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Need Perfect Speakers for Acoustically Hostile Placement

Seeking speaker recommendation. Here is the situation:

 

Cabinetry in our kitchen has two cabinets for speakers. (See photo.) This is next to the ceiling,...about 7-8' off the ground. For the last 8 years, these have had a pair of B&W 705 speakers, wired to a multi-channel amp pushing about 60w. And it has sounded terrible.

 

There are several issues which, I believe, make this an especially "hostile" environment for speakers:

  • No fixed listening position. It is a kitchen. We are all over the place.
  • Next to ceiling...I imagine this creates unhealthy reflections
  • Inside a box. Ugh. It is what it is. Should this disqualify any rear-ported designs?

 

New system:

  • New amp will deliver 140wpc of class A/B power
  • Rebuilt "grills" to allow much more open space
  • I may treat the inside of the cabinetry with absorptive material (should I?)
  • Bookshelf speakers will lay on their side, likely on dampening foam like Auralex Mopads that will reduce vibration and allow some downward tilt

 

Now I need to choose speakers. Any suggestions...?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.  


128x128temporal_dissident
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,663 posts
 
I thinking you should avoiding rear ported speakers, probably sealed boxes would be best but I'm no speaker designer,  hopefully one of the people here who do design speakers will help out. 

have you thought of closing in the area and using an in wall speaker? To utilizing the space as a speaker cabinet sort of idea.
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temporal_dissident's avatar
temporal_dissident OP
13 posts
 
have you thought of closing in the area and using an in wall speaker? To utilizing the space as a speaker cabinet sort of idea.

They idea crossed my mind, but that would require me to essentially build a speaker box,...not something I'm prepared for. Also, the last 20 years of my life has been in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. They look fine, but sound terrible. I am running in the other direction as quickly as possible....
rhljazz
1,253 posts
 
My thoughts would be to go “mono” since you’re all over the place therefore unlikely to benefit from stereo.  An all in one powered speaker that can be controlled through an app is an option if there is a way to get power.

The right tool for the job so to speak.  As you stated, the setup constraints aren’t conducive to conventional speaker performance.


erik_squires
16,050 posts
 
Powered JBL speakers, plus an EQ.
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