AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Speakers => Topic started by: bpape on August 03, 2010, 12:26:37 PM
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While I'm tearing up the kitchen, I'd like to put in a system there. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and it would be nice to have something there. What I'm thinking is to mount a SB Touch under the cabinet on a swing down bracket and connect the output to a pair of in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. Anybody know of anything decent sounding for an active in-wall?
Bryan
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I think something like this could make a really cool backsplash, but you would have to use indoor/outdoor drivers (sorry about the image size, but it does look pretty cool) :roll:
(http://www.gain11.com/Portals/0/Images/Endless%20Speakers.jpg)
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Thanks Bob. Not sure the wife is going to buy off on that though. I'm thinking something more like a standard 8" round or maybe a 2 way that I can put up in the ceiling.
Bryan
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If you really want to go crazy Thiel make some unbelievable sounding in wall stuff, but at a price (~ $1k per speaker), and They are my self powered. But.....
http://www.thielaudio.com/THIEL_Site05/Pages/models/Current_Models/PowerPlane/pwrplane.html
On a bit of the more reasonable side check out the offerings from Paradigm. I have never heard any of their in wall stuff first hand, but I can say that I have never listened to a Paradigm speaker that I didn't think delivered way more sound than it had any right to for the price they were charging for it.
http://www.paradigm.com/products/paradigm/in-wall-in-ceiling
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Wait, I do know of something that I heard at Ralph Glascal's place. He had speakers that were actually an integral part of the high hats in the kitchen. They looked and functioned just like a high hat, but also played music. I think they were made by B&W.
Perfect for a WAF since they are hidden. They sounded very good also.
Good luck with your search.
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NHT Also makes In Wall and In Ceiling Speakers.
Admittedly, I haven't listened to them, but may worthwhile to look into.
http://www.nhthifi.com/In-wall
http://www.nhthifi.com/In-ceiling
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Bob
I'll see what I can find on the B+W lights. Sounds interesting.
The NHT's are nice but unfortunately, not active. The whole idea is to not have to have a receiver, amp, etc. in the kitchen. Just the Touch pre-outs to an active speaker and use the volume control in the touch.
Bryan
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Check OWI:
http://www.owi-inc.com/family_list.asp?division_id=1
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Do not forget about car speakers. BTW Audio Advisor and Music Direct are practically giving in walls away. Check them out.
charles
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I'm not finding a lot in powered speakers that are reasonably priced. The OWI's look interesting but have balanced inputs. The Polks look good but really don't want to spend $1700 for a pair of kitchen speakers.
Was trying to avoid having to have an amp in the kitchen at all. I may have to just go with something like a little Trends or Virtue amp and hide it up in the cabinet somewhere.
Bryan
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If they didn't have to be flush-mount or inwalls what about a pair of Swan's? http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=364
Just a thought.
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Just have to talk the wife into it. For standard ones, I was even considering the AudioEngines.
Now, if I want to pull down drywall (which I may anyway), I could try those transducers that you feather into the drywall and then paint.
Bryan
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A pair of AudioEngine A2s would work nicely (albeit, not in wall). Always been curious how well their wireless dongles work for sound but I suspect with the A2s, that would be a way-easy and cheap install.
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Was Googling around and came across these...
http://www.klipsch.com/LightSpeaker/Products/ProductPage.aspx
Not a huge Klipsch fan but it is a kitchen and this would require running NO wired - just replacing a couple of bulbs. Interesting concept.
Bryan
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That looks ideal, and is very similar to the B&W light/speakers that I saw. These Klipsh's are wireless though, so doubly cool.
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It would save a lot of hassle in the ceiling. It's still another 'box' in the kitchen for the control unit so at that point, it's the same as a little Trends or something and then fishing speaker wire. Will have to give it some more thought.
Also, those Klipsch's roll off at 90Hz so I'd need to do a small sub of some sort. Thinking a shallow box on top of one of the cabinets, but then that's another amp.
Damn. I really have Nervosa bad :duh
Bryan
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You could put the sub in one of those way-up-high cabinets that have stuff you never use anyway in them. Cut a hole out the top and bam, you're there.
Super cheap option..
Buy a 2.1 PC speaker system with a low-profile sub, put it on top of the cabinets, mount satellites up there too... Then plug into the SB3 with an RCA to headphone adaptor.
I have a set of Altec Lansing 2.1 that was about $50 or so that would work fine in a kitchen... powered, plugs into anything with a standard headphone jack. It gets loud enough for my office which is the size of a midsized kitchen.
-C
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These look like a possibility too - though would need to run preamp cabling.
http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/cambridge-audio-as10.html
Bryan
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When they came out the reviews were pretty lukewarm for SQ. But ease of installation is what they are all about.
Cambridge Audio also makes some powered, but they are powered by a base unit, so it's more of a home audio system type thing. But if they're cheap enough maybe it might work. Check Crutchfield for it.
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I had a talk with the Mrs. last night. I think I'm just going to get a set of AudioEngines and have them up on top of the counter. I can do a wallplate with RCA jacks behind the TV and hide all the cabling up under the cabinet bottoms. Easy to tap into an existing outlet on that wall for power for the AE's above the cabinet.
The Klipsh's looked like a neat idea until I read a bit further and found out they were 2 1/2" speakers. Guess for many people that would be OK but I'm just not buying it for $600 for 2 of them with the transmitter. The AEs will do a MUCH better job for less money.
Bryan
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They look bigger in the pictures... TWHS :yay2:
Sounds like a good decision Bryan. Then you can take them on vaykay like mdconnelly does.
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Yup. Right now I have the SB Boom in there while I'm working on the kitchen. The wife has gotten to like music out there. I take that with me on vaca and run the server side on my laptop. Not the full music collection as I don't like to carry the USB drive with me but enough for a good variety.
I was looking at the A2 and they only have a 2.75" woofer. Think I'm going with the A5's. Going to build an angled pair of legs to hold them to allow the port to breathe but still use the cabinet top and wall as a horn to reinforce things.
Bryan
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Going to build an angled pair of legs to hold them to allow the port to breathe but still use the cabinet top and wall as a horn to reinforce things.
Modding already! :thumb:
The A5s have some nice reviews! And plenty of them!! :shock:
http://audioengineusa.com/News-Reviews#a5_reviews
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Not modding, just creatively using my surroundings... :?
Bryan
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I love my A2s for sound and portability but if I were going to use them in just one location, I'd definitely go for the A5s. The improved sound will definitely be a step-up! :thumb:
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Brian Sound by Singer is selling Focal in walls for a pittance.
charles
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Looks like a great deal but I have to stay with powered speakers. Just no room for an amp the way things are laid out.
Bryan
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Brian Sound by Singer is selling Focal in walls for a pittance.
I've seen those at my local dealer, they are volume enclosed in thick steel box. Beautifully built.