In-wall speakers

[jonnythan]

Do any of you guys have much experience with in-wall speakers? I have the Andrew Jones Pioneers right now, but I might be moving soon and I'm thinking of in-walls for the TV room.

I was thinking of mounting the TV to the wall, and putting a pair of in-wall speakers to the left and right. All wires hidden. Then some in-walls or in-ceilings for the surrounds for a 4.1 setup.

I'm quite satisfied with the sound of the Pioneer speakers I have now. I was less satisfied with a Polk Monitor setup I had previously. My concern is sound quality from the in-walls. I don't need much volume, but I do want clarity and some measure of accuracy. I've never actually listened to any decent in-walls and I don't think there's anywhere I can go to do so.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Jonnythan,
Have you considered on-walls, there are several out there (Def Tech Mythos as one example). They are designed to be mounted with fairly low profiles (a few inches); yet having the advantages of non-permanent mounting (i.e. no large cut-out holes) and enclosures designed to take advantage of the wall surface?
Cheers,
XEagleDriver

 

[jonnythan]

I have, but I'd much prefer in-walls.

 

[Dargent0628]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-S7QvUH7S81a/g_12600/In-wall-Speakers.html?awcp=1t1&awcr=28879553363&awdv=m&awkw=in wall speakers&awmt=e&awnw=g

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

I'm quite satisfied with the sound of the Pioneer speakers I have now.

It’s pretty difficult to design a good-sounding in-wall speakers, given that sheetrock is prone to resonating and as such makes a poor enclosure. In-wall speakers that sound as good as the Pioneers will probably run you at least 2-3 times what you paid for them.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jonnythan]

The Pioneers were cheap, so I wouldn't mind spending a few hundred on a pair of in-walls.

I don't know how they actually sound, though. Does anyone have any experience with in-wall speakers for TV/movie use?

 

[herbu]

Have you read this? http://www.audioholics.com/search?SearchableText=in-wall

 

[jonnythan]

Have you read this? http://www.audioholics.com/search?SearchableText=in-wall

The only review I could find there is of a pair of speakers that's over $1000.

 

[herbu]

Hmmm... the links there don't show up for me either now.
Try this one... http://www.audioholics.com/outdoor-speaker-reviews

 

[jonnythan]

Thanks for the links, but it seems the only in-wall review AH has done is the Paradigm SA-25. They were well liked, but they're also $1000 a pair.

I suppose it implies that in-wall speakers can be decent, which is good, though it seems they only tested with music content.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Any speaker that’s good with music will be fine for home theater.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[jonnythan]

Any speaker that’s good with music will be fine for home theater.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

I don't quite agree. My NHT SuperZero speakers are fantastic for music. Detailed, accurate, articulate. They didn't quite work for home theater. They didn't have the dynamics and felt a little constrained. I kept the NHTs for music and use the Andrew Jones Pioneers for home theater now.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Okay, so tiny little speakers might not be up to the task for home theater. You can keep that in mind when studying the reviews for regular speakers, but I have no idea how that plays out with in-walls. They're in a class all their own (and I don't mean that in a complimentary fashion).

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[shadyJ]

For an affordable in-wall with some dynamic range, check out the Hsu HIWs. Basically just an in-wall version of the HB-1s. Should be pretty good, but I wouldn't expect greatness from an in-wall until you can afford some of the better Atlantic Technology or Triad in-walls, or something on that level.

 

[jonnythan]

Oh wow, I didn't even know HSU made in-walls. Thanks.