Integrating speakers into contemporary decor - can WAF ever be overcome?
This is a topic I'd like to see discussed more. Not a speaker issue per se, but it's speakers that usually cause the problems. My partner is a hard core interior design/aesthetics type. We will shortly be combining households with all the benefits and challenges that this presents. We're both fans of a "Music In Every Room" (MIER) lifestyle, so that's a good start. But we quickly diverge. And to be clear, we're not talking about giant screens on the wall or home theater. This is audio only.
Anyway, her idea of MIER is built-in speakers or, at most, tiny Sonos units on a bookshelf or behind furniture. I had some of that in my house albeit BlueOS stuff. That's OK to a point. But my LR had KEF LS50's on stands. Obviously difference in sound is dramatic, and she admitted it. But she doesn't care. For her the improvement in sound quality is negated by aesthetic horror of visible speakers.
It's worth mentioning that the decor/design aesthetic in question is basically high end transitional with mix of contemporary stuff, Asian antiques, some colonial antiques, large format abstract oils, etc. It's >not< traditional or frou-frou, really a look where the right speakers could easily be interpreted as industrial design pieces that mesh well with the rest. The LS50s fit that description I think.
So, getting to the question here... Has anybody had any luck convincing spouse that speakers can be a part of the decor? To think of them as some kind of sculptural elements, not "just ugly speakers?" That they're industrial design elements that somehow add to space? Have links to pix of living spaces that integrated speakers into the look? Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks for reading, a kind of odd topic, I know. Cheers,
@lbarbish Have a look at these that’ll likely sound much better than your current Linns (I used to sell Linn gear) and might work well with your new decor. Good luck with the move and the speakers! https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649985660-joseph-audio-perspective-2-graphene/ |
@soix With the grills on... yuck! Without the grills, sure... maybe. But the shape is overly masculine and chunky. This looks pretty to audiophiles. But the proportions will dwarf any piece of furniture next to it. I would get Pearl Acoustics Sibelius. I'm a sucker for single driver speakers. They're made out of real wood, you can pick the wood and stain. The pencil shape is discrete and won't overshadow existing furniture. I have the Closer Acoustics OGY which are basically the same thing in bookshelf form and with a smiley face port. |
@kokakolia I can't get over the smiley face hole on the OGYs |
I have not read all opinions in this thread to be frank... :) But most wife at least half of them, dont think about speakers being a beautiful design but an annoyance to keep clean which obstruct their free walk in the room and dont go well with their "own object of beauty" ... At least the wife who dont listen music much if at all, as my wife... I solved the problem with headphones, but most headphones are in my experience not satisfying compared to a dedicated audio room ... But luckily when the child go out for their own life, i picked a left room from my speakers and dedicated it to them for many years ... I just sold my house this year though , i must forget speakers in the NEW living room for sure...I was sad... Luckily. i own an AKG K340 a marvel when optimized right which help me forgetting about my dedicated acoustic room for good ...So much, i know i will never need any upgrade, and trust me i am very picky for sound and acoustic translation of music ... They are more than good...
«Speakers are only most of the time useless empty boxes to clean »-Groucho Marx wife 🤓 |
