Music zones explained: different music in different areas
What audio zones are, why bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms use them, and how a zoned system lets you control volume and music area by area.
· 1 min read
A zone is an area of your venue whose music you can control on its own. Most venues outgrow a single volume knob quickly: the bar wants energy, the dining room wants calm, the courtyard has neighbours, and the toilets do not need music at full blast.
What a zoned system lets you do
- Set a different volume in each area.
- Play different music in different areas, or the same music everywhere.
- Turn a zone off without affecting the others, such as the outdoor area at a set time.
- Make announcements to one area or to all of them.
Typical zones by venue
- Cafe: seating, counter, outdoor.
- Bar or pub: main bar, dining area, beer garden, function room.
- Restaurant: dining room, bar, private dining, bathrooms.
- Gym: main floor, each class studio, reception and change rooms.
How it works
A zoned system usually has a multi-zone amplifier or audio processor in the equipment cupboard, with speakers in each area wired back to it. Staff control each zone from wall panels, a tablet or an app. Many commercial systems use constant-voltage speaker wiring (often called 70 V or 100 V line), which makes it easy to run many speakers across a large space from one amplifier.
Keep control simple
The best zoned systems are easy for staff: a wall control in each area with volume and source, and sensible limits set by the technician so nothing can be turned up too far. Ask for presets such as "Day", "Evening" and "Event" that change every zone at once.
Next, learn about the speaker types used in venues or find an audio technician to design your zones.
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