Center Speaker selection In-wall vs. other

[Eltido]

The problem I need help with is that I can't fit the center speaker in-wall without tearing out the stud and putting in a header just to fit a speaker under the screen. Is it worth it to maintain the same line/quality of speakers? Or should I just use all in-wall speakers except the center speaker? I can't find a solution in the postings for this.

My setup is that I have an unfinished basement and am putting in a 5.1 system for mainly video. 15' x 25' x 8' ceiling room, Plasma 58" TV on the 15' wall. My wife wants in-wall speakers, and I am OK with it. I have narrowed my list of speaker systems to these unless other solutions are out there.

Mirage
HDT-CM7 surround
HDT-WM7 R/L
Omnisat v2 cc

Def Tech
UIW 75 R/L
UIW 94a surround
procenter 2000 cc vs another UIW 75 for the center channel with cutting out the stud as mentioned.

Sonance
623T L/C/R and cut out the stud
623TR surround

Or just scrap everything and get the Mirage Uni-Theater!

thanks

 

[MDS]

It sounds like a pretty unique situation and that is probably why you haven't found many recommendations.

It is usually best to match the front three speakers. Surrounds are less important and the subwoofer doesn't matter at all.

The question you have to ask yourself is how much time/effort/money are you willing to invest in the project. As far as I am concerned, it's the English adage 'in for a penny, in for a pound'. Meaning if you really want an in-wall solution you should go for the whole solution and do what is necessary to mount the matching center in the wall - but it do it Right, no hack jobs you may have to revisit later.

Now having said that, MY preference would be to just go for an external center. If you can find one from the same manufacturer it may be similar enough to the in-wall left and right speakers to still sound good.

I was considering using the pre-wired in-ceiling speaker locations in my house but as soon as I got in the attic and saw what a major hassle it would be (not quite as difficult as what you have described though), I quickly abandoned the idea, at least for the near future.

 

[Eltido]

thanks, what do you think of my speaker choices?

 

[Leprkon]

maybe some RBH on-walls that don't stick out any more than the plasma for your front three ?

http://www.audiophileliquidator.net/product_info.php?cPath=35_30_45&products_id=3608

http://www.rbhsound.com/wm24.shtml

or the biggger

http://www.audiophileliquidator.net/product_info.php?cPath=35_30_45&products_id=3610

http://www.rbhsound.com/wm30.shtml

you didn't actually state a budget, so it's kind of hard to work from...

 

[Eltido]

budget 1500

 

[annunaki]

What is wrong with using a standard in-wall speaker as the center? Use the same brand in-wall as your mains and match the tweeter and woofer. It should work fine. Definitive & Sonance have models that allow this I believe. The in wall center does not have to look like a horizontally mounted center. In fact you will probably get better dispersion with a standard in-wall as the center speaker.

 

[AVRat]

I highly recommend the Def Tech setup with the PC2000.

 

[Eltido]

I went ahead and cut out the center stud in the wall for an in wall center under the proposed Plasma TV placement. It only took me about 45 min(remember I don't have any drywall in yet).

AVRat, I already purchased 3 UIW 75 speakers for the L/R/C and the UIW 64a's for the surrounds. Should I consider taking back 1 UIW 75 back and getting the PC2000. I could trim out the center hole that I made for the Center channel and put it there, or is it better to just not have it in wall?

thanks

 

[AVRat]

Since you've done the work, definitely go with the 75. Looking forward to some pics when it's done.