Kids, Dogs, and Speakers


We have 2 dogs (25 lbs and 35 lbs) who tear around the house and preschool grandchildren. I like the sound of my Spendor A4s, but they are very narrow and top-heavy, and we worry they could be unintentionally knocked over (mercifully, this hasn't happened yet).  We need speakers which are harder to knock over.  This is the room we spend the evening in, so we can't exclude kids or pups.

Our budget is $7k to, at a stretch, $15k. I'm considering the KEF Meta R11 meta, the Sonus Faber Olyimpica Nova 2 and 3, and the Spendor D7.2 (which are wider and have a lower centre of gravity than the A4s). I ruled out the Sonetto 8s and Dali Rubicon 8s because the lowest speaker is vulnerably close to the ground. I like the extra stability that the outrigger feet give the KEFs and the Sonus Fabers.

I need to find things that I can audition in the section of the East Coast from New York to Washington DC.

Do you have any recommendations for speakers that are harder to knock over?

Thanks!

wqgq_641

A Post on the Gon makes it known Precision Composite Industries is supplying Panzerholz.

The following is one satisfied customers comment:

 Yes, I had Precision Composite Industries make me a custom replacement Albert Porter panzerholz armboard and am very happy with it. I toyed around with the idea of commissioning a new dual-armed Albert Porter style Technics SP-10 series plinth, but I personally didn't have a real need. I'm pretty if someone supplied them with the specs it would be a lot more affordable than the Artisan Fidelity equivalent.

Suspension Plinths are Ludicrously Priced for some of the Brands Designs on offer. 

There is always methods to be found to offer much, if not all, that is on offer from the Brands offerings. As stated, I have been creative myself and have been introduced to variances of the method, inclusive of the Townshend Podiums.

It was one of my designs being loaned, that convinced the now owner of the Townshend Podiums that they should investigate their products.

As an idea, and one that shares the basics of the design with a design that can cost over a £1000, the Link shows an outline idea of how to achieve it.

Aesthetically there are no limits, see the Link, this is plenty to produce a External visual framing of a Plinth.

Choose materials for the main support for the Speaker, that has the structural requirements, this concealed material does not have to have the most desired aesthetic finish, ( I suggest a Phenolic Resin Impregnated Densified Wood Board such as Panzerholz or Permali ).

A little thought will also discover a use of materials to conceal the working parts (Spring Assembly or Other) and create a less honest appearance.

If prudent with materials there is the possibility a very attractive Plinth with very attractive material properties selected for the function of the Plinth, can be attained for approx' $400 - 500ish  

 

 

  

 

A Solid Plinth purpose produced to expand the footprint dimension of a small footprint Cabinet Base, will offer a stability that the Speaker Alone will not offer.

The Idea of spending monies on a Plinth that serves only one purpose is one that can be looked into to further, to see if similar but alternative options are fitting.

There are Plinths that Expand on the Footprint and also offer a suspension platform for the Speaker, decoupling the energies being transferred and causing colouration.

I am a advocate of Speakers mounted on a suspension, and have been creating my own designs and been demo'd other methods, off which all are a substantial improvement for tidying up the sound produced.

The goal for a Speaker with a small footprint will be to workout which suspension Plinths are models enabling the Speaker to be fastened to the Base.

Additionally, there are simplistic options to be used, to add intermediate base that is coupled to the Suspension Plinth and not needing any modification to the Plinth. The intermediate base can also prepared to enable the Speaker to be fastened to it. 

The use of suspension as a method of Speaker Cabinet support  is one I very strongly recommend.

Bwahahaha. 

Put the dogs outside and listen when the children aren't over. 

No joking but how about the idea of large bubble wrap covers that you could slip onto the speakers when not in use. If the cat took a liking to them (scratching), the breaking bubbles would be a deterrent. The kids would have to be taught to stay away. I'm thinking about an actual metal security curtain to go across the whole system. I need to relax as much as possible when four grandchildren are afoot

@ghdprentice  

Our big standard poodle did bump into the 1.7i and nothing happened.  And my wife did graze the LRS+ in our bedroom on her way to the bathroom in the middle of the night and except for being moved a bit, nothing happened.

But our cleaning person once knocked over a Harbeth C7.

 

 

@deep_333 

😊… you buy them they come with installation. Much can be said for investing wisely.

Have you heard Magnepans?  You can run into them and they will not fall over.

I should have thought of this before, but the Wilson WAMM Chronosonic would be very stable. While tall, they weigh 900 pounds each. Oh, they are a little more expensive. 😊

Sure, granpa always had 350k to spare in his old age and the physical ability to manhandle a 900 lb ogre. Once installed, the ogre would look so scary and ugly that kids and dogs wouldn’t dare to step within 50 ft of them.

Brilliant idea.

I should have thought of this before, but the Wilson WAMM Chronosonic would be very stable. While tall, they weigh 900 pounds each. Oh, they are a little more expensive. 😊

My dog just can't make it thru the extended (album) versions of Free Bird, Layla, Hey Jude, Whole Lotta Love, etc. without grabbing a chew toy, or my stocking feet. Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibilition earns an instant disqualification.  The grandkids, on the other hand, just  get bored and quiettly exit the space.  Then, I have to exit the room myself shortly thereafter to see what they're up to. It's all broadcast versions during music hour(s) with the family.

Perlisten in-wall speakers...

Pros:

- They sound better than some names suggested (for an in-wall speaker).

- Completely out of the way/ more room for dogs and kids to run around.

- Higher WAF

 

Cons:

- in-wall installation required. If you aren’t a handyman, you might need to hire the local handyman in town.

- if you are a renter, the landlord could disapprove of any in-wall modifications. .

I've been stupid lucky....(I heard that...that combination isn't all that uncommon...)  Our pets have left the equipment alone.

'Course the Maggies' are upside down and suspended, since they are just too much of a temptation for our (presently) 2 cats....who've been given plenty of alternatives...which they enjoy.

Kids haven't been an issue, since we didn't go there.

I was tempted to suggest razor wire or electrified cattle wires, but Social Services of all stripes would come to get you....not to mention the ASPCA, or the neighbors considering you on a level with the Addams family....

Kids can have sticky sugary fingers and they loke to touch things, especially things that can be found on a HiFi System.

Dogs love sweet smells and will follow the trail left by the Kids fingers.

If you leave Drivers exposed. expect to find pushed in Dust Caps. caused either by a Kid or a Dogs Nose. 

@waytoomuchstuff you made me laugh, but maybe an electric fence around the HiFi and speakers would be better than crating them?  It would make an interesting talking point with visitors ;-)

I have a pair of Vandersteen 5a speakers.  In addition to the excellent SQ, they are solid as a rock (175 pounds, as each as a 300W amp for the woofer).

There is a nice-looking pair for sale at a dealership in NJ (I have no affiliation):

Vandersteen 5a For Sale - US Audio Mart

Okay, sorry for the smart--- response. Just saw an opportunity and went with it.

I love my grandkids and little furry guy. My speakers are 6’-4" tall, so I never worried too much about critters (including the human kind) toppling them over. I did put my "back up" turntable into service for years -- a B&O tangental tracking model, so my wife could play music for, and with, grandchildren without ever touching the tonearm.

Looks like you’re getting some good advice here.

Outriggers will definitely help if you don’t have them already, but not a fool (child) proof solution.

Another option in a room this small is Fritz speakers. Sound very large for their size and you can actually put them on bookshelves.

K Horns in a 13' X 13' room? Right... might as well get four of them, the sound should keep the kids and the dogs out of the room.

Portable kennels are easy to deploy, and can accommodate children up to 75 pounds.

Many years ago when I was a vertically challenged person living in a house full of like individuals and something got broken, my dad would just sigh and lament how foolish it was to try and have nice things in a house full of kids. Doesn't answer the OP's question, just puts it into perspective. 😏

Check out the Focal Aria 948’s. My son has a pair with three dogs running around. No issues and the base is very sturdy. Focal seems to build nice cabinets in their higher end models as well. 

@wqgq_641 Your speaker requirements are EXACTLY like mine. In my case a crazy dog and wife, the kid is more manageable.

Take a look at my Livingroom virtual system to see how I protect the speakers from the onslaught.

I wanted to get KEF Blade 2 META for this room but did not think they would survive. I went with my #2 choice because it is very hard to knock over, has grills, and has some of the most advanced technology in a speaker.

Living Room System | Virtual Listening Room (audiogon.com)

This speaker is incredible. So glad I went with my 2nd choice.

I got my speaker covers from these guys. I love this cover. You need to search for your speaker to find the cover for it. They can make custom covers.

Kef Blade 2 Meta Speaker Dust Covers | DigitalDeckCovers

 

 

A clever plot to get the WAF well oiled.

If you liked the Spendor sound Klipsch is not

gonna do it. Child and dog proofing can be achieved in many 

ways. The Dynaudio 200 stands I own were chosen for stability.

Four Widely spaced outrigger style feet with adjustable spikes.

They take 20 lbs each of sand for more stability. Also have a cable control system.

But unless you go for a standmount + subwoofer option this won't work.

I would suggest buying the latest version Fritz Carrera 7 BE's $2,800-30 day home trial- and a REL 7TX Sub. $1,000 and the stands $500. 

Use the 8 smallish wood screws that come with the stands to fix the speaker bottom thru the predrilled rubber grommeted holes in the steel plate on the stand.

That  improves the sonics and gives you an 80 lb solid unit that won't go over easily. The Spendors are like bowling pins. 

The sound will be an upgrade level better and you didn't break the bank.

Unless you upgrade the amp too!! haha

Suspending tower speakers from the ceiling wouldn’t be original:



Conversely, I made my speakers anchored floor-to-ceiling; although they’re only 5” wide, integrated rigid mesh protects each transducer. A rough-housing grown pair of Neapolitan mastiffs would have trouble toppling either channel. A big enough middle school linebacker would do the trick; by your household ingredients for disaster I’d be safe for some years to come 😆

@wqgq_641 

I had a similar problem with my ATC SCM19v2 stand mount speakers. So worried about my grandson, I dismantled my system for 18 months.

Now is in my bedroom 😳

But have bought sturdy Sound Anchors stands, and Stack Audio Auva 70 speaker isolators. These have made them nearly hurricane proof.

A second to what @kckrs said -- ain't no way 2 dogs or grandchildren are knocking Klipsch Cornwalls, LaScalla, or KHorns over.  Based on your budget, you could get NEW Cornwalls and LaScallas, and maybe a demo set of KHorns or fairly new ones.

 

@immatthewj Yes, they are basically Spendor A2's in a full-size cabinet

@yogiboy Yes, I ordered my A4s from BEK HiFi, but they keep little in stock to listen to - the building is very small.

Hang your speakers from the ceiling so they are about 5 feet up from the floor. Put all of you components on shelves, about the same height. Put your kids and dogs toys on the floor, in front of your listening chair and enjoy your music. You are kidding, right? Can't believe everyone bit in to your child and dog proof speakers" question. No pun intended.

 

Something new every day. 

I used to have Olympica 3. They are stable and sound very natural and musical, I very good sound if you like this kind of sound. 

Newer Klipsch LaScala or KHorns. KHorns tuck into a corner away from child and dog traffic. And LaScala - if you have a dog or child that is able to budge them from their position I’d be training the kids for NFL linebacker status and dog for serious protection duty. BTW should you ever sell gear on one of the sites Do Not ever mention you have children or animals anywhere around your equipment. Kiss ‘o death for selling. Always remember - “from a no kid, no animal, no smoking home”.

My ads always saw more attention when I said we have five kids, four cats. three dogs and I smoke two packs a day. 

You could look at speakers like Totem Audio Forests where the cabinets can be filled with sand that significantly increases their weight making them hard to knock over and also improves their sound.

@knock1 makes two good points. He gives you a path to choosing any speaker you want, by using a custom platform.

You could have a cabinet making or wood milling shop prepare some heavy hardwood platforms that would look absolutely glorious. Then you could buy a speaker based on sonics alone, and screw the platforms to the base of the speaker. Any retailer should be delighted to help with that project, giving you the dimensions and locations of the mounting holes (for the fabricator), and the type of screw required to fit the factory mounting holes.

When I was placing some magnepans I used solid cherry wood platforms, and they look mighty good. Good luck!

Having you consider making or buying some pedestals for them that would widen the base and help secure them?

Ohm Walsh speakers in Brooklyn. Look for refurbed models that are wider on the bottom. Very hard to knock over. Nothing that can be easily damaged exposed with grills off and grill hoods rest on top when on.

I have the Sf Olympica III's, they are very stable and sound wonderful in my 16'w x 30'l x 10'h room.  The outriggers keep them in place and make it difficult for anyone shorter than 4' and less than 95 lbs to inadvertantly knock them over, but not impossible.

@wqgq_641  , I am always doing quick googles when people list what speaker they are listening to. (With the operative word being 'quick.') Those A4s are interesting . . . kind of like a two-way (excuse the term) "bookshelf" with a cabinet built on instead of a stand?

"having gotten my significant other to agree to new speakers, I'm not going to pass on that opportunity" I do not think you would find anyone in this community disagreeing with your train of thoughts. Congratulation!

I’ve owned many Spendors and Harbeths. I enjoyed all of them. I have been using the Harbeth HL5 Plus for the past year and IMHO it betters all the the others! This place is in your neck of the woods. Place them on nice stands and they won’t budge!

http://bekhifi.com/productList.php?product_line=12&product_type=19

The last few shows attended, I have been disappointed with some of the more exotic tweeters designs I have heard. Now this could be the room and other factors, but I always prefer the sound of soft domes in any environment. 

@knock1 having gotten my significant other to agree to new speakers, I'm not going to pass on that opportunity

I have seen outriggers/isolating platforms depicted on various accessories sites. DIY would be easy to create. But, again, see my second point in my previous post.

If you happy with the sound of Spendors, attaching outriggers to the mounting points of spikes definitely would make speakers more stable. However the concept of new speakers is not without other merits 😉