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Need Perfect Speakers for Acoustically Hostile Placement

Seeking speaker recommendation. Here is the situation:

 

Cabinetry in our kitchen has two cabinets for speakers. (See photo.) This is next to the ceiling,...about 7-8' off the ground. For the last 8 years, these have had a pair of B&W 705 speakers, wired to a multi-channel amp pushing about 60w. And it has sounded terrible.

 

There are several issues which, I believe, make this an especially "hostile" environment for speakers:

  • No fixed listening position. It is a kitchen. We are all over the place.
  • Next to ceiling...I imagine this creates unhealthy reflections
  • Inside a box. Ugh. It is what it is. Should this disqualify any rear-ported designs?

 

New system:

  • New amp will deliver 140wpc of class A/B power
  • Rebuilt "grills" to allow much more open space
  • I may treat the inside of the cabinetry with absorptive material (should I?)
  • Bookshelf speakers will lay on their side, likely on dampening foam like Auralex Mopads that will reduce vibration and allow some downward tilt

 

Now I need to choose speakers. Any suggestions...?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.  


temporal_dissident

Showing 1 response by kgbspy

kgbspy
60 posts
 
i had similar situation ... with the budget several hundred bucks. i have a small family room with a 55 " tv at the opposite wall and bookshelves on both sides. the speakers had to be placed inside shelves . pair of used Energy C2 biamped (paid $100.)+ PSB SubSeries 200Powered subwoofer (used, paid $35.)hooked up to yamaha RXA730(paid $35) (yes , I’m a cheapskate ! )created a sound I’m surprised. the trick is Yamaha with calibrating mike automatically sets up the level and equalization of all 3 speakers with the divine sound on a budget ... you can repeat the same result or better with similar set up without a budget . and you are correct , the speakers should be front ported.
good luck . Alex
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