Speaker setup advice

[aroton]

I am working on designing my home entertainment center in our new house. We are keen on a minimalist look, and will likely be buying a TV that mounts flush against the wall. With this in mind, floorstanding speakers are pretty much out of the question, mainly because there is a custom built in under the TV.

What I need help with, is whether or not we should try to do in-walls for LCR, or if the experience will be bad enough I should just go with bookshelf and deal with the clutter. We plan on putting 2 subs behind the couch. The eventual plan is to go 3 lcr, 2 surround, 2 atmos. I will likely do in ceiling for the surround and atmos.

My budget is ~$1k per LCR

TLDR on questions:
1. In-wall or bookshelf? If bookshelf, what I do I lose by going in-wall?
2. How do I shop for in-walls? There seems to be alot of advice for bookshelf, but it seems fairly sporadic for in-walls. Should I just pick a good brand and roll the dice?

Picture form the far side of the room these are going in:

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I am working on designing my home entertainment center in our new house. We are keen on a minimalist look, and will likely be buying a TV that mounts flush against the wall. With this in mind, floorstanding speakers are pretty much out of the question, mainly because there is a custom built in under the TV.

What I need help with, is whether or not we should try to do in-walls for LCR, or if the experience will be bad enough I should just go with bookshelf and deal with the clutter. We plan on putting 2 subs behind the couch. The eventual plan is to go 3 lcr, 2 surround, 2 atmos. I will likely do in ceiling for the surround and atmos.

My budget is ~$1k per LCR

TLDR on questions:
1. In-wall or bookshelf? If bookshelf, what I do I lose by going in-wall?
2. How do I shop for in-walls? There seems to be alot of advice for bookshelf, but it seems fairly sporadic for in-walls. Should I just pick a good brand and roll the dice?

Picture form the far side of the room these are going in:
View attachment 51666

Imo.
For 1) I choose bookshelf.
You lose mostly freedom of placement for best imaging and soundstage and in room response with IW speakers. You’re also left with drywall repairs if and when you remove or relocate said speakers.
2) I would shop for IW speakers from known high quality speaker manufacturers.

So you’re doing a 5.1.2 system. I would not put surrounds and tops in the ceiling. If your surrounds NEED to be IC, then I’d skip Atmos.

 

[JengaHit]

You could wall mount bookshelves. Then you could at least adjust swivel, tilt, and limited telescoping (depending on the mount you use) for optimizing imaging and sound stage. Or you could just place bookshelves on elevated isolation plinths/short stands on top of that console (see below). I don't have experience with wall mounts but have heard a couple systems with expensive flush-mounted slimline speakers. Sort of similar. Honestly the sound stage on those systems was flat and 2-dimensional. Imaging was also mediocre. Not impressed. Like glorified TV speakers.

Any number of short bookshelf stands like these would work on your console.

Technical Pro MB5MiniStand Studio Monitor Speaker Stands (Pair)

Buy Technical Pro MB5MiniStand Studio Monitor Speaker Stands (Pair) featuring Wood-Grain Style Finish, Heavy-Duty Construction, Fit Large Bookshelf Speakers, 8" Height, Integrated Feet, Quad Support for Security and Strength, Include Mounting Hardware. Review Technical Pro null

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[aroton]

Thanks. Sounds like bookshelves it is.

I'll probably just go for some short stands like you posted. I'm looking at something like the kef R3 (on sale right now for black friday) which may be a PITA to mount since they are on the bigger side.

 

[JengaHit]

Thanks. Sounds like bookshelves it is.

I'll probably just go for some short stands like you posted. I'm looking at something like the kef R3 (on sale right now for black friday) which may be a PITA to mount since they are on the bigger side.

You can use Blu Tack or QuakeHold Museum Putty to secure the speakers to the stand top plates, and to keep the stands from sliding around on your console. Neither putty will damage finishes. I use both. They have extremely secure grip. You can buy both on Amazon.