|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
74.69.65.94
We recently moved into a house in which the previous owner had installed a Bose in-wall speaker system throughout the house and back yard patio - 14 speakers in all and in three different sizes - round and rectangular. Great idea and my SO was pleased at the prospect of no towers and wires in the living space. Well.
I didn't get a chance to hear the system until we moved in and now that I've the chance to hear them, well, they sound pretty bad. Awful, as a matter of fact.
I've been searching for quality drop-in replacements so I don't have to redo the wall holes. Suggestions for quality names to look at and sizes that will matvh the Bose holes?
Meantime, my Oddessey system and Nightingale speakers are set up in the basement where I put the bike on rollers for long rides to nowhere - but with great sound.
Follow Ups:
However, as many others have said, it really isn't the speaker as much as the wall and the area behind it that will influence the sound quality. If you really want good to excellent sound quality, your only solution is to use on-wall speakers. You will have to fill the holes, but that is not a very tough job. A *big* advantage to on-wall speakers is they can generally be aimed thus allowing for a much better soundstage presentation.I have Gallo Reference AV on-wall speakers and they really sound quite good. Their Stradas are also very high quality on-wall speakers with a very small visual "footprint". And there are many other brands available that are of very good quality, too. If you're lucky, they can even be painted to match the wall, thus allowing them to do a pretty good disappearing act...
-RW-
Edits: 03/25/15
Bowers and Wilkins has been selling architectural speakers for a great many years. Lots of options.You likely will need to resize the holes. Having the wire already there is what is key. Most architectural speakers are designed to fit between studs. Making a bigger hole is easier than covering one too big. Bose speakers are usually on the small side.
Edits: 03/25/15
I think you have to not compare the sound to what you will get from a proper stereo - that said there are still better than rubbish options.
I would probably start with M&K Sound for the speakers as this is sort of in their wheelhouse. Surround Sound/THX etc.
I am considering a home theater set-up using their 950 series because I live in Hong Kong and space is tight. I have been out of the loop in home theater for many years though but I remember M&K set-ups for Home theater sounded better than that home hi-fi brands I had auditioned back then.
There must be a way to make a make-shift ceiling insert if the wall/ceiling is complete rubbish. Or perhaps putting their on Wall speakers on the ceiling - instead of in the ceiling which may help as the M&Ks are sealed designs. Might make for a lumpy ceiling mind you but...
Here is a youtube on installing their speakers in the wall which looks pretty easy. They seem to get strong reviews both for surround sound and for in wall in ceiling speakers. And the price isn't nuts either.
Thanks for the replies. I feared as much and will have to rethink my house audio plan. I may be resigned to maintaining a man cave in the basement and a headphone setup in the "office" space.
There are actually quite a few very good sounding in-wall speaker systems. Head over to Sound & Vision and do a search on in-wall speakers to get an idea of what is available. I'm sure some of the other magazine websites will have in-wall articles too.
the wall itself is at least as important.....the same way every speaker needs a certain size box/environment. So not only have I seen that most house walls are totally inconducive to good sound, placement of them is critical and it may not "fit" this new homeowners desired room setup and his furniture.
E
T
In wall speakers are 99% of the time a compromise. It's more about the look (or lack thereof) than the sound.
These might be OK for non critical listening like in a home theater or for ambient music around the house. In fact, that's what IMO it only good for. A true audiophile in-wall setup is probably achievable but I can only imagine the expense and effort would be considerable.
Much easier to move into a "music room" (man cave if you must) where you can use a more conventional setup. It allows you to optimize placement and more importantly, change them out if you don't like them after a while.
Sadly In Wall speaker systems are mediocre at v best and just awfull in not the very best.
Have Comisioned *many* Residential Audio video setups and inwall is something one talks Clients out of Immediately.
No One needs/wants the bad publicity from an expensive 100/300K$ and invariably underperforming setup.
No such thing as a free lunch.. despite persistent Brochure Babbles
The biggest issue with in-wall or in cieling speakers is not the speaker - it is the wall. All kinds of vibration resonances. Some of these can be dealt with on installation but little on retrofit.
When I have done installs of in-wall on walboard I always doubles up the wallboard on the "Baffle" side and wherever possible installed a 14-3/8" wide MDF Box between the studs.
As for brands - the low end products from BIC were very close to higher end "Speakercraft". My cousin does HT and whole house installs as a full time job (any low voltage - including video and alarms) and he very much recommend the JBL line of product - and Sonance speaker for the highend architectural look
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
For the "highend architectural look"?
"High end look"? What exactly is that?
Cousin (lives in Burnsville, BTW) says the Sonance grills mount flush with the wall board and can be painted wall colors. I've never seen them so I cannot elaborate further.
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
the ones the original owner installed in my home aren't flush mounted, but painted to match the ceiling. Must not have gotten the memo.
As for drivers, I recently replaced the two in the office since the surrounds were shot. Got some GRC full rangers at Parts Express. :)
Most of the time in wall is pretty bad. Sure you can get another speaker but it is still in wall. There are fairly high dollar in wall that "can" sound pretty decent installed in the perfect in wall environment.....I almost never see that.
E
T
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: