Integrating speakers into contemporary decor - can WAF ever be overcome?


This is a topic I'd like to see discussed more.  Not a speaker issue per se, but it's speakers that usually cause the problems. My partner is a hard core interior design/aesthetics type. We will shortly be combining households with all the benefits and challenges that this presents. We're both fans of a "Music In Every Room" (MIER) lifestyle, so that's a good start. But we quickly diverge. And to be clear, we're not talking about giant screens on the wall or home theater. This is audio only.

Anyway, her idea of MIER is built-in speakers or, at most, tiny Sonos units on a bookshelf or behind furniture. I had some of that in my house albeit BlueOS stuff. That's OK to a point. But my LR had KEF LS50's on stands. Obviously difference in sound is dramatic, and she admitted it. But she doesn't care. For her the improvement in sound quality is negated by aesthetic horror of visible speakers.

It's worth mentioning that the decor/design aesthetic in question is basically high end transitional with mix of contemporary stuff, Asian antiques, some colonial antiques, large format abstract oils, etc. It's >not< traditional or frou-frou, really a look where the right speakers could easily be interpreted as industrial design pieces that mesh well with the rest. The LS50s fit that description I think.

So, getting to the question here... Has anybody had any luck convincing spouse that speakers can be a part of the decor?  To think of them as some kind of sculptural elements, not "just ugly speakers?"  That they're industrial design elements that somehow add to space? Have links to pix of living spaces that integrated speakers into the look? Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks for reading, a kind of odd topic, I know. Cheers,

kletter1mann

@soix 

Ok, I just saw your first post… good one. Those are perhaps the worst looking speakers I have ever seen… and your description perfect. No apology necessary. Yuck… yuck…😂🤣

What about putting speakers in cabinets with doors you would open for listening?

"Just shoot me in the head and get it over with."

Lol.  Be glad I don't have a gun.

 

@jwei  Ha!  Hey man, I totally get your suggestion an it’s very helpful given the crappy situation.  I once did a home install for a guy who bought about $50k of Linn audio equipment in a 5.1 setup that could only accommodate a 42” TV because that was the biggest he could fit in his antique cabinet.  I wanted to vomit it was so sad, and hence my reaction and ongoing hatred of cabinets or, worse, wall units.  AAAAAARGH!!!

@kletter1mann I think you answered your own question. You have a big home and a basement all to yourself. Either suffer until your mancave is completed, or pick one of those 4 bedrooms for your system. You could always also get some good in wall speakers for the living room.