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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.  


128x128temporal_dissident
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,224 posts
 
Oh, 1 million dollars. I though you were nuts:)
I still would take the cabinet out of the equation by using a baffle board (painted like the cabinet to match) and a plate speaker but if you have to stick something in there fill the remaining cavity with old towels or something and make sure the speaker is pushed right up against the grill in the doors (but not touching). I do not think you have to angle the speakers at all. Modern dome tweeters have decent dispersion and treble will bounce right off the ceiling and come right down at you anyway. 
This brings up old memories. I was asked to re due the system in an old mansion. In the living room the speakers, AR 3s were stuffed into the upper shelf of a book case with wicker doors over them. I think you can guess how that sounded😜. The wife was determined to repeat history. And I quote, "I am not going to have f--king ugly boxes ruin my room."
So I sold her on a pair of.....Beveridges! 😎
trudat
60 posts
 
@audiotroy you stated a point source was the only option that would work well for the OP.  Simply not true. Not shocking you would make a false statement while shilling.
temporal_dissident's avatar
temporal_dissident OP
13 posts
 
@audiotroy “Most centers are diapolito designs which will not work.“

Dont know much about diapolito. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwoofer-tweeter-midwoofer)

So why will these designs not work?

Looking at ELAC AS-61 (on side) or Debut 2.0 C6.2. 
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,604 posts
 
The Elac AS 61 will work but unknown how good it will sound on the Crestron amp. 

The Elac is the same design at the Kef Ref 1 which is a big robust point source. 

We have a demo pair for 1100 if you are interested
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 
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. 
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