Recommendations of In-Wall Speakers

I have no experience with in-wall speakers and wanted to know if anyone has heard what is great and what to stay away from.

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MeanGene's Home

Personally, I like the last interation of the Paradigm in-walls. The speakers are mounted in a frame that is cast as one piece, from what I could tell. I worked with a friend that installed them in a 7.1 system all around. I can't recall the models and names, but could get that for you. They were mounted pretty securely to the sheet rock. He also had some "membrane" between the sheetrock and studs for sound proofing. I was really impressed with the sound.

Another option are the Maggies, if you don't need to wake the dead. The Maggies are excellent sounding speakers and can easily pass the SAT - "spouse acceptance test" if you are really nice around V-Day adn X-Mas. They are not in-walls, but I don't think there are any in-walls that sound better, at least that I have heard. Drive them with some good power, like an M200 for each!

Boston Acoustics makes a range of in-walls that all the so-called HT experts (also known as home builders!) are installing like mad. For my ears, the are not that great for a real theater sound, but are okay for the patio, garage, bathrooms, etc.

Hope this helps and I would like to hear what others think also.

PhatLac.

The concensus from in-wall users seems to back up phatlac's experience with Paradigm, and if they are anything like the rest of Paradigm's product line I would expect nothing less of them. B&W also makes some in-walls that might be worth looking into.

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gonk -- 950 Review | LFM-1 Review | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | Saloon Links

I've heard a pair of Polk in-walls that suprised me by how good they actually sounded. The image they provided was more solid than some bookshelf speakers I've heard.

M&K also makes in-walls. Knowing the quality and care they put into their speakers, they're probably worth checking out if you have the funds.

Remember that with in-walls, you still have to set them up almost like regular speakers to get the best performance. In other words, they should be spaced evenly along the wall and at about the same height. Also, like all construction projects, make sure you measure twice!

I can't seem to find these, can you send me a link?

Found them -
http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/InWall/CS_Series.html

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MeanGene's Home

[This message has been edited by MeanGene (edited July 11, 2004).]

I know that Klipsch makes some in-walls, any comment on this brand?

its usually best to build a "cabinet" around the in-wall speaker, i.e. 2x4 framing to form a box. this will give you better performance, but you should follow the specs for your particular speaker.

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The best Ive heard thus far are the models from Def Techs line. I was stunned at how good they sounded.



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Play it LoUd!!

The best inwalls I have heard are from Triad. They are constructed like a regular speaker(i.e. they have a cabinet)and don't rely on the wall studs/cavity for sound. I heard them at a local high end shop and was very impressed! They have a website with a dealer locator but I'm not sure of the web address. The demo units for display looked to be built like a tank. Found it: www.triadspeakers.com

[This message has been edited by Cadboy (edited July 13, 2004).]

Bohlender Graebener make some that look promising:

http://www.bgcorp.com/pages/pdinwall/pdlcr.html

http://www.bgcorp.com/pages/rinwall/r50/r50.html

http://www.bgcorp.com/pages/rinwall/r40/r40.html

Their stuff generally gets great reviews.

I use NHT'1.5ci in-walls as surrounds in my family room and the sound fantastic. The NHT's come with four foam bars to create an "box" around the speaker inside the wall studs. I filled the completed wall cavity with insulation and have been very pleased with the result.

I have also auditioned the Def. Tech in-walls and they are certainly worthy of a demo. Also check:

http://www.nhthifi.com/2004/products/product_detail.asp?ProductLineID=3&ProductID=75

I have M&K SW-95s as my main speakers and SW-85s as my surrounds in the ceiling. I'm very happy with them and I don't believe that they are a compromise at all. I auditioned B&Ws (forget the model) and thought they were excellent as well. The M&Ks were more crisp.

Follow this link for an older but very useful set of articles.

[This message has been edited by DollarBill (edited July 19, 2004).]