Big Sky Steakhouse
Big Sky Steakhouse, located inside the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, LA, is the property’s newest upscale dining destination. The vision was to create a high-end steakhouse with a warm, regionally rooted atmosphere while integrating a discreet audio system capable of enhancing the guest experience without drawing attention to itself.
The restaurant’s interiors pay tribute to Acadian craftsmanship and Southern heritage: repurposed 150-year-old doors, locally crafted woodwork, curated antiques, custom lighting, and a grand stone fireplace. The adjacent Mirror Bar, featuring over 40 antique mirrors sourced from across the South, serves as a visual focal point.
The management wanted a sound system that matched the restaurant’s aesthetic integrity and complemented its layered textures and intimate seating areas. Because the space features cozy booths for intimate dinners, a spacious dining room, and the Mirror Bar, the system required controlled dispersion, even coverage, and minimal audio spill between zones.
Integrators Alpha Video and Audio worked with K-array USA to create a system with high-quality sound in narrow, unobtrusive form factors. Slim loudspeakers and recessed ceiling speakers custom-finished in brass, and ultra-thin subs were installed to blend with the restaurant’s palette and architectural elements.
“We focused on coverage, scale, and finishes so the audio could support the space without changing its character.” - Andrew DeCesare, K-array USA Corporate Accounts Manager
System Overview
Line Arrays: 12x Python KP52X I and 8x Kobra KK52X I
Recessed Speakers: 19x Tornado KT2CX
Subwoofers: 13x Rumble KU210
Control & Networking: Q-Sys, Dante digital audio, Crestron for zone-level control and source selection
The system was tuned to provide smooth, consistent coverage across all areas while avoiding excessive low-frequency build-up. K-array’s dispersion characteristics allowed the system to provide a warm, enveloping environment without the typical bulk of traditional loudspeakers.
Enhanced performance and easy tuning are managed by the Integrated Electronic Brain (IEB) implemented into K-array amplifiers. More than a traditional DSP, the built-in micro electronics driven by the integrated operating system, osKar, features expansive sound processing, offering complete user control over the system performance: Volumes, Signal Routing and Presets, complete with a USB player. Directly manageable using WiFi or Ethernet connectivity via mobile app and dedicated professional interface. Dante networking enabled flexibility and clean routing across zones, while the Crestron system gave staff straightforward control over levels and source selection during service.
“The finished system gives us the consistency we were looking for. Each part of the restaurant now feels intentional and easy to manage. It helps the rooms feel settled, no matter how busy the night gets.” - Michael Thomas, Sound and Light Coordinator, Coushatta Casino Resort
The completed system now supports all dining, lounge, and bar areas with consistent coverage throughout Big Sky Steakhouse, tailored to the restaurant's layout and design.
Acknowledgments
Alpha Video and Audio
TBE Architects
Lake Charles Electric
Chaumont Construction, LLC.
Photo credits
The Carson Group
