Here’s what I did in my hostile environment (not my main system but to provide sound for a tv). In this case putting two speakers inside a Salamander cabinet with a shelf designed for a sound bar. I have a 2.1 system for television sound, driven by a Marantz receiver SR5010. I put in two Def Tech Monitors—sounded boxy. I lined the shelf with sound absorbing foam and added speaker fluff behind that—improved a bit. I had these monitors on their sides so the dispersion pattern was all screwed up. Then it hit me—center speakers are designed for horizontal placement. I took out the monitors. I had a def tech center, added another and put them in as L and R. Big improvement in sound.
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.