What's new

Enclose the speakers? (1 Viewer)

JeffCaz

Auditioning
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
2
Real Name
Jeff Casbeer
Hi! Due to a remodel, I am building a wall unit for the TV, A/V equipment, and front speakers. I currently own and love some big ol' 70's style Cerwin-Vegas, but of course they have to go. (If you're thinking this isn't my idea, you are tracking correctly.)
The desired feminine solution is a (shudder) "soundbar". I'm hoping that I can negotiate something a little better. I'm looking at the Polk TSi400 speakers and hoping that, combined with a sub, they will both satisfy her need for sleek/narrow and my need for, um, balls.
Whatever solution I get will have to sit *inside* a wall unit, custom built to fit the speaker width and height, and about 2 feet deep. (The speakers would be at the front of the opening.)
My usage is a mixture of home theater and audio. I'm no technical audiophile, but, for example, I think that Led Zeppelin and (the original) Lynyrd Skynyrd deserve equipment capable of reproducing their talent.
So here are the questions: What issues do I need to consider? I'm worried that surrounding my speakers with a cabinet is going to impact the reproduction. Is that a concern or not? Recognizing that I must negotiate for every inch, especially width: How much space around these speakers do I need to allow? Should I be dampening in the enclosure, e.g. foam, or no? My intention is to put the floor of these speaker enclosures directly on the room's floor, not raised. Is that right, wrong, or does it matter?
Any advice on this deal appreciated! (Except divorce, I'm already over my limit.)
 

Al.Anderson

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2002
Messages
2,736
Real Name
Al
I'm not quite sure what kind of wall unit you're referring to, but if you're placing the speakers in a bookcase-like enclosure you should be good with decent bookshelf speakers if you have approximately 6 inches on the sides and rear. If you're enclosing them more than that, then you are altering the sound. In that case you have to get speakers that have been "tuned" for the limited enclosure. You can go with in-walls (which we generally don't like, but it rates slightly above divorce), or in-cabinet speakers. Kidding aside, the only real problem with in-walls in they can't be moved around for optimal sound, and once you create the hole, that's were they go. Rearranging the room means a whole new install.
Of course, especially for home theater you're still going to want a subwoofer. If you don't have a table to place it under you could consider and in-wall sub too.
I like Axiom speakers, and they have in-wall mains, so I'll get that reco in now.
I'm no technical audiophile, but, for example, I think that Led Zeppelin and (the original) Lynyrd Skynyrd deserve equipment capable of reproducing their talent.
This is redundant with "love some big ol' 70's style Cerwin-Vegas". (And that's not a criticism - rock on!)
 

Robert_J

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2000
Messages
8,350
Location
Mississippi
Real Name
Robert
Like Al said, not giving the speakers enough room will impact the sound. Specifically the midrange. You are effectively increasing the baffle width and that will increase the midrange output.
His idea of in-wall speakers is good. I'll take it a step further and suggest you just build "enclosures" into the book case and install them there. A set of these - http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/322957/enclose-the-speakers would not have their sound impacted by installing them in a non-standard enclosure.
 

JeffCaz

Auditioning
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
2
Real Name
Jeff Casbeer
Thanks Al and Robert for your insights, built in speakers were not even on my radar. I will give those Axioms a look, and get my builder involved. Thanks again I really appreciate it!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,815
Messages
5,123,806
Members
144,184
Latest member
H-508
Recent bookmarks
0
Top