the guy who is doing my home theater recommended i use RBH in walls for all 7 speakers (LCR and surrounds) and then buying an acoustic screen. I like the idea and I think the look would be great, but I dont want to sacrifice sound quality. However Ive been told the RBH in-walls sound incredible. He recommended:
VM 553 for the LCR's
VM 610 for the side and rear surrounds
VA 615 for the 4 atmos speakers
If you can tolerate the look of it, I would go with cabinets for the fronts at least.
In walls are a very tough design challenge. If it is sond quality you are after, you can write off any open backed speaker. Designing for a 16" stud spacing is a real compromise.
I understand that out of a dedicated room installation, in wall systems and variants are attractive.
The best approach to in walls is the false wall approach.
The huge problem with in walls is that there are significant reflections from the flat wall. I addition there are usually a whole variety of adjacent architectural issues that complicate the situation. So when you embark on any of these type of solutions, a degree of custom design is highly desirable.
Sub woofers are a difficult problem and really demand a false wall approach. This is where TLs have a huge advantage, as they can be designed with little depth, and designing an in wall TL sub with prodigious and very accurate bass becomes entirely possible.
I do understand that in a multipurpose room, where multiple family members want to enjoy the space, which often includes children and pets, that large free standing speakers, especially if you want 6 or more speakers, poses significant architectural and interior design challenges. I have to agree that discrete speakers, and Hi-Fi furniture containing multiple units looks just plain awful more often than not. I think this is the overriding issue to domestic resistance in these systems.
Every room and case study is different. The differences are pretty much always of high acoustic significance. So this really does require customization for optimal aesthetic and acoustic results.
This is where a designer/builder with aesthetic sensibilities will always win out. There is no doubt in my mind about that.