I would try to go the cheapest route possible. Do you do any critical listening in your kitchen? I'm guessing probably not. I'm not you,so this is only my opinion. You stated all the issues in your opening post. I would be hard pressed to spend more than a couple hundred dollars for your situation. Speakers 7-8' off the ground,inside a cabinet. I don't think many designers had this placement in mind. I would stick with what you have,and put that money to use in your main system.
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.