RBH Speaker Inquery: Entire Home System

[Shandley]

I am currently involved with part of a decision to make in regards to a home audio system, predominantly the speakers.

I have had some experience in the early 90's with speakers but things have changed.

Here's the deal:
It's a custom house using an HAI HiFi2 system to drive the entire house. The reason behind the HiFi was the ability to expand the system. That is what they have and that is what they are going to use.

They are going to buy RBH speakers.

Nearly all of the speakers are ceiling aside from some in the games room. I will mention if they are not ceiling speakers.

The cost difference between the aluminum and the poly is not the concern, rather the sound quality in large rooms or theater rooms.

The house has speakers in every main room:
Kitchen: 19 foot ceilings, 4 speakers, 8" each
Office: 10 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Living Room: 10-16 foot vaulted ceiling, 4 speakers, 6" each
Dining Room: 10 foot ceiling, 4 speakers, 6" each
Games Room (possible theater room): 12 foot ceiling, 1 center speaker in-wall (rectangle), 1FR speaker (8" in-wall), 1FL speaker (8" in-wall), 2 Front 8" speakers, 2 Rear 8" speakers.
Master Bedroom: 12 foot ceiling, 4 speakers 6" each
Master Bathroom: 12 foot ceiling, 2 speakers 6" each
Basement Main Room: 9 foot ceiling, 4 speakers 6" each
Basement Playroom (possible theater room): 9 foot ceiling, 1 center speaker in-wall, 1FR speaker 6", 1FL speaker 6", 2 Rear 6" speakers.
Basement Bedroom: 9 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Outside Front Porch: 10 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Outside Covered Deck: 16 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each

If it REALLY makes a difference, I can measure out the rooms that matter and provide that info.

My question is, for which rooms would you suggest a poly cone over an aluminum one? I understand the weight will make a difference in the output so I am specifically wonder about the kitchen where the sound needs to penetrate 20 feet of air. I may be off course here so I am looking for some input. Anything goes!

I should mention that the owners want quality but they don't want to buy an aluminum speaker just because it's more expensive but will not sound as good as a poly or even fiber. It should be good sounding. This isn't a party house but they want the option to punch when punch is needed.

What do you think?

 

[slipperybidness]

I am currently involved with part of a decision to make in regards to a home audio system, predominantly the speakers.

I have had some experience in the early 90's with speakers but things have changed.

Here's the deal:
It's a custom house using an HAI HiFi2 system to drive the entire house. The reason behind the HiFi was the ability to expand the system. That is what they have and that is what they are going to use.

They are going to buy RBH speakers.

Nearly all of the speakers are ceiling aside from some in the games room. I will mention if they are not ceiling speakers.

The cost difference between the aluminum and the poly is not the concern, rather the sound quality in large rooms or theater rooms.

The house has speakers in every main room:
Kitchen: 19 foot ceilings, 4 speakers, 8" each
Office: 10 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Living Room: 10-16 foot vaulted ceiling, 4 speakers, 6" each
Dining Room: 10 foot ceiling, 4 speakers, 6" each
Games Room (possible theater room): 12 foot ceiling, 1 center speaker in-wall (rectangle), 1FR speaker (8" in-wall), 1FL speaker (8" in-wall), 2 Front 8" speakers, 2 Rear 8" speakers.
Master Bedroom: 12 foot ceiling, 4 speakers 6" each
Master Bathroom: 12 foot ceiling, 2 speakers 6" each
Basement Main Room: 9 foot ceiling, 4 speakers 6" each
Basement Playroom (possible theater room): 9 foot ceiling, 1 center speaker in-wall, 1FR speaker 6", 1FL speaker 6", 2 Rear 6" speakers.
Basement Bedroom: 9 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Outside Front Porch: 10 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each
Outside Covered Deck: 16 foot ceiling, 2 speakers, 6" each

If it REALLY makes a difference, I can measure out the rooms that matter and provide that info.

My question is, for which rooms would you suggest a poly cone over an aluminum one? I understand the weight will make a difference in the output so I am specifically wonder about the kitchen where the sound needs to penetrate 20 feet of air. I may be off course here so I am looking for some input. Anything goes!

I should mention that the owners want quality but they don't want to buy an aluminum speaker just because it's more expensive but will not sound as good as a poly or even fiber. It should be good sounding. This isn't a party house but they want the option to punch when punch is needed.

What do you think?

Eh, I would not be worried about the cone material in the slightest! It's the overall implementation of the drive or speaker that matters, not what material it is made out of.

For a driver, the driver performance is defined by the T/S parameters. Period. The construction material has nothing to do with it (other than perhaps altering the T/S parameters).

For a speaker, it is the measured response (or the subjective "sounds better") that is important, not the materials used to get you there.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am also building a new house. I will use RBH VA-815 & RBH A-815 ceiling speakers. My primary decision is base on 3 things:
1. Large driver size: 8"
2. High power handling: 100W
3. Low bass extension for ceiling: 50Hz

For Outdoors, I will use the RBH MC-6AW - 6.5" woofer, 90dB/2.83V/m, 54-20kHz +/-3dB, 130W.

As already mentioned, I don’t even worry about driver material.