Hi all, hopefully I am posting in the right place. I need some help and opinions on in-wall speakers. I begin construction on my little home theater on 03/20. My speakers are going to be in-wall to maximize space as wall to wall the length of the room is 12' and the width is 10'. So here goes my questions:

1) I have been told that it is pretty pointless and in fact I could be worse off with 7.1 in such a small space. This makes sense, the room will be a perfect rectangle (almost square) with only the seating to absorb sound. 5.1?

2) I have a budget around $1500 dollars to spend on the speakers. It has been recommended to me that AIM LCR1 speakers may be the way to go for that budget.

3) Placement. The plasma display will be directly centered with the Left and Right speakers on either side. Do I place the center just below? Is it best to have Left, Right, and Center speaker all in line?

4) Bonus question. I know that this thread is for speakers, but since it will hopefully attract home theater owners maybe you don't mind sharing. What's a good lighting solution to avoid glare?

Thanks a million!

Justin

I have been told that it is pretty pointless and in fact I could be worse off with 7.1 in such a small space. This makes sense, the room will be a perfect rectangle (almost square) with only the seating to absorb sound. 5.1?7.1 set-ups don't require bigger rooms or more absorbtion, just seating away from the back wall. If your couch is at/near the back wall, then you're a poor candidate for 7.1 (no meaningful separation between side and rear speakers), and you should stick to a 5.1 set-up. However, if your seating is a few feet away from the back wall, then you may be able to get good rear-vs-side separation in the surround field.

Hi all, hopefully I am posting in the right place. I need some help and opinions on in-wall speakers. I begin construction on my little home theater on 03/20. My speakers are going to be in-wall to maximize space as wall to wall the length of the room is 12' and the width is 10'. So here goes my questions:

1) I have been told that it is pretty pointless and in fact I could be worse off with 7.1 in such a small space. This makes sense, the room will be a perfect rectangle (almost square) with only the seating to absorb sound. 5.1?

2) I have a budget around $1500 dollars to spend on the speakers. It has been recommended to me that AIM LCR1 speakers may be the way to go for that budget.

3) Placement. The plasma display will be directly centered with the Left and Right speakers on either side. Do I place the center just below? Is it best to have Left, Right, and Center speaker all in line?

4) Bonus question. I know that this thread is for speakers, but since it will hopefully attract home theater owners maybe you don't mind sharing. What's a good lighting solution to avoid glare?

Thanks a million!

Justin

1. Not necessarily. 7.1 can be used in small rooms a variety of ways. But, most material is not 7.1 and since it is a small room, running the matrix channels won't gain you all that much. However, I would suggest prewiring for an inceiling pair against the back wall (and bury them...you can dig them out later if you want to go to 7.1).
2. The Speakercraft AIM's are very good, and well within your budget. If you can, you might want to try and audition them though to make sure you like the sound.
3. In a line at screen level is ideal, but impossible obviously. Second best option is LR to the sides of the TV, center just below (or above depending on placement of TV). However, if the LR's will be WAY above the center, this isn't always good.
4. Need more information.

Thanks for the responses. As for item 4, I am mounting a Pioneer Pro 151fd. I am doing adjustable canned lights in the ceiling with dimmers, but wanted something for some light when those are off...perhaps sconces on the walls. I know that plasmas generally are very susceptible to glare and I need some ambient light so I am be able to read something (a video game guide for example) while playing. I also looked at the lights that mount behind the TV and emit out from behind it. There's a bit more detail if you can help. Or perhaps I should just start a new thread on another section of the forums. Thanks again guys!

Before you select your in-wall speakers, please read this article:
http://www.cepro.com/article/how_to_prevent_audio_loss_with_in_wall_speaker_systems

In the Speakercraft line, the "enclosed" in-walls would be these:
http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:584:AccuFit%20Sreies%20Overview
http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:423:AccuFit%20IW7%20One
http://www.speakercraft.com/#Products:422:AccuFit%20IW7%20Three

Craig

Hey Craig, thanks for the info. Does this apply even if the walls are insulated? I understand where it is going, and I can get a good price on the IW7 Three, but I can also get a good deal on the AIM LCR Three and have 2 5 inch drivers instead of 1 7 inch. Thanks!

Hey Craig, thanks for the info. Does this apply even if the walls are insulated? I understand where it is going, and I can get a good price on the IW7 Three, but I can also get a good deal on the AIM LCR Three and have 2 5 inch drivers instead of 1 7 inch. Thanks!
It applies if the walls are made of drywall. Gypsum board is porous to sound at certain frequencies. Gypsum board also has a resonant frequency, (a frequency at which it vibrates. The porosity and resonance are affected by the size of the "channel" the speaker is mounted in. For example, a driver mounted in an interior wall, with a 3.5" deep channel that runs floor to ceiling with no insulation will lose sound differently and have a different resonance frequency than the same driver mounted in an exterior wall with a 7.5" deep channel that runs 18" above a window filled with insulation.

My point, and the point of the article is I linked to is to "take the wall out of the equation!" Use a speaker with an integral, designed-from-the-ground-up, enclosure. IMO, the speaker with one 7" driver and an enclosure has a far greater chance to significantly out-perform the speaker with two 5" drivers and a totally unpredictable drywall-and-studs enclosure.

Craig

Craig, ok, that all makes sense. I'm going to go with the Accufit IW7 Three. Would those be suitable to go all the way around with 5 of them? One for Front, Left, Right, RS, LS? I couldn't see if they had anything with with adjustable treble and bass on the speaker like on the AIM LCR Three speakers though. Again, thanks for the advice!

I don't think your room is big enuph, I would go with 5.1. I'm running 6.1 at the moment in 14 by 19 ft.

With that budget and room size, you might be better off with 3.1 of higher quality.