Master Bathroom Speaker Layout

[Montucky]

I have a bit of a funky layout in my master bathroom and having a tough time figuring out just what I want to do. I have piles of in-ceiling speakers from my old store so I'd like to put them to good use once again. Haha. I'm thinking I might either do 4 x 6-1/2" speakers or 2 x 8" speakers. I drew up a quick floor plan showing my thoughts with either scenario. These will be powered by the new Sonos Amp, so will probably just drive all in mono. I'd like to be able to hear reasonably well whether I'm in the shower, the tub, or getting ready by the sink. Would love to add another speaker in the master closet and WC with volume controls, but that will be for a future phase, if ever. I think for now, covering the main part of the bathroom will be sweet. Anyway, I'm not sure which way I want to go size-wise or layout. See any big glaring pros/cons with either setup? Would love to hear your critiques.

 

[Grandzoltar]

I would go with 4 6.5s. Better dispersion throughout the bathroom.

 

[Montucky]

I would go with 4 6.5s. Better dispersion throughout the bathroom.

That's what I'm leaning toward as well. Something else I hadn't considered until I looked at my mountain o' speakers was using LCR in-ceilings for the tub/shower locations, then angle them to each of those! I have some very nice RBH VM-615L's https://rbhsound.com/vm615l.php
Hmmm....

 

[Grandzoltar]

Those are great ceiling speakers. Those are the ones I was looking at for 2 more Atmos speakers

 

[Montucky]

Those are great ceiling speakers. Those are the ones I was looking at for 2 more Atmos speakers

Nice! Not to spam the forum or anything, but if you want any, I have too many hanging around so would be happy to hook you up. PM me if you're ever interested.

The more I think about it, I think using those LCR's would be just the ticket to aim the speakers toward the bathtub/shower. Would be cool to have them directly overhead, but the lights are in the way. Probably'd get cooked by steam too so perhaps less than ideal in the shower, but would still be kind of nifty! Assuming a frequent replacement schedule. Haha.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Put a speaker directly over the shower area if you intend to listen while in the shower.

This is something I have learned from experience.

You do want to seal around the speaker to ensure moisture doesn't get into the attic space, but you will have to crank speakers up to hear them in the shower if you don't do things this way.

I used OSD outdoor rated speakers for wet locations. I did have it fail after about 5 years on an installation, but was able to replace it with a similar model.

Otherwise, you can pretty much run 'mono' to several ceiling speakers in a bathroom and be pretty happy with the sound. You just will be unhappy if there isn't a speaker right over the shower. The shower doors simply block to much audio.

That said, you don't care about cranking it up to hear it, then by all means, do so.

 

[Montucky]

Put a speaker directly over the shower area if you intend to listen while in the shower.

This is something I have learned from experience.

I totally would if I didn't have the light fixture in the way. That's why I'm thinking an angled LCR speaker. Has 15-degree offset woofer and an aimable tweeter. Maybe if I scooch it closer toward the shower door? Then it could aim the sound right over the door and into the shower stall I'm thinking. Perhaps I'll play with a protactor and a flash light in there and see what's up.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Look at things and play with them.

My client custom painted the grill and speaker surround to match the ceiling (he's crazy like that), so when the speaker went out, I actually had to remove the driver assembly from the backbox to install a new driver. Worked perfectly.

Either way, I've done a few of these shower setups with speakers and it doesn't need to be centered overhead, but it should be in that space so the doors don't block out half the sound. It's also simply the noisiest place you will be, as you know if you've ever tried to yell for someone who is in a shower. They never can hear you.

Do your best with it and it was my only real serious recommendation. At the end, it is your setup to use and enjoy

 

[Montucky]

Either way, I've done a few of these shower setups with speakers and it doesn't need to be centered overhead, but it should be in that space so the doors don't block out half the sound. It's also simply the noisiest place you will be, as you know if you've ever tried to yell for someone who is in a shower. They never can hear you.

That's a really good point! You're right! Maybe I still use the LCRs but shift the placement to just within the zones like so:

 

[Montucky]

^^^
Or I suppose I could use a standard down-firing speaker in the shower but an LCR over the tub? Would use the same series speaker. Trying to go for some decent geometry here. At least the best I can given the dimensions I'm working with here. I like my in-ceilings pairs to line up. This is fun. Haven't even told the wife. They're just going to "magically appear" one day while she's at work. Haha.