how to get a super wide sound stage?

[scott911]

Hi gang - I don't know if the subject line here makes much sense, but my bride and I are ripping out walls and combining the kitchen and dining rooms into one large area. 15' x 30' feet.

My question is - how do I add sound to the new kitchen area without making hot spots where you get blasted with sound as you stroll in front of a speaker?

Additional info: ceiling in new kitchen is standard height - 7.5 feet i think. Axiom W22's are my mains in an adjacent room and I'd consider using the same type in kitchen as well because they sound great and my wife likes the look. - keep in mind - WAF is highly important, kitchen is her domain!

thanks,
Scott

 

[mperfct]

Hi gang - I don't know if the subject line here makes much sense, but my bride and I are ripping out walls and combining the kitchen and dining rooms into one large area. 15' x 30' feet.

My question is - how do I add sound to the new kitchen area without making hot spots where you get blasted with sound as you stroll in front of a speaker?

Additional info: ceiling in new kitchen is standard height - 7.5 feet i think. Axiom W22's are my mains in an adjacent room and I'd consider using the same type in kitchen as well because they sound great and my wife likes the look. - keep in mind - WAF is highly important, kitchen is her domain!

thanks,
Scott

What type of material are you wanting to listen to? Ambient music?

 

[popotoys]

For ambience, I am considering an in ceiling, single stereo speaker in multiple locations. There are also companies that make on wall single stereo speakers as well.

 

[scott911]

So what happens to the Left and Right aspects of the recording?

I understand that as you walk around the kitchen, turning your head from one side to the other, you're really messing with the engineer's intentions as to what you are supposed to be hearing - but if those channels are coming from the same speaker node, is it just like listening to a mono source then?

Is there any sound wave cancelling happening? - or anything that will really mess with the sound. I admit that I never really understood to left / right when thinking about installing speakers in multiple rooms, or multiple pairs in one room.

I was always worried I'd become dissoriented and bump into a wall!

 

[scott911]

yes - ambiant music...

 

[popotoys]

So what happens to the Left and Right aspects of the recording?

I understand that as you walk around the kitchen, turning your head from one side to the other, you're really messing with the engineer's intentions as to what you are supposed to be hearing - but if those channels are coming from the same speaker node, is it just like listening to a mono source then?

Is there any sound wave cancelling happening? - or anything that will really mess with the sound. I admit that I never really understood to left / right when thinking about installing speakers in multiple rooms, or multiple pairs in one room.

I was always worried I'd become dissoriented and bump into a wall!

Basically, as I understand, you don't really need imaging if it is for ambient sound. You just want to hear everything in the background. These are still stereo just really close together (like a small stereo radio) but wouldn't be for imaging. The idea would be to fill the room with sound but to still be able to here all information from the left and right sources. If you use only 2, then you will have imaging issues. The other is to use 4, 6, 8... speakers in L, R, L, R configuration. But, with this configuration you will need to consider ohm ratings. You can also purchase speaker switch boxes that automatically keep everything to 8 ohms as well.

 

[CraigV]

Well, if you’re wanting to keep things small, you may want to consider some of the offerings from Mirage. Their omnipolar series throws a wide soundstage, but do require a sub to get any real bass. Some Nano-sats, or even the Spherex/Xbox iteration would do well on top of cabinets (if not meant for storage).

http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=93171

 

[j_garcia]

If not in ceiling speakers, then perhaps some of those outdoor Mirage speakers. They look less like a speaker than the standard Omnis mentioned by CraigV, but will throw a large stage. Sort of the same issue though, not a ton of bass, but you will likely have a similar issue with in ceiling.

I personally just put the music on in the living room, because there is no escaping the sound in my house. Everywhere you go, even in the back yard, you can hear it.

 

[scott911]

I do have my main system is an ajacent room, with a ten foor wide opening. Not alot of sound seems to escape from thetr through. Which is good I guess if we want to do second source in kitchen while the kids are watcing tv.

For you guys with "ambiant" sound in other rooms, what are you using for a speaker switch? I saw a brand that does not have a protect switch that claims to adjust itself dynamically as my ohms are drawn. http://www.audioplex.com/PTSeries.htm ~This marketing blub impressed me and the price is really good...

Circuit city also has a bunch of monster branded (hiss, hiss) speaker selectors that I think will still be around at the point when real markdowns start to happen. Anyone know who makes that switch?

 

[popotoys]

I have only used cheap ones in the past. Here is one by Bryston but expensive.

Your other option could be an amp with an A/B out???

 

[griffinconst]

I know this is a speaker thread but we must look out for our own.
Make sure your house has trusses before you start tearing out any walls. If you have ceiling joists or rafters or an upstairs, you may have a bearing wall = it holds up the things above it. You would not want to tear out that wall unless you put a beam where the wall was, with posts at the ends to hold it up.
You probably knew this but I chimed in just in case.
Good luck with your speakers + your remodel.
I like mirrage as well.