KEF ceiling-mounted speakers
Discussion
For years I've had big floorstanders but these days I rarely listen to music seriously and the extra space would be welcome. However I would like something half-decent.
Happened to find an article about Princess yachts: http://hifipig.com/kef-to-provide-loudspeakers-for...
- which led me to:
http://www.kef.com/html/gb/showroom/custom_install...
I'd never considered ceiling speakers before but the question is - how good are they? The choice and range is bewildering so I'm rather a fish out of water on this one!
Happened to find an article about Princess yachts: http://hifipig.com/kef-to-provide-loudspeakers-for...
- which led me to:
http://www.kef.com/html/gb/showroom/custom_install...
I'd never considered ceiling speakers before but the question is - how good are they? The choice and range is bewildering so I'm rather a fish out of water on this one!
It really depends on what you want.
Basic in-ceiling speaker will never replicate good floor standers. However if you are prepared to spend the money on ones higher up the range and pull the ceiling apart to build proper back boxes for them then you will start to get close.
One alternative would be good on walls from the likes of PMC or Artcoustic but depending on the size of them you may need a sub as well.
Hth.
V.
Basic in-ceiling speaker will never replicate good floor standers. However if you are prepared to spend the money on ones higher up the range and pull the ceiling apart to build proper back boxes for them then you will start to get close.
One alternative would be good on walls from the likes of PMC or Artcoustic but depending on the size of them you may need a sub as well.
Hth.
V.
VEX said:
It really depends on what you want.
Basic in-ceiling speaker will never replicate good floor standers. However if you are prepared to spend the money on ones higher up the range and pull the ceiling apart to build proper back boxes for them then you will start to get close.
One alternative would be good on walls from the likes of PMC or Artcoustic but depending on the size of them you may need a sub as well.
Thanks; I did wonder about the bass and whether the ceiling would act as a giant baffle to help make up for the shortage. Probably not.Basic in-ceiling speaker will never replicate good floor standers. However if you are prepared to spend the money on ones higher up the range and pull the ceiling apart to build proper back boxes for them then you will start to get close.
One alternative would be good on walls from the likes of PMC or Artcoustic but depending on the size of them you may need a sub as well.
The room in question is a lounge diner, 24' long narrowing to about 9' wide with the 'lounge' end 14' wide x 11' deep. The ceiling is normal plasterboard so that would be easy to cut a hole in, and I'd have the 3" depth of the joists above. So I'd probably need a sub as well. It's been a while since I dabbled in hi-fi - can you get ones that plug into the mains and work wirelessly?
I can confirm that the PMC on walls do a really good job: I have the smaller Wafer 1 speakers as side surrounds, but I have tried them in straight stereo mode. While a sub would help give the really deep rumble, they sounded pretty good on their own. Unfortunately they aren't cheap new (I found some 1 year old ones for less than half the £1,500 new price). They do a larger Wafer 2 model for about £1,800 that apparently matches my 'standard box' type PMC TB2+ speakers (which don't need a sub just for music), judging by my Wafer 1 then I'd believe it.
I'll need to start my own thread, but I'm planing a project that will put 4 x 12" subwoofers in my ceiling. I'm doing this from the room above as I'm totally redecorating and moving radiators and the flooring will be up. I already have a pelmet in the room below which hides my projector screen so the subs will 'vent' through that and not be visible in the room. I'm aiming to have a very stealthy set up as like the OP I don't want the clutter if I can avoid it.
I'll need to start my own thread, but I'm planing a project that will put 4 x 12" subwoofers in my ceiling. I'm doing this from the room above as I'm totally redecorating and moving radiators and the flooring will be up. I already have a pelmet in the room below which hides my projector screen so the subs will 'vent' through that and not be visible in the room. I'm aiming to have a very stealthy set up as like the OP I don't want the clutter if I can avoid it.
Hi Oldskool.
Have a look at the csw range of in wall subs from Polk.
They sound good and I am planning one into the extension / cinema / play room.
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/series/csw
V.
Have a look at the csw range of in wall subs from Polk.
They sound good and I am planning one into the extension / cinema / play room.
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/series/csw
V.
Thanks VEX, that's kind of the thing I'm thinking of building, but I'll be using 4 x 12" Fi drivers that I've modelled to produce around 115db (plus room gain) at 20Hz, should go down to 10Hz and below at over 100dB (with the main amp at reference level). Driven using a Beringer NU6000DSP amp (a sort of lower budget copy of an 8 x 18" set up I've heard that was fantastic).
However, I've yet to lift the floorboards up to confirm how much space I have to play with (have to wait for the plasterer to do the ceiling first in the bedroom above
)
These are the drivers I'm looking at (12" version):
http://www.bladeice.com/index.php/products/fi-car-...
However, I've yet to lift the floorboards up to confirm how much space I have to play with (have to wait for the plasterer to do the ceiling first in the bedroom above
) These are the drivers I'm looking at (12" version):
http://www.bladeice.com/index.php/products/fi-car-...
Lol.
Not playing to your pen name really there though are you 'talkssense' !!!!!!!
Equally how deep do your pocket need to be for those?
To put B&O kit in context, the franchisee in Hampstead has shut up shop, if those rich buggers can't justify or don't want it then it has to be a dying brand. Also my whole scheme for a clients property came in at less than the cost of the B&O screen he liked! And we are talking over £16k!
Don't get me wrong, great looking kit, just very high end looks for not much audio gain.
V.
Not playing to your pen name really there though are you 'talkssense' !!!!!!!
Equally how deep do your pocket need to be for those?
To put B&O kit in context, the franchisee in Hampstead has shut up shop, if those rich buggers can't justify or don't want it then it has to be a dying brand. Also my whole scheme for a clients property came in at less than the cost of the B&O screen he liked! And we are talking over £16k!
Don't get me wrong, great looking kit, just very high end looks for not much audio gain.
V.
Sorry Simp.
Its bad when we don't listen to or support our Newbies!
Looking at those speakers the Bass driver is SMALL and so will its throw be (movement back and forth) to be able to stay in such a small 36mm void.
The 6.5" drivers I supply, Rex and a few others have houses full of them, produce an acceptable level of bass, for general listening and 'back ground' audio. But I would be wary of recommending any inceilings and a direct replacement for good quality floor standers. Especially without a sub.
If this is a move you are happy to make, thats fine, I just want you to know the move you making. I would certainly look at something either with its own backbox enclosure or look to have one built for each speaker to try to minimise the difference.
V.
Its bad when we don't listen to or support our Newbies!
Looking at those speakers the Bass driver is SMALL and so will its throw be (movement back and forth) to be able to stay in such a small 36mm void.
The 6.5" drivers I supply, Rex and a few others have houses full of them, produce an acceptable level of bass, for general listening and 'back ground' audio. But I would be wary of recommending any inceilings and a direct replacement for good quality floor standers. Especially without a sub.
If this is a move you are happy to make, thats fine, I just want you to know the move you making. I would certainly look at something either with its own backbox enclosure or look to have one built for each speaker to try to minimise the difference.
V.
Simpo Two said:
I know I'm new here but this thread seems to be wandering a bit...
Nothing into 4 figures please!
Is it?Nothing into 4 figures please!
You asked for input on ceiling mounting speakers instead of floor standers in a fairly large room. The ones I listed are the best I have heard and so the closest to replacing floor standing speakers. I didn't spot a mention of budget so sorry if the recommendation is no good.
I have Kef CI160 QR in a bathroom and they are fine. A back box makes a big difference. We also have some Sonance installed in a bedroom that were about £400 but I can't remember the exact model. I don't notice a massive difference between them and the cheaper KEF TBH. Neither will match a pair of floorstanders though.
talkssense said:
Is it?
Sorry, I thought you were replying to VEX whose post was above yours.I had hoped they would be a bit better than 'bathroom' quality though. Any thoughts on a sub to fill in the bass?
The speakers they might replace are essentially a transmission line package (PRO9-TL) ie KEF B139 bass, Peerless KO40MRF mid, Audax tweeter and a crossover with volume controls on mid and treble in a TEB of my own design. So I'm more of a Barnes Wallis than a 21st C tecchy audiophile
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