Setup suggestions for a “Japanese Kissaten jazz bar” vibe in a 1000 sq ft basement café

[Appy12]

Hi everyone,
I’m building a basement café setup (roughly 1000 sq ft) and I want the sound + atmosphere to feel like a Japanese Kissaten / jazz listening bar - warm, detailed, intimate, and “proper hi-fi”, not like a club or a loud restaurant system.


Current gear I already own

• Speakers: Klipsch Forte IV
• Amp: Wilsenton R8 amp
• DAC: RME- API 2
• Turntable: Rega Planar 3

What I’m trying to figure out

1. Is this setup enough for a commercial space this size?
   I’m not trying to play crazy loud, but I want the sound to feel full and effortless even when the place is occupied.
2. If I should upgrade, what speakers would you recommend for this kind of vibe?
   I love the look of wooden / vintage / horn-style speakers (the ones that visually match a jazz bar aesthetic), but they also need to sound genuinely high-end.
3. I’m also open to Indian brands/manufacturers, but only if they have:

• reliable repair/support
• ideally service available in Chandigarh (or at least easy support without shipping nightmares)

Sound preference

• Great midrange, imaging, jazz vocals/instruments
• Tight bass (basement rooms can get boomy)
• Something that works well for both vinyl + streaming
• I would be using a local audio gear supplier for the room treatment.

If anyone has experience with café / lounge setups or has heard speakers that fit this “Kissaten” feel, I’d really appreciate suggestions (including tips if you think my Forte IVs are already enough).

Thanks!

 

[Nikhil]

This sounds like a great idea for music lovers!! Wishing you all the best.

I don't have a technical opinion on the setup you have for the venue but I can tell you that the Japanese Jazz kissas have an intimate feel to them. They tend to be very small and nearfield listening spaces given the cost and availability of space in Japan. The well known bars tend to use JBL monitors which will cost you a small fortune but maybe you can look for something later on. The Fortes should be fine to begin with. I have no experience with the amps you have chosen but again my thinking is to get on with it and adapt as you go. It's only once you start the place will you get an idea of what is needed.

A very important part of getting the sound right is fine tuning the room. Usually having lots of carpet and furniture will help smooth out the sound a fair bit. Being a jazz bar using indoor plants will also help as diffusors at strategic points. Have someone who knows a little about acoustics take a look at the venue before hand. You just want to identify known issues in advance. Without looking at a plan or schematic it would be hard to give you more feedback. But don't worry too much IMO. Get the basics right and I am sure it will be a great place to listen to some tunes.


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[acemachine26]

That sounds really cool! I picked up this book recently that's filled with great pics of kissa all across Japan. Highly recommend it if you can find a copy, would serve as great reference point when trying to build your setup.

 

[acemachine26]

That sounds really cool! I picked up this book recently that's filled with great pics of kissa all across Japan. Highly recommend it if you can find a copy, would serve as great reference point when trying to build your setup.

 

[morerajendra5678]

I have no experience with the amps you have chosen but again my thinking is to get on with it and adapt as you go. It's only once you start the place will you get an idea of what is needed.

Wilsenton R8 amp that has been choosen is good enough to introduce tube warmth in the system and will have reasonable control on the bass. The DAC so choosen is also good enough as a starting point.