Advice for In-Ceiling Speaker Layout for New Kitchen

[Ebase131]

Hi All,

Looking for some critiques/advice on a new speaker layout we are considering for our first floor. We love listening to music, and our 3 little kids love controlling that music by voice via Alexa control, so sound quality and Alexa integration capability were the two most important factors when I was researching options. I also have a TV in another room about 25 ft away from the kitchen and I would love to have its sound coming through the in-ceiling speakers when we're not listening to music (Believe this can be accomplished with HDMI and ARC into the Sonos Amp?).

Here's the equipment:

New In-Ceiling Speakers: MartinLogan Helos 12 x6
New Amps: Sonos Amp x3 (was trying to avoid these as I've heard mixed reviews on sound quality, but based on my days of research these were the best options from a convenience, price, sound quality standpoint as well as the great mobile app functionality/control and Alexa integration capability).

I already own a Denon X4700H (in the basement, controlling a 5.1 home theater setup and 2nd zone controlling music for 2 outdoor deck speakers).

Attached are my layouts that I've considered for the in-ceiling speakers. Would love any thoughts and suggestions in general to improve (while keeping cost in mind!).

The "Try this first" layout is what I plan to do first, and depending on feedback may end up leaving some wiring up there to add another pair of speakers in the center of the kitchen as shown. But I drew up some other layouts I had considered as well and would love any and all feedback on speaker layout or equipment chosen! Thank you!

 

[highfigh]

Hi All,

Looking for some critiques/advice on a new speaker layout we are considering for our first floor. We love listening to music, and our 3 little kids love controlling that music by voice via Alexa control, so sound quality and Alexa integration capability were the two most important factors when I was researching options. I also have a TV in another room about 25 ft away from the kitchen and I would love to have its sound coming through the in-ceiling speakers when we're not listening to music (Believe this can be accomplished with HDMI and ARC into the Sonos Amp?).

Here's the equipment:

New In-Ceiling Speakers: MartinLogan Helos 12 x6
New Amps: Sonos Amp x3 (was trying to avoid these as I've heard mixed reviews on sound quality, but based on my days of research these were the best options from a convenience, price, sound quality standpoint as well as the great mobile app functionality/control and Alexa integration capability).

I already own a Denon X4700H (in the basement, controlling a 5.1 home theater setup and 2nd zone controlling music for 2 outdoor deck speakers).

Attached are my layouts that I've considered for the in-ceiling speakers. Would love any thoughts and suggestions in general to improve (while keeping cost in mind!).

The "Try this first" layout is what I plan to do first, and depending on feedback may end up leaving some wiring up there to add another pair of speakers in the center of the kitchen as shown. But I drew up some other layouts I had considered as well and would love any and all feedback on speaker layout or equipment chosen! Thank you!

I only looked at the first layout, but you placed the speakers in some very odd locations.

This is what those of us in the AV industry call 'distributed audio' and unless certain seating locations are used by the primary breadwinner, stereo isn't even needed. What IS needed is coverage and the best way to do that is with the Sonos (or whatever you'll use as the source) to be set to Mono. You won't be annoyed by sounds that bounce between the Left & Right speakers, either. The two easiest ways to do this are:

- Use dual voicecoil speakers and connect them to both channels
- Set the amp to Mono (doing this in the AVR 2nd Zone menu is often the best method)

 

[Ebase131]

I only looked at the first layout, but you placed the speakers in some very odd locations.

This is what those of us in the AV industry call 'distributed audio' and unless certain seating locations are used by the primary breadwinner, stereo isn't even needed. What IS needed is coverage and the best way to do that is with the Sonos (or whatever you'll use as the source) to be set to Mono. You won't be annoyed by sounds that bounce between the Left & Right speakers, either. The two easiest ways to do this are:

- Use dual voicecoil speakers and connect them to both channels
- Set the amp to Mono (doing this in the AVR 2nd Zone menu is often the best method)

Yes for sure this was a concern of mine from the very beginning. I actually started with planning to put 3 speakers evenly spaced in a line across the length of the room and have them all be mono so that no one is hearing "half" of a song, but then the more research I did it seems like most people still recommend grouping pairs of speakers throughout the room. I've never had practice experience with in-ceiling speakers so I just assumed the stereo approach was best. Is there any advantage of using stereo over mono from a sound quality perspective?

 

[highfigh]

Yes for sure this was a concern of mine from the very beginning. I actually started with planning to put 3 speakers evenly spaced in a line across the length of the room and have them all be mono so that no one is hearing "half" of a song, but then the more research I did it seems like most people still recommend grouping pairs of speakers throughout the room. I've never had practice experience with in-ceiling speakers so I just assumed the stereo approach was best. Is there any advantage of using stereo over mono from a sound quality perspective?

Stereo is only needed when you have a listening position that will be used frequently and if it will be used as an actual listening position. Don't get me wrong- if you'll be seated at the island and want great sound, go ahead and set up a pair for stereo- I did that with a pair of Dynaudio in-ceiling speakers and they're amazing. The great thing about mono is that you only need to be concerned with even coverage, not grouping. I would, however, use 4 conductor speaker cable, in case you decide to add or change speakers.

 

[Ebase131]

Will there be a drastic sound quality difference if going MONO vs. Stereo?