Recommend location and type for kitchen speakers

Swampwalker, I would like to add the thought that since this is a "working" area you should throw out all the concepts of your sweet spot listening area. I have two rooms where I use this type of set up, one is in my surgical suite at my vet clinic, and the other is a second system playing music where I do the exciting business of ironing my clothes. Since I am standing up in both situations, I have monitors mounted high, (6.5' and 8',) and play usually in mono. One room uses some PSB 400s and the other I have some PE Leon Primas. It gives me everything I am looking for. BTW, if you have some company at a party and they migrate to the kitchen, (and don't they always,) you have a new party system. Cooking with music! Watch the grocery bill. Good luck. Charlie

~~~Hi, Is there any room above cabinets or do you have soffits above,(a convenient space not usually considered)? Albert is definitely correct about spreading sound around to keep it even throughout the room. Have you considered a subwoofer in a out of the way locale to free up speaker size considerations? How about a sub, self contained midrange, ribbon tweeter, and your own crossovers.
The mids can be located more easily without trying to fit a box. The ribbons are small enough to blend in to decor. You must be creative if WAF in interjected into the scenario.
~~~If you have cold seasons or are in a high humidity region, the ceiling thing, if not done properly, might cause a mold or wood dry rot situation. What is the layout of your kitchen area and ceiling height?
~~~~One other thing, (This is from experience) Install seperate 20 amp lines. I put 7 separate 20 A. lines in my kitchen (not counting stove 30 A. and dishwasher). You would be surprised how fast one runs out of capacity during a gathering. Microwave, coffee pot(s), electric roaster(s), crock pot(s), blender..... It is easy while the wall is opened up, and inexpensive, if you pulled your own permit and do the wiring yourself.
~~~~What was the topic, Was I rambling again? Oh yeah! Kitchen speakers. I think I plowed too much snow today! Yes, I was using my tractor and not my car!
~~~~ OK DEAR-- time to pray with and tuck the children in bed. Hope I didn't bend your ear too much!

Swampwalker,

What about the little Acoustic Energy AEGOS 2 with the ever so tiny sats and smaller sub. I believe you can now run 4 or 5 sats off of it. It's a sweet little system.

Ceiling speakers was definately something I was thinking of, but I've got a two story and the kitchen (of course) is on the ground floor. So attic situation is not a problem in terms of rot or whatever, but the enclosure volume might be kind of small. Running multiple speakers in mono is an interesting idea. In addition to the speakers themselves, another issue I need help on is cabling. Last time I did some work, the electrician said that couldn't use the speaker wire I wanted, cause it wasn't rated for being enclosed in a wall. Any ideas on what's allowed and what would be good. BTW, the kitchen is small (only about 12 x 12, with a fairly high ceiling (about 7'10", I think). And the cabinets are custom, and going right to the ceiling (no soffit).

This is interesting to me because I had not considered in-wall speakers. I assumed they would not sound as good as, say, small bookshelves or monitors suspended in a corner (something in the $300 - $700 per pair range).

Are the good in-walls really comparable to "real" speakers?

Thanks!

- Eric