Minimum speaker size for 11'x14' room?

[a-dogg]

I'm installing a budget setup, and have settled on HTD in-wall/in-ceiling. I'm debating between HD-W80 vs HD-W65 for the fronts (and an extra one for the center, instead of a speaker built to be a center channel), and HD-R80 vs HD-R65 for the surrounds.

I have a solid subwoofer to handle the lows, so that's fine. I'm not a hardcore audiophile, but I do like to be immersed in music/movies.

For an 11'x14' room, will 6.5" speakers be fine? Or should I get 8"? Or is that overkill for this size room? The room is open (open floorplan kitchen on one side), if that matters.

 

[j_garcia]

6.5" vs 8" isn't exactly the metric you need to judge. What is the sensitivity of each speaker, since driver size does not necessarily automatically correlate to sensitivity, which ultimately is a bigger factor in how much sound is delivered.

 

[a-dogg]

Sensitivity of 6.5" and 8" is 89dB:

http://www.htd.com/HD-W80-in-wall-speakers

http://www.htd.com/HD-W65-in-wall-speakers

 

[music4cities]

It's very hard to give good advice as there is no absolute relationship between size of speaker and size of room. The design of the speaker, its placement in the room, surfaces of said room, your listening position, the other equipment, the type of music and typical listening conditions ALL mean much more that the size of a woofer. Plus, what sort of sound do you want?

Better to ask about members Recs a d experiences with specific speaker models for your room size plus the factors listed above.

 

[music4cities]

In walls are doubly tricky in some ways...it is going to depend greatly on their position relative to side walls, type of wall, etc.Are you using these for ambient type listening where you may be walking around or not sitting in a sweet spot?

You say it's open, not really a closed room. In that case I'd tend towards the 8" in wall just to move a bit more air volume. Can help project the bass farther.

Though if it's more ambient, no single seating position, use in such a space, four 6.5" spaced around may actually be better than two 8" not sure if that's feasible.

You can also consider looking into an inwall or ceiling subwoofer, or a wireless sub, to round out the bass with 6.5. You may find you will want to even with the 8"s. Again, it kind of depends on more specifics.

 

[a-dogg]

What kind of sound do I want? Well, I know that in-walls are a major compromise for form over function. And I accept that tradeoff. On top of which, I'm at the budget end of pricing.

I guess I just want them to have enough "power." I know that's vague, but...

 

[music4cities]

I don't know those models specifically so can't give more precise advice. I guess if you have the space and the aesthetic tolerance the 8" will be safer. It's a pain to change it later and not easy swap. I have limited experience with in walks and on ceilings but I have found that the design of the baffle is crucial for both, shaping the dispersion and its rigidity crucial for performance.


I am not a huge Polk guy overall, but I have been impressed with the Polk inwalls/ceilings, especially the rt line. Expensivish but impressive and approximating standard speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

For some reason links didn't work for me, but I found specs that said 92dB for W65. That's pretty high and I'd guess similar for W80. In that case, I'd say it is a toss up and I'd probably opt for the W80 since it is an open space; this will give better lower midbass performance and blend a little easier with the sub. I can't see the specs, but W65 said 50hz low end, which is likely -6dB, which would still be adequate, but again I'd probably lean toward the W80, noting that they will probably be pretty big.

 

[a-dogg]

Yeah, I'm leaning to the 8". Size specs:

6.5": 12" x 8 5/8" x 3 1/8"
8": 14" x 10" x 3 3/8"

So the 8" aren't ginormously larger.

 

[zieglj01]

For some reason links didn't work for me, but I found specs that said 92dB for W65.

http://www.htd.com/Products/Speakers/In-Wall-Ceiling-Speakers/high-definition

 

[music4cities]

Try Make sure you can get them between the studs in the wall. Should be no problem at standard stud spacing. But there are conditions where spacing might be tighter, or there is a pipe or electrical stuff back there.

 

[a-dogg]

All good, my contractor is doing it. Along with the rest of the place, which is down to the studs--so they should be easy to find haha.

 

[music4cities]

then I would go for the 8s since the price difference now is minor compared to the cost and hassle later.

 

[a-dogg]

Don't hate me, but I went with the 6.5". Spoke to HTD and that was their rec.

 

[shadyJ]

Don't hate me, but I went with the 6.5". Spoke to HTD and that was their rec.

Too late. We hate you.

 

[a-dogg]

Mom? I didn't know you were in this forum!