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,
@soix With the grills on... yuck! Without the grills, sure... maybe. But the shape is overly masculine and chunky. This looks pretty to audiophiles. But the proportions will dwarf any piece of furniture next to it. I would get Pearl Acoustics Sibelius. I'm a sucker for single driver speakers. They're made out of real wood, you can pick the wood and stain. The pencil shape is discrete and won't overshadow existing furniture. I have the Closer Acoustics OGY which are basically the same thing in bookshelf form and with a smiley face port. |
I'm reading these posts and it still looks like your speakers are the centerpiece of your room. Or that you don't have much decor or furniture. I personally find this topic silly. Are you all using Tekton Moab speakers in black? Is your living room just a TV, speakers and a grey sofa? Do you have acoustic foam on all 4 walls and in random spots? To me it just sounds like you have to decorate, regardless of the speakers. But good luck making an aesthetically pleasing room with giant black tower speakers... I also want to add that the Mission 770 is a tasteful design. It's a giant box, but the white font lightens up the visual impact and the wood veneer sides add warmth. And what's up with Wilson Audio? Their speakers look like something out of an Alien movie. They are menacing like insects from Starship troopers. The Wilson XVX is an eyesore. The automotive paint finish is reminiscent of bumper cars in an amusement park. The head designer of Wilson Audio must be a 7 year old boy. Seriously... @grislybutter A lot of people say that. You gotta loosen up. A room without quirky/interesting elements feels like an office rec room. Bring curves, plants, patterns, real wood, color and cozy fabrics into the room. You'll immediately feel better. |
@wolf_garcia I mostly agree with you. But there’s something to be said about the unsightly accumulation of Hi-Fi boxes, cable salad, dust accumulation and giant black boxes with gloss finishes. Designing a cozy living room around industrial speakers is a tough challenge. Yes, this is an exercise of compromise. But it’s easy if you have some interest in decorating and mixing styles up. Using only one style can make your room feel like a catalog, and everything which doesn’t fit the theme will stick out like a sore thumb. In hindsight you can style around Wilson Audio speakers with lots of wood/books and oriental rugs. Use a darker wall color to hide these eyesores. Overload the room with stuff. More plants. Yes. Balance the anxiety inducing angular lines with soft materials and curves. |
