CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

drice1234 · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas

In another thread NateTTU had indicated that a good option for theater speakers is to build your own. I currently have in -wall speakers. I really like having the unobtrusive look and they sound allright but not great. I was wondering if it might be an option to change our the existing speakers with better ones but reuse the existing mounting setup. Has anyone ever attempted this? I had spent part of last weekend adding some 2x4's in the wall and lining the "box" with foam to create somewhat of an enclosure as backboxes are not available from the factory for the model of speaker that I have.

Thanks
Dan

JustGreg · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3098 Location: Kenosha, WI

Hi Dan

I like the idea of in-wall alot but I didn't think of it when I built out my HT so too late now. If you're a DIY-er speaker builder you can of course purchase the drivers, tweeter, crossover, cabinet insulation, etc in a million places but I've purchased a few things from Parts Express http://www.parts-express.com/ with pretty good success (for a speaker builder wannabe). Mostly R&R upgrades of existing speaker components so no higher level tuning (crossover electronics, etc). I'm mostly happy with my efforts. The weak link is my aging Onkyo receiver (draganm is cringing right now) Laughing

What do you have now for in-wall? 2 way? 3 way? With crossover or wired parallel? Coax? Triax? Mr. Green

Greg

drice1234 · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas

My current front and center speakers have an 8" speaker and I believe a 3" tweeter with a crossover. The rear have 6" speakers and 2" tweeters with a crossover. The subwoofer is on the floor in the rear and I don't have to mess with it. I plan on changing out the center to a real center so I will not have to mess with it either. It is not a high priority as the theater room is next to my 5 year olds bedroom so the times that I get to crank it are minimal but if I could make it sound better at lower levels I would go for it.

paw · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1176 Location: Arvada, CO

I don't know about changing the drivers in the actual in wall unit but changing the either in wall speaker should be easy. As long as the opening required is the same size or larger than what you currently have.

There's a TON of in wall speaker manufacturers

Atlantic Technology. They have various adjustments for boundary and room liveliness plus enclosed backs.
Niles
SpeakerCraft (harder to find on the net. The original in wall manufacturer)
Polk
Boston
Sonance
on and on

High End
Triad. They can custom design and make any requirements. Close backs. Sold through dealers only.

I'd definely look for the enclosed back. Helps keep the sound out of other rooms. The boundary and liveliness adjustment are nice also.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:

My $.02. As with speaker cabinets, what's behind the wall has a lot to do with how the speakers sound. Walls stuffed with insulation usually sound better than bare drywall and 2 X 4s.

Some of the 'name brand' speakers are simply relabelled cheapie offshore stuff. Niles is a big offender of this. No name brand, $50. Niles identical speaker: $200.00

Also, speakers in ceiling are a big NO to me. You get a cone of sound below the speaker, the rest of the room gets no high end. All of my inwall speakers are 6.5" no name brand $45 each ones. They sound GREAT. Then again, they are all for background music. I had orignally bought 8" subs to compliment them, but my multizone Carver unit @ 20 watts/channel had more than enough oomph and bass, so I sold off the woofers.