L-Acoustics conceals sound at Harajuku record bar
L-Acoustics conceals sound at Harajuku record bar
A record bar designed around minimalism has integrated concert-grade audio without visible loudspeakers, with L-Acoustics Soka inWall forming the sound system at Quaro in Tokyo’s Harajuku district.
Situated on Cat Street, Quaro is designed by Suppose Design Office as a four-floor destination exploring coffee, music and creative collaborations. Its second floor, Resonance, combines vinyl playback, drinks and evening DJ sets in an interior shaped by light, shadow and material textures.
Presenting a challenge for the audio team, the brief was to deliver sufficient output for DJ performances while preserving the architectural design. Nippon Rediffusion handled the audio project, working with L-Acoustics Certified Provider Bestec Audio on the Resonance installation. According to Bestec Audio, it is the first installation of Soka inWall in Japan.
“Typically, music bars feature massive, prominent speakers, but that wasn’t an option here,” noted Hiromu Itoh, audio systems designer at Nippon Rediffusion. “And if you want a wall-embedded speaker that rivals concert-grade setups in both power and sound quality, the L-Acoustics Soka inWall was truly the only option.”
The colinear source is designed to be recessed into standard wall construction, providing line-source performance without visible enclosures. To determine the placement, Itoh imported the architectural drawings supplied by Suppose Design Office’s spatial designer, Kagetsu Sen, into L-Acoustics Soundvision. The software was used to assess coverage and sound levels across the counter, elevator entrance and window seating.
The installation comprises two Soka inWall enclosures, recessed behind the staff counter and beside the elevator entrance. An SB10r inWall subwoofer, positioned below the second enclosure, extends the low-frequency response to 25Hz, adding weight for evening DJ sets while allowing the Soka units to operate full range independently.
With 140° horizontal directivity and 26° vertical directivity, the Soka inWall system is configured to cover the venue’s deep, narrow floor plan while limiting sound energy directed towards the ceiling and glazing. The system supports both daytime coffee service and evening performances without changing the room’s visual appearance.
“We’re thrilled with the result and truly blown away by the power of the Soka inWall,” added Itoh. “The interior of Quaro is sophisticated and refined, and adding high-fidelity sound transformed it into an inviting cafe and performance space.”
Quaro’s manager, Ayato Sasaki, remarked: “The second floor is designed for guests to linger and savour both coffee and music. And watching the atmosphere shift as the sun sets, delivered by a system nobody in the room can see, is exactly the sort of elegance we were looking for.”
