In-wall Speaker recommendations for small dedicated HT

[nermol]

Hello,

I am in the process of building out a new HT in our new home and am looking for some opinions on speaker brands. In our previous home I was using a Definitive Technology 8000 Series setup (8060 LCR, 8080 Surrounds, DI 4.5 Atmos), but I have decided I want to go all in-wall in this room for a more seamless look and feel. I already have dual SVS2000 Pro's for LFE.

My initial thought was to go DT In-walls (UIW RLS II for LCR, DI6.5LCR for surrounds, and DI6.5 for Atmos) but the lack of constructive reviews has me a bit nervous on their performance. I have also been looking at Triad Silver, JBL Studio6, or Revel as well but with no way to demo them I am hesitant to pull the trigger.

Those that run in-walls, what is your setup? What do you like about them from a sound perspective? Anyone with any of these options in their rooms?

Thoughts?

 

[Mr._Clark]

Hello,

I am in the process of building out a new HT in our new home and am looking for some opinions on speaker brands. In our previous home I was using a Definitive Technology 8000 Series setup (8060 LCR, 8080 Surrounds, DI 4.5 Atmos), but I have decided I want to go all in-wall in this room for a more seamless look and feel. I already have dual SVS2000 Pro's for LFE.

My initial thought was to go DT In-walls (UIW RLS II for LCR, DI6.5LCR for surrounds, and DI6.5 for Atmos) but the lack of constructive reviews has me a bit nervous on their performance. I have also been looking at Triad Silver, JBL Studio6, or Revel as well but with no way to demo them I am hesitant to pull the trigger.

Those that run in-walls, what is your setup? What do you like about them from a sound perspective? Anyone with any of these options in their rooms?

Thoughts?

In my experience, selecting in wall speakers can be challenging because there are very few in depth professional reviews out there, and there's also rarely a good way to demo them.

My experience with in wall speakers is limited to the 3 Aperion 6LCRs I'm running in my living room system. These are not junk and they are better than the Paradigm speakers they replaced, but I would not recommend them for a dedicated HT room. By way of comparison, the Aperion in wall speakers are not even close to the Philharmonic BMRs I have in one of my other systems.

I've been looking at the Perlisten R5i-LR and R5i-C but I'm not sure about spending that kind of money without a demo or at least a decent professional review.

Some of the people who post here have what appear to be decent in wall speakers (e.g. RBH). Hopefully they can provide better insight.

What is your budget? Were you happy with the Def Tec 8000s you had previously? This might help people narrow down the options.

 

[nermol]

In my experience, selecting in wall speakers can be challenging because there are very few in depth professional reviews out there, and there's also rarely a good way to demo them.

My experience with in wall speakers is limited to the 3 Aperion 6LCRs I'm running in my living room system. These are not junk and they are better than the Paradigm speakers they replaced, but I would not recommend them for a dedicated HT room. By way of comparison, the Aperion in wall speakers are not even close to the Philharmonic BMRs I have in one of my other systems.

I've been looking at the Perlisten R5i-LR and R5i-C but I'm not sure about spending that kind of money without a demo or at least a decent professional review.

Some of the people who post here have what appear to be decent in wall speakers (e.g. RBH). Hopefully they can provide better insight.

What is your budget? Were you happy with the Def Tec 8000s you had previously? This might help people narrow down the options.

I am trying to stay around $5k for all 11 speakers. I was actually pretty happy with the sound of the Def Tec after treating the first reflection point and getting the crossover setup to my liking on the Denon.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am trying to stay around $5k for all 11 speakers. I was actually pretty happy with the sound of the Def Tec after treating the first reflection point and getting the crossover setup to my liking on the Denon.

Whatever you do, make sure the speakers have proper enclosures. Those in walls, which are most, are just junk designs. I think most commercial in walls are highly problematic and best avoided, unless you don't care how awful they sound.

In walls, actually represent a huge design challenge, because of the large baffle from the wall and its complex reflections.

I have designed and built an in wall system for our great room, and it is a huge challenge. The only commercial in walls that look at all promising are B & W, but I would still be cautious. I would not go that route unless you really have to. Once you install it there is no easy going back.

This is the FR of a main speaker on and off axis, you can see the reinforcement of the wall in the 100 Hz range is hard to deal with. Although over all you can see it is good on and off axis.

Black is axis, and then 15, 30, 45 and 60 degrees off axis.

This is the sub FR. Crossover set to 80 Hz.

Again you see the influence of the wall at 40 Hz.

As you might expect from those measurement it sounds very good, but the wall does color the low end response a little.

That is my wife's system and she loves it. It was built on her request.

So not the most perfect FRs, but the commercial manufacturers generally don't dare show theirs.

Then there is my room, but that's another story.

 

[shadyJ]

In my experience, selecting in wall speakers can be challenging because there are very few in depth professional reviews out there, and there's also rarely a good way to demo them.

My experience with in wall speakers is limited to the 3 Aperion 6LCRs I'm running in my living room system. These are not junk and they are better than the Paradigm speakers they replaced, but I would not recommend them for a dedicated HT room. By way of comparison, the Aperion in wall speakers are not even close to the Philharmonic BMRs I have in one of my other systems.

I've been looking at the Perlisten R5i-LR and R5i-C but I'm not sure about spending that kind of money without a demo or at least a decent professional review.

Some of the people who post here have what appear to be decent in wall speakers (e.g. RBH). Hopefully they can provide better insight.

What is your budget? Were you happy with the Def Tec 8000s you had previously? This might help people narrow down the options.

Perlisten in-walls are extremely good. I spent the day measuring one. If you want the in-wall equivalent of their regular speakers, they really are that.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

The new JBL Studio6 IW’s look promising as well. They’re trickle down from the HDI line so they should be great.

 

[Mr._Clark]

Perlisten in-walls are extremely good. I spent the day measuring one. If you want the in-wall equivalent of their regular speakers, they really are that.

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[DigitalDawn]

Triad is a really great brand. A bit more info below:

Triad is a Portland-based company that hand builds speakers in just about every configuration you can imagine. They will even color match the speakers and grills to match the paint on your walls. In addition to InRoom speakers, Triad has In-Wall and angled InCeiling speakers and subwoofers that work amazingly well for spaces in which you have no floor space, or when you wish to hide the speakers from view. The company has speakers in many different price ranges, starting at $300 per speaker.

While not a household name, Triad is a favorite of custom installers and has won numerous industry awards. The company is also a prototype partner for Dolby, helping to design speaker systems for immersive audio. Most recently, Triad Gold Monitor speakers won Best of Show at the 2019 CEDIA Expo in Denver. How Triad's Are Built:

 

[nermol]

The new JBL Studio6 IW’s look promising as well. They’re trickle down from the HDI line so they should be great.

This is my current front runner, I just haven't heard any first hand reviews yet so I am a little hesitant.

 

[nermol]

Triad is a really great brand. A bit more info below:

Triad is a Portland-based company that hand builds speakers in just about every configuration you can imagine. They will even color match the speakers and grills to match the paint on your walls. In addition to InRoom speakers, Triad has In-Wall and angled InCeiling speakers and subwoofers that work amazingly well for spaces in which you have no floor space, or when you wish to hide the speakers from view. The company has speakers in many different price ranges, starting at $300 per speaker.

While not a household name, Triad is a favorite of custom installers and has won numerous industry awards. The company is also a prototype partner for Dolby, helping to design speaker systems for immersive audio. Most recently, Triad Gold Monitor speakers won Best of Show at the 2019 CEDIA Expo in Denver. How Triad's Are Built:

Thx. I am familiar with Triad and have talked with a reseller about a Silver setup in my room. Unfortunately they seem to be priced a little out of my budget. I do like the build in enclosure and custom painted grill though.

Anyone have these in their room and have feedback?