesn’t have it.

Aaronstotle 2y ago
Been to Comal a few times, need to go again and pay closer attention
floatrock 2y ago
Comal is one of the subjects of that podcast episode
- roughly 2y ago
  Should've guessed! I'd really love to find more places with similar systems & investments in acoustics. It makes such a huge difference in the experience.
dekhn 2y ago
Oh neat: https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/restaurant-adjustable-acoustics/ https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/restaurant... Meyer Sound which did the sound install for the space is a long-time well-known innovator in sound tech- for example, establishing vertical line arrays. Years ago the son of the founder was doing advanced space modelling for the best sound (basically, entering the room geometry and simulating with helmholtz equations). I will go there just for the experience.
- roughly 2y ago
  Yep, that's the place. When you go there, two things to look for - one is the ring of speakers around 10ft up on the walls, and the other is the forest of small capsule-shaped microphones hanging from the ceiling. It's a really impressive system, although AIUI it's ludicrously expensive - it's there for marketing, Comal did not pay full price for the system.
- wkat4242 2y ago
  I'd hate those stools though. Great to have a non overwhelming auditory experience but if my back is killing me that's not much of an improvement.
  - roughly 2y ago
    They've got chairs elsewhere, just stools at the bar. It's a pretty big restaurant with a large outdoor area, too.
    - wkat4242 2y ago
      Ah ok. I don't know the place, I have never even visited the US in my life :) And there was only that one picture.

Aaronstotle 2y ago

Been to Comal a few times, need to go again and pay closer attention

floatrock 2y ago

Comal is one of the subjects of that podcast episode

roughly 2y ago
Should've guessed! I'd really love to find more places with similar systems & investments in acoustics. It makes such a huge difference in the experience.

dekhn 2y ago

Oh neat: https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/restaurant-adjustable-acoustics/ https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-08/restaurant... Meyer Sound which did the sound install for the space is a long-time well-known innovator in sound tech- for example, establishing vertical line arrays. Years ago the son of the founder was doing advanced space modelling for the best sound (basically, entering the room geometry and simulating with helmholtz equations). I will go there just for the experience.

roughly 2y ago
Yep, that's the place. When you go there, two things to look for - one is the ring of speakers around 10ft up on the walls, and the other is the forest of small capsule-shaped microphones hanging from the ceiling. It's a really impressive system, although AIUI it's ludicrously expensive - it's there for marketing, Comal did not pay full price for the system.
wkat4242 2y ago
I'd hate those stools though. Great to have a non overwhelming auditory experience but if my back is killing me that's not much of an improvement.
- roughly 2y ago
  They've got chairs elsewhere, just stools at the bar. It's a pretty big restaurant with a large outdoor area, too.
  - wkat4242 2y ago
    Ah ok. I don't know the place, I have never even visited the US in my life :) And there was only that one picture.