In-wall 7.2: LCR options, 8" vs 6.5", Klipsch CDT-5800-C II vs. Klipsch R-5800-W II

[lwestfall]

My wife is sick of our floorstanding and bookshelf speakers (Infinity Alpha 50s, Alpha 20s + Beta 20s + C360) taking up space, especially as we downsize our basement HT area to a tiny 12' wide and 14' long as we wall off a master suite in an upcoming remodel, so I'm looking into in-wall speaker options. I kinda like the idea of moving to uniform speakers all around for the best surround feel.

If my LCR speakers each have single woofers, I ought to lean toward 8-inch woofers rather than 6.5-inch, right? My current subwoofer is a Klipsch RW-12d, so I thought I'd get a 2nd one and then match them with Klipsch in-wall speakers all around to get a matching timbre from their ceramo-metallic drivers, (but I am open to other in-wall options).

So I'm obviously looking at the Klipsch R-5800-W II, but now I'm thinking, to save space and to have pivoting ability of both the tweeters and woofers, why not use the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II speakers (in the walls, not the ceiling, although I'm considering adding 2 or 4 of the in-ceiling CDT-5800-C II speakers for Atmos immersion) all around? Any disadvantage to this?

I'm looking to place all the speakers about ear level or a little above, and I'm planning to put the center speaker just below a high wall-mounted down-tilting 65-inch 4k TV. If I position the speakers approximately in standard Dolby 7.2 configuration, is there any reason for me to consider using the R-5502-W II "LCR" or the R‑5650‑S II "Surround" speakers?

I figured I'd get a pretty good and uniform setup using the 8-inch concentric Klipsch CDT-5800-C II speakers all around. But maybe the R-5800-W II would give better definition having the tweeter separate from the woofer?

I would like a step up from my current speakers in quality, and I would consider spending $200-500 per speaker. Looks like the Klipsch CDT-5800-C II speakers are available on eBay for about $250 each.

Thanks for any thoughts you can share on any or all of this!

 

[lwestfall]

BTW I'm really not tied down to Klipsch, and I'm even considering upgrading my subwoofer to something like a $400 SVS SB12-NSD (two of them).

 

[KEW]

Most of us are not too familiar with in-wall options, so it may be a day or two before you get a response.
In the mean time, here are a couple of articles you can read:
http://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/truth-about-in-wall-speakers
http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/in-wall-speakers

 

[lwestfall]

Thanks, yes I saw those and they were helpful. I guess I'm just re-opening the general question of concentric vs. separate speakers which has been asked here before but never fully answered, and I'm sure it depends on the specific speakers. But the CDT-5800-C II has such good reviews (albeit as an in-ceiling speaker) and a higher sensitivity of 95db and the pivoting ability of both the tweeter and woofer that I figured, why not use it all around and have a more balanced, directed surround sound experience anyway? I suspect my decision will end up being based on mounting depth (the 5800-C mounts 5.4" deep and the 5800-W mounts 3.75" deep which works better for walls) since they probably sound near identical.
http://images.klipsch.com/CDT-5800-C_II_-_Spec_Sheet_-_v01_635125110119760000.pdf
http://images.klipsch.com/CDT-5650-C_II_-_Spec_Sheet_-_v01_635125109944140000.pdf
http://images.klipsch.com/R5800WII_635042123954910000.pdf
http://images.klipsch.com/R5650WII_635042125202030000.pdf

BTW in-wall subwoofers would certainly please my wife, but I haven't come across options yet that compare well in price and performance to the $400 SVS SB12-NSD.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

For driver size, I would get the 8" woofers.

For the front 3 speakers, I would get the In-Walls.

For all the surrounds, I would get the In-Ceilings.

For brands, I would stick to RBH, KEF, Revel.

 

[lwestfall]

I think I'm going to move up to something with a full reinforced enclosure like the Triad Gold/4 Omni SE speakers for 7 matching channels that all fit in my 4" walls.