In-ceiling help: Proficient Audio C645 vs. Sonos Symphony S623TR

[Sliver]

Looking for opinions and reviews or suggestions on in-ceiling speakers for whole house audio distribution.

I've narrowed down to a couple:

Proficient Audio ($165/pair) (sister company to Speakercraft?)
model: C645
6 1/2" Kevlar Woofer
1" Aluminum pivoting tweeter
150 watts
32Hz-22KHz response
8ohms
92db sensitivity

Sonance ($250/pair)
model: S623tr
6 1/2" Carbon fiber woofer
1" Silk dome tweeter
135 watts
43Hz-20kHz
90db

 

[adk highlander]

I am installed a pair of 623T's and SRS1's for my theater. I don't have them installed yet but I can say their build quality is very good.

I am using Polk's for my whole house system and am very happy with them right now. I have RC6S stereo speaker in my dining area and will be installing some TC60i's in the master bedroom in the next couple of weeks.

Greg has been using the Sonance Symphony's for his surrounds for a while and another member mazersteven has an entire speakercraft system and knows their products well.

I can say that going from some inexpensive Audiosource speakers to the Polks was a major upgrade in sound quality.

 

[Sliver]

Thanks for the input. Do you know of anyone who has experience with Proficient Audio? The specs. look good and I saw somewhere that they were a sister company to Speakercraft. Trouble with in-ceiling speakers is that there are a bunch out there and not many opportunities to preview them.

 

[adk highlander]

Sorry I have no experience with Proficient at all. I did a google and got quite a bit back but not too many reviews. What model are you looking at?

Where do you live? Other members may be able to recommend a B & M store that are in your area that you can demo a variety of in ceiling/in walls.

 

[Sliver]

I was looking at this model:
Proficient Audio ($165/pair) (sister company to Speakercraft?)
model: C645
6 1/2" Kevlar Woofer
1" Aluminum pivoting tweeter
150 watts
32Hz-22KHz response
8ohms
92db sensitivity

I live in Atlanta GA.
Did you say that you have the 623Ts and were going to install them? Have you listened to them?

 

[adk highlander]

I have the in wall 623T's and I am waiting for the backbox for them to arrive. I should have them by Monday and will install them immediately. They will only be side surrounds for me so it would be quite different using them as primary speakers. I have not listened to them.

623t

srs1

Sorry I did not see the model number the first time.

Funny I now do a search in for Proficient Audio C45 review and this thread is the number one link. Not a good sign.

 

[Sliver]

Please keep me posted when you hook them up and test them out. I'm sure you can isolate them and see how they sound. Just out of curiousity, what are you matching them up with for your front channels?

 

[Sliver]

Also, if you don't mind sharing....where did you purchase yours from?

thanks again.

 

[adk highlander]

I purchased both sets off ebay. I planned and waited until the right deal came along. I paid a little less than 175 per pair. The 623t's were NOS and the SRS1's say are very lightly used.

I am using them with a Pair of Warfedale EVO2 50's and a Diamond 9.CM center. They all use carbon fiber woofers and soft dome tweeters.

Here is a pic

I just got a tracking number for the back boxes and they will be here friday. I will try and get them in over the weekend and will post my thoughts here.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes, I use the Sonance Symphony's for my surrounds and SpeakerCraft for my bedroom set-up. Both are very well built and I like the sound of both. The SCs seem to go lower but it's hard to tell as they are in a much smaller room.

I am installed a pair of 623T's and SRS1's for my theater. I don't have them installed yet but I can say their build quality is very good.

I am using Polk's for my whole house system and am very happy with them right now. I have RC6S stereo speaker in my dining area and will be installing some TC60i's in the master bedroom in the next couple of weeks.

Greg has been using the Sonance Symphony's for his surrounds for a while and another member mazersteven has an entire speakercraft system and knows their products well.

I can say that going from some inexpensive Audiosource speakers to the Polks was a major upgrade in sound quality.

 

[jcPanny]

In-ceiling speaker

I used some budget pheonix gold in-ceiling speakers (6 1/2" woofer $40/pair) for my low tech distributed audio system and I am not disappointed. If you think about it, the acoustics in many rooms like the kitchen are far from ideal and these are for background music.

Get better quality speakers (bookshelf, in-wall, etc.) for the main HT room.

 

[Sliver]

I had looked at the Phoenix Gold in-ceiling speakers as well. Given the number of pairs of speakers that I'll be using (14 pair), a lower cost option wouldn't be a bad one either....I pre-wired each of the bedrooms, exercise room, main living areas etc. for Sonos amps and speaker drops, so I was looking for something with some middle of the road quality as each bedroom will also run the tv as an auxillary input on the Sonos amp to increase the quality of the sound coming from the tv (with whatever speakers I choose) in addition to providing a decent quality stereo for each of the kids in their bedrooms and avoid bookshelf stereos in every room.

What is anyone's take on going with an 8" in-ceiling vs. a 6"? Is it worth it to get a deeper bass or does an 8" in a 2 way in-ceiling speaker become sloppy and your better off going with a better quality 6 1/2.

 

[Paradise]

The Proficient gear is actually very nice. For the money, I think they really hit the mark. They're built with all high-quality components and they even have a 10-year warranty. If you step into an 8", such as a C800, they give you bass and treble contour switches to help you get the sound you like.

I can't speak about the Sonos speakers for I have no experience with them. The Proficient stuff is great, though. Especially for the $$$.

 

[zumbo]

How about MB Quart from Audioholics.


http://store.audioholics.com/search?xSearch=MB+Quart+in+ceiling&xPriceFrom=0&xPriceTo=0&xSort=&xPage=10000

 

[jcPanny]

In-ceiling speaker

I had looked at the Phoenix Gold in-ceiling speakers as well. Given the number of pairs of speakers that I'll be using (14 pair), a lower cost option wouldn't be a bad one either....I pre-wired each of the bedrooms, exercise room, main living areas etc. for Sonos amps and speaker drops, so I was looking for something with some middle of the road quality as each bedroom will also run the tv as an auxillary input on the Sonos amp to increase the quality of the sound coming from the tv (with whatever speakers I choose) in addition to providing a decent quality stereo for each of the kids in their bedrooms and avoid bookshelf stereos in every room.

What is anyone's take on going with an 8" in-ceiling vs. a 6"? Is it worth it to get a deeper bass or does an 8" in a 2 way in-ceiling speaker become sloppy and your better off going with a better quality 6 1/2.

Here is what I did. Buy a pair of entry level speakers and hook them up in one of the rooms. If you like them, buy more for the other rooms. If not, get higher end speakers for the critical rooms.

 

[zumbo]

Just in case you are interested in the Quarts(or Yamaha) from Audioholics, here is a coupon off the price.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44248

 

[Sliver]

Thanks for the coupon. I have some experience with the MB Quarts as I had a couple of pair installed in a previous car...was very impressed. I think I'm going to take a previous posters advice and buy a single pair, check them out and then move forward before I commit to buying 15+ pair.

 

[rickacree]

Proficient Speakers

I install high-end systems designed to last over time without losing quality. I have found that for the cost and quality Proficient can not be beat. There are cheaper speakers, and "better" spec speakers, but I have not seen speakers that sound better for longer. Some systems that I have installed 10 years ago and are played 24/7 still sound great and have no problems. I have upgraded the amps and receivers, but not had to upgrade the speakers.