06-11-09: Onhwy61
Kid-friendly is different than kid-proof. I'd recommend any floor standing speaker with a large footprint (can't be knocked over). Don't count on that. The Mirage M5si from the mid-'90s is 51" tall and 85 lbs. each. About 6 months after I got a pair, my then-5-yr-old was playing with the dog and managed to knock one over and break the fastener that secured the endcap to the column. Nobody got hurt. I was away at work and my then-wife and son kept quiet about it until I discovered it on my own weeks later. As mentioned, the large footprint would have helped. The M5si base is about 16" wide, but only about 8" deep, which is the direction it fell over. You can also buy aftermarket outriggers (e.g., Soundocity) to provide a more stable base for almost any floorstanding speaker. |
They might not be able to knock it over, but you surely will get punched in your woofer |
Kid-friendly is different than kid-proof. I'd recommend any floor standing speaker with a large footprint (can't be knocked over). When not in use keep the speaker grills on. Makes sure the cable connection is inaccessible and can securely keep the connection in the event of someone tugging/tripping on the cable. It's also my opinion that a speaker that can be place very close to the wall is more kid-friendly than one that requires freestanding placement. |
My then 2-yr old walked up to my Quads and wiped his nose on the grill cloth. I should do the same thing to his iPod now, although it'll be much easier to clean. Moral: no audio gear is kid friendly. |
Jeff, count me in on the pro-Martin Logan side. I got a pair specifically as a kid-friendly choice when my first child was just starting to crawl. ML are very sturdy and the panel itself is hard to destroy. I've heard that the panel will still play with holes punched in it. After several years mine were in excellent shape when I sold them--no issues, and there were plenty of kiddos running around!
Only issues were that they needed to be securely spiked through carpet, and the black finish on the sides and back seemed to mar easily. |
Jeffkad- I have soundlab m2's and would not want any kids near them with sharp objects or even poking fingers;A kids toy hit in the area between the magnets would go right thru the mylar;either way I would not consider ESL speakers with kids;thats just my opinion though;it would be a costly repair.
If you do go that way I would have a custom sock made that would cover the panel for protection;that's the only protection you could do without moving them to a secure area when not being used;even with a sock covering penatration is still a concern. |
Love my Gallo 3.1 sound but I had one knocked over by my dog. Forget kid friendly. |
Don't even consider panels—delicate, easy to knock over, sensitive to humidity . . .
The Ohms are a good suggestion, the drivers are fairly well isolated/protected. |
Hi, I did not read all the previous posts, so my apologies if these have already been mentioned, but the Epos m22's have a metal grill, very sturdy with optional plinth stand. I had a pair until my son was about 3 1/2, and sold them to a guy with a 2 year old. I just told my son how they worked and not to touch them or he'd go back in the box! It was never an issue. Now he helps me test tubes.
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Still want to know about the Martin Logans? and Maggies too? Are the panels on planars, ESLs, etc, reasonably strong? I understand about the squirt gun, but what about metal contact, say a metal toy or key or cell phone? This could be a good solution. Will check out the Gallo's too, but really want to know about ESL's and planars, etc |
John is right - mount them on the walls high up near the ceiling pointed down and modify the grill (add a wire grill) so they can't be damaged by a basketball. However, why anyone would want $10K speakers in their garage is a bit puzzling to me. |
Klipsch Heritage speakers such as the La Scala could be a good option. The cabinets never really made it into the hoity toity hall of fame in terms of beautiful furniture, and would likely even survive attacks from sledge hammers, bows and arrows, footballs, etc. Beyond that, the woofers are "shielded" ala the horn loading by a layer of plywood and the metal horns should be more or less impervious up to and including gunshots.
Innersound/SandersSound might also be considered. Roger once told me he buried his pair when he was snowblowing one morning in his home in the mountains of Colorado, and didn't notice the front door was wide open. He was pretty amused they suffered no apparent damage. |
I am surprised no one has mentioned the Gallo 3.1 yet. The grill is a large cage with speaker cloth around it that goes over the speaker with quite a bit of room between it and the drivers. The 3.1 is bottom heavy and you could put outriggers on them for even less chance of being knocked over. Oh, they also sound great. |
Epos M series before the "i" model have metal grills.
Epos M22-floorstanders
Epos M12-stand mounts |
"Wall mount them." I assume you meant the kids... |
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Klipshorns! The driver are not directly exposed. |
Kids? What age? If they can stick bobby pins and paper clips in wall sockets no speaker is safe from them. I had a kid who figured out how to remove those safety outlet covers. If they are beyond the age of self-electrocution they are entering the " what makes things tick stage". Adults play toys are cannon fodder with kids around. "Don't touch!" translated into kid think = explore later when mean adult is not around. Ain't parenting grand? Buy some used Bose in the interim. If destroyed no biggie. |
Ask your buddy to be realistic. If kids are allowed to run wild in the media room, there's a chance the speakers are going to get trashed. The best choices: (1) put speakers in the room that s/he can afford to replace or repair as needed, (2) train the kids not to run wild in the room. Parental and kids' temperament ought to guide the choice. If parent is worried all the time about whether the equipment is going to get damaged, that won't be much fun for anyone. |
AV123 "X"-line of speakers all have metal perforated grills |
Does anyone still make high end speakers with perforated metal grilles? I bought a pair of ADS L1090 speakers the year my daughter was born. They were perfect--floorstanding, so she couldn't a speaker off a stand (and dent her punky li'l head), sealed enclosure (no ports for stuffing dolls or other items), and perforated metal grilles, which completely protected the drivers behind and provided reasonably transparent sound when in place.
Also, on a narrow tower, I recommend getting outrigger feet to make them less prone to tipping over. |
Swamp: most grills I've seen are just cloth. Doesn't seem like much protection.
Rleff: In walls are out of question.
Son: Martin Logans? Hmmm, interesting. Maggies too? Are the panels on planars, ESLs, etc, reasonably strong? I understand about the squirt gun, but what about metal contact, say a metal toy or key or cell phone? |
Nothing on stands, wide bases are preferable.
Thiel Powerpoints would be ideal?
A studio version of Klipsch would prove indestructible. |
Well, if you don't let them have squirt-gun fights in the room, then most Martin Logans should be pretty safe. |
well, i haven't owned them, but i would imagine that the ohm walsh 5 would be pretty sturdy - and sound great in an all-purpose set up where people were listening from all over the room.
all that is exposed on an ohm walsh is the wood cabinet and the metal speaker enclosure - the kid would have to purposely unscrew the thing to get at the drivers (or stab through the metal grate with something).
i know a couple of people who frequent the forums are big ohm fans, so maybe someone will chime in? |
what about a higher end in wall speaker;although I have never heard any of them;addresses the kid problem. |
well, why not keep the grills on til the rug-rats are in bed? |
