Tips on speakers

126coupe · 126coupe's Garage

My new man cave office is 15X15, I'm getting a 52" screen, what would be some good speakers that, would blend in, i might be able to go with a flush mount.

Joeaksa · 01-25-2011, 05:42 PM

Save your money and get the biggest screen there is. Love my 73" and would go larger if I had room.

126coupe · 126coupe's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Save your money and get the biggest screen there is. Love my 73" and would go larger if I had room.

In a 15x15 room and being 10' away from the screen, wouldn't 73" be too large?

Joeaksa · 01-25-2011, 05:50 PM

We do it but then we are usually a bunch of guys and bigger is better. I had a 55" and its sitting in the other room as a "spare" set in case the big one goes out.

bell · bell's Garage

i'm not happy unless it mimics a visit to an Imax setup

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

giant Klipsch horns

LWJ · 01-25-2011, 08:12 PM

If you are doing a projector, a larger screen is virtually no extra cost. I am doing a theater right now and am putting a 92" screen in a 10x15 room. Should be fine. I do have complete light control. As shown, you have a bunch of windows. Those will make a projector less viable.

Let us know how this shakes up.

Larry

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Contrary to what some say, a TV/screen can be too big for a room. Just think of the first 10 rows in a movie theater. If you can't see the whole screen without moving your head, it's too big.

With a 15 X 15 room with 10' - 12' ceilings (by the look in the pictures), you will be fighting a potential mid-bass boom. A square room is a poor sound room. Double subs - front & back - could help. As for "flush" mount speakers . . . well, 98% of the ones on the market really, really, really suck.

Decide on the room's purpose - music only? home theater only? sports only? mixed?

Decide on a budget & any restraints on placement.

Do some listening in stores. Then come back here & we can advise further.

Ian

jyl · jyl's Garage

I think you got to do some combat flight simming on that screen. I've always wanted to try gaming on a really big screen.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Square room, bass nodes are going to be bad. Be prepared to employ active bass equalization and or room good acoustic treatments.

Will you be listening at all to music?

I'm a big fan of Martin Logan, they have some on-wall and in-wall products too.

MartinLogan | Premium Speakers for Home Theater & Stereo

The Definitive Technology - Mythos series gets big points on Industrial Design, but I have not heard them, only seen them at Best Buy.

Definitive Technology - On-Wall Systems

VincentVega · 01-26-2011, 07:13 AM

Check out the in wall Axioms, In-Wall/On-Wall Speaker Hybrid : Main - Axiom Audio

HardDrive · 01-26-2011, 08:24 AM

Meh.

I have to honest, I think high end speakers are a waste of money 99% of the time. Polk, Klipsch and Bose all make reasonable priced speakers that will sound great. I used a tiny pair of Bose 201 'bookshelf' speakers for years, and people would comment on how great the sound was. They couldn't believe it was coming from those tiny boxes.

Bose 201 Direct Reflecting Book Shelf Speaker System

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

there are optimal dimensions for a rectangular room that minimize the standing waves ("nodes") - either search or maybe Ian knows them off the top of his head

put up a brick wall to create some closets or storage to get the best dimensions

spend some of your budget on room treatments... not much, as you can build most of that stuff DIY

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I have to honest, I think high end speakers are a waste of money 99% of the time.

Don't you drive a Porsche instead of a normal car? Is your Porsche a waste 99% of the time?

If it makes you happy, then it is worth it. You answer to no one but yourself.

I have not heard the new MK Sound speakers, but the old USA made speakers which were small could fill a larger room. I have them in my HT system and they rock.

The new stuff from Europe:
MK Sound USA - The Choice of Professionals

scottmandue · 01-26-2011, 02:24 PM

My two cents...

There is a diminishing return on high end audio... however that starts to kick in around five digits which is probably more than you were going to spend anyway.

Ian is in the biz... I would do what he says.

In wall speakers... haven't heard anything good about them.

I have a pair of Altec Lansing A7's vintage 1950 that are way too big for your room. They sit in my garage and only get played about once a year or when I think to turn them on when I change my oil. Some people love the and some people hate them.

But for the right price I could maybe part with them.