In wall speakers recommendations...

[dan79brooklyn]

Hello,

I'm planning on putting in wall speakers in our new house.
I'm not an audiophile, but I want good sound and would like to avoid having to purchase a separate sub-woofer (but I want decent bass).

This is for a stereo system. Not home theater.

I want good performance but reasonable cost. (less than $600 total)
I only need two speakers.

I've been looking at the Polk and Klipsch speaker range.

Klipsch R-2502-W In-wall speaker at Crutchfield.com

The Klipsch are $299 each.

The Polk's are less expensive

Polk Audio TC65i In-wall speaker at Crutchfield Outlet
These are on sale at $239 each.

there is also a pair of polks for only $170
Polk Audio RC85i In-wall speakers at Crutchfield.com

These Yamahas also look good at only $199 each:
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/speaker-systems/inwall-inceiling-speakers/ns-iw960/?mode=model

Does anybody have any experience or opinions on what is best...?

Thanks.

[5String43]

Depends on how good you want the sound to be. Check out Paul S. Barton towers.

[Eric Coffey]

If you are looking for really "good sound" and "decent bass" in-walls are probably the worst option, especially for 2-channel audio. However, if you have made up your mind I would probably go with either these Def Tech models over the above Klipsch and Polk offerings:

Definitive Technology DI 6.5LCR
Definitive Technology DI 6.5LCR Pair New in Box

DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY UIW 75
Definitive Technology UIW-75 In-Wall Loudspeakers ( PAIR )

Of course, there are better in-walls out there, but the Def Techs are probably the best bang for your buck at that price-point IMO. YMMV.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

If you are looking for really "good sound" and "decent bass" in-walls are probably the worst option

That says it all. In very simplistic terms, bass drivers work by compressing the air in the box to assist them in exciting the air in the room. Less compression = less excitation = less bass. The airspace in the wall & ceiling is unknown & undamped & usually - esp in a ceiling - a large volume of totally uncontrolled air. This all means that the vast majority of inwall designs do a very poor job of reproducing lower mid-bass. let alone anything usable below 100Hz. The best inwall/inceiling designs all come with a pre-made back box to provide a known airspace. You can fab your own by framing the studs behind the speaker to seal the airspace & adding some insulation. Not ideal but far better than nothing.

Ian

[KFC911]

Ian and Eric are pros at this stuff and always offer "sound" advice. Although I'm not a fan of subwoofers (good systems don't need 'em imo), I'd reconsider my options and look at a couple of small "cubes" and a small sub. I've still got big ole 170lb vintage Polk towers, but have had a cube/sub (slightly larger than a shoebox) system on my "desktop audio PC" for years...surprisingly good sound for what it is. Now ask the pros about suggestions

edited: ps: If you're set on in-wall and don't want cubes, just plan on a small sub to provide the low end...

[dan79brooklyn]

Eric, Thanks for the link to the DT speakers, they look nice maybe too expensive...

But I'm confused...If in walls are so bad, why does nearly every manufacturer make several different models of these types of speakers? All the installation articles I've read don't mention any additional work besides running wires and putting up the mounting plate.

Do I really need to build a box around and behind the speaker...?

I was hoping to have a stereo system which would provide good sound and disappear architecturally. I'm not really into big speakers taking up floor space or hanging off the wall.

[LWJ]

Here is an opinion from someone who has cheap in-wall speakers. I love them!

I bought audio source (I believe) - there are cheap. I am looking at some rectangle 2 ways in my kitchen and have some round two ways in my living room ceiling. I power them with a honking huge 1970's receiver. We play music regularly. Not audiophile quality. The worst part is that pictures can rattle with loud volume. Not good. However, they are very pleasant. I have a low-high end system in my basement for the home theater. Yes, it sounds great. I get more pleasure off the in-walls simply because they don't sound lousy and we use them often. I expect a sub would help out. Maybe I will throw one in my closet for kicks. That is a great idea.

Good luck. I bought mine based on reviews at B&H photo or someplace similar. The rectangles were a little less than $100 and the rounds were even less. I generally prefer the rounds but that might be due to some pictures on the wall with the rectangles?

I did research in wall subs. VERY expensive. I would wire for an external sub and hide it in a corner if possible.

Good luck!
Larry

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by LWJ

....I did research in wall subs. VERY expensive. I would wire for an external sub and hide it in a corner if possible...

That's what I was thinking too...sub placement doesn't matter too much within reason. My old pc system is Cambridge Soundworks...I assume these are the same folks. Maybe they offer a 2 "satellite" version or sell the mini-sub solo?

Cambridge Audio Minx S215 Speaker System | Home Theater

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by dan79brooklyn

But I'm confused...If in walls are so bad, why does nearly every manufacturer make several different models of these types of speakers?

Cause they sell.

The custom install biz became "The Model" in the '90s as wives started to have a much greater voice in the av decision. They wanted invisible. Since that time, speaker manufacturers have bent over backwards to follow the $s - at the expense of sound quality. I have seen $500K custom jobs that had nothing other than $125.00 speakers throughout. Muzak became more important than music.

Ian

[lane912]

[lane912]

Collo's DIY Subwoofer Enclosures

[rusnak]

Just get a set of QSC K8 speakers and stop this in-wall sillyness.

[intakexhaust]

How thick is your wall? Typical 3 and 1/2 + thickness of wall board? Perhaps consider framing the speaker wall thicker and mounting higher quality range with conventional shell speakers into them. Custom colored grill fabrics to match the wall color or disguise can be made. The only issue would be placement and for sound deflection.

Makes me recall some years ago at a home that a so called home theater genius designed a double walled room with 2 x 6 framing. Initially it wasn't a bad idea as the internal framing was seperate from the external framing. Surely it was a wide wall but wasn't an issue considering the size of the home. The framing was covered with conventional drywall BUT then he added (Mastic glued) a rubber membrane to the entire interior walls and ceiling. The rubber membrane then was topped with fancy fabrics and some lower wainscot to make the room look nice. The bad.... the sound was horrible with painful reverb. The owner told me the budget was $100k for the room. What a waste.