In the heart of Iceland’s capital, the culinary landscape has recently been elevated by the opening of Shiro, a high-end Japanese restaurant that marries traditional Eastern flavors with the historic charm of a meticulously restored 1907 townhouse. While the venue is celebrated for its gastronomic offerings, its sophisticated auditory environment—designed and installed by the Icelandic AV specialist Exton—represents a masterclass in modern hospitality technology. By utilizing the NEXO ID Series, Exton has successfully integrated a high-performance audio system across four distinct zones, ensuring that the technology remains virtually invisible while delivering a sonic experience that adapts to the shifting moods of the day.
The project presented a unique set of challenges, typical of high-profile installations in historic buildings. The structure, which dates back over a century, requires careful handling to preserve its architectural integrity. Furthermore, Shiro is not a singular dining space but a multi-level experience: a main restaurant floor, a Teppanyaki room in the attic, a private karaoke suite, and a basement bar known as "Seventeen." Each of these spaces demanded a different acoustic profile, ranging from subtle ambient background music to high-energy club audio for late-night DJ sets.
The Architectural Challenge: Audio Without Visibility
For the owners of Shiro and the architectural team, the primary requirement was that the audio system should not detract from the restaurant’s aesthetic. In high-end hospitality, the visual environment is as curated as the menu; bulky speakers or visible cabling can disrupt the "zen" atmosphere of a Japanese-inspired space. Asaf Tzur, Sound Consultant and Lead Technician at Exton, worked in close coordination with the project’s architects to identify solutions that would provide the necessary SPL (Sound Pressure Level) and frequency response without compromising the interior design.
The solution lay in the NEXO ID (Inspace Definition) Series. Known for its ultra-compact footprint and high power-to-size ratio, the ID Series is specifically designed for environments where space is at a premium and aesthetics are paramount. By leveraging the various mounting options and the specific dispersion characteristics of the ID14 and ID24 models, Exton was able to tailor the sound to each room’s specific geometry.
The Main Restaurant: Hidden Engineering and Acoustic Transparency
On the main dining floor, the goal was to provide a lush, immersive background sound that would allow for clear conversation while masking the ambient noise of a busy kitchen and bustling tables. The technical team achieved this by installing five NEXO ID14 cabinets. The ID14 is a remarkably small loudspeaker, measuring only 130mm wide, yet it delivers a frequency response of 120Hz to 20kHz.
The true innovation in this room, however, is the placement of the speakers. They are mounted above a Barrisol microperforated stretch ceiling. This material is a staple in high-end interior design, providing a sleek, matte finish that hides structural elements. Because the ceiling is microperforated, it remains acoustically transparent, allowing sound waves to pass through with negligible attenuation. This "invisible" installation ensures that the source of the music remains a mystery to guests, enhancing the sophisticated atmosphere. To ground the sound and provide necessary warmth, two IDS108 subwoofers were seamlessly integrated into the custom-built seating furniture, providing low-end support without occupying any floor space.
Teppanyaki and Karaoke: Specialized Sonic Zones
The Teppanyaki restaurant, located in the attic of the 1907 building, presented different structural constraints. With exposed wooden beams and a sloping roofline, the acoustic treatment had to account for varied reflections. Here, Exton installed four ID14 units and two IDS108 subwoofers. These were mounted strategically on the structural beams above a suspended ceiling element, ensuring the sound was directed precisely toward the dining counters where the chefs perform their culinary displays.
In the private karaoke room—a staple of Japanese social culture—the requirements shifted from ambient background music to vocal clarity and high-output playback. For this space, Exton chose the slightly larger NEXO ID24. The ID24 features a unique "twin-axial" driver arrangement with two 4-inch drivers and a rotatable horn. This allows for precise control over the high-frequency coverage (either 60° x 60°, 90° x 40°, 120° x 40°, or 120° x 60°), which was essential for the room’s compact and reflective environment. Two ID24s were wall-mounted, supported by an IDS108 subwoofer to provide the "thump" necessary for a lively karaoke session.
Seventeen: The Basement Bar and Club Atmosphere
The basement of the building houses "Seventeen," a bar that serves as both a lounge and a late-night venue for local and international DJs. This space required the most versatile system in the building. During the early evening, the system must provide a low-key lounge vibe, but as the night progresses, it needs to deliver the high-impact "club sound" expected by DJ performers and patrons.
To meet this demand, Exton installed four ID24 cabinets and two IDS110 subwoofers. The IDS110 is a compact, high-output sub that extends the system’s low-frequency reach down to 43Hz, providing the physical impact required for electronic and house music. Additionally, a fifth ID24 was installed behind the bar to serve as a dedicated monitor for the DJ, ensuring they have an accurate representation of the mix being sent to the floor. The result is a system that punches far above its weight class, offering a club-level experience within the confines of a small basement bar.
Infrastructure and Control: A Unified Ecosystem
Beyond the loudspeakers themselves, the success of the Shiro installation relies on a robust and user-friendly control infrastructure. In a multi-zone venue, the ability for staff to easily manage volume levels and audio sources is critical for daily operations.
The signal chain begins with a Bluesound Professional B400S four-zone network music player. This 1U rack-mounted device allows the restaurant management to stream high-resolution audio independently to each of the four zones (Restaurant, Teppanyaki, Karaoke, and Bar). The B400S is specifically designed for commercial use, offering a stable and secure streaming platform that supports all major professional music services.
The system is managed via a Q-SYS network control platform. Q-SYS provides a centralized interface that the staff can access via wall-mounted touchscreens or mobile devices. This allows for instant adjustments to the atmosphere—for example, lowering the volume in the dining room while ramping up the energy in the basement bar—without needing technical expertise.
Power and digital signal processing (DSP) are handled by five NEXO DTDAMP4x0.7 four-channel amplifiers, paired with DTD-I controllers. These ultra-compact units provide the specific processing presets for the ID Series speakers, protecting the drivers and optimizing their performance. By housing all the amplification and processing in a single, centralized rack, Exton ensured that the system is both easy to maintain and space-efficient.
Strategic Analysis and Industry Implications
The Shiro project highlights a growing trend in the global hospitality industry: the move toward "audio-architectural" integration. As dining experiences become more holistic, encompassing food, lighting, and sound, the demand for high-fidelity audio that does not intrude on the visual space is at an all-time high.
NEXO’s ID Series has positioned itself as a leader in this niche. By offering "pro-audio" specs in "consumer-sized" packages, the brand allows integrators like Exton to satisfy both the audiophile and the architect. The use of the ID14 at Shiro is particularly noteworthy; it represents a shift away from traditional 70V/100V ceiling speakers toward high-performance, low-impedance systems that offer much greater dynamic range and clarity.
Furthermore, the integration of Bluesound and Q-SYS illustrates the increasing importance of the "smart restaurant." The ability to automate audio schedules based on the time of day or the specific booking in the karaoke room reduces the operational burden on staff, allowing them to focus on service rather than troubleshooting AV issues.
Conclusion
The installation at Shiro is a testament to the technical proficiency of Exton and the versatility of NEXO’s product line. By respecting the historical nature of the 1907 building while pushing the boundaries of modern audio integration, the team has created a venue that sounds as good as it looks.
Asaf Tzur’s summary of the project reflects the satisfaction of the technical team: "The NEXO ID Series is our first choice when a sound system needs to be heard but not necessarily seen. Shiro once again demonstrates the incredible performance these very compact speakers offer." For the patrons of Reykjavík, Shiro stands as a beacon of high-end hospitality, where the soundscape is as carefully crafted as the sashimi, providing an immersive journey through the various levels of Japanese culture and Icelandic history.
