Looking for a better option than Speakercraft

What's your budget. Speakercraft is a good line, there is better but you'll spend more. There are other brands that are similar but would also be in a similar price range.

What do you think is wrong with SpeakerCraft? As BobL said, there are better (like Triad for example); but, you're going to pay the fiddler.

As others are telling you, Speakercraft is a pretty good product. They have been doing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers for a long time.

I don't think you will be happy with an all in-ceiling theater though. Even though those speakers are aimable, you won't get a convincing front sound stage unless you sit way far back from the from LCR speakers.

If you are going with Speakercraft, you should look into their Accufit line as they have integrated metal backboxes.

Also, for less than the the $599 speakercraft subwoofer, I would order an epik Legend subwoofer from epiksubwoofers.com. A Legend will crush that Speakercraft sub.

Triad is excellent, as the above posters point out. Roughly expect to triple each per speaker price if you want to go with Triad.

You should have no problem with in-wall speakers in that room. That is preferred vs the in-ceiling speakers for your mains. Agreed on Speakercraft, they are good speakers and we would need to know your budget if you are willing to spend more. As the above poster mentioned the Speakercraft Accufit series (both in-ceiling and in-wall) have engineered enclosures which is preferred vs open baffle.

For the subwoofer, I would skip the Speakercraft and look at SVS, Ryhtmik, Epik, and Hsu.

Well, if you are staying with the in-wall family of speakers for the mains, and want to step up a level, I would consider these:
http://definitivetech.com/Products/p...id=UIW_RLS_III

I actually own the RLS II model which is the next tier up and am very happy with them. Otherwise you are looking at spending more.

To get it close to your budget.. I would recommend ebay which is where I bought mine brand new:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Definiti...#ht_2063wt_907

You are looking at $1200 shipped for the mains. The matching surrounds would be these:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Definitive-T...ht_1938wt_1165

The seller is actually the parent company for Deftech and I have ordered several pairs of speaker from him. With these in-ceiling surrounds, you may need to add additional bracing in the ceiling, but your installer should be able to do this.

You are now at $1750 shipped.

I would than add an Epik Legend sub, or a Rythmik FV12. Around $560 or so shipped for either.

We are at about $2300 shipped for all the above.

To save some money in the budget, I would recommend the following:
For the kitchen, these:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...de-Each/1.html

If your patio is enclosed, I would get another pair:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make...de-Each/1.html

If the patio is not enclosed, and the speakers may be exposed to the elements, you will need specialty speakers.

They are on a great clearance and Snell is a solid speaker company.

You are also spending a big chunk of your budget on a receiver and an additional amp. Integra is good stuff, but see if you can save some money by looking at Denon or Onkyo (Onkyo makes Integra). You might be able to save quite a bit there.

Speakercraft makes some excellent speakers. Their product line goes from very moderate priced to some very nice speakers. If what has been proposed meets your budget criteria, going to brand 'X' at the same price point isn't going to give you something better.

Dennis. What is being proposed by the installer is using in-ceiling speakers for the left, right, and center channels. The proposed speakers are not only in-ceiling, but also open baffle.

I agree that Speakercraft makes a good product, but I would not recommend the proposed speakers for a media room.

+1 on the DefTechs and Snell recommendations on your budget. Ack_Bk is giving you some very good advice.

As pointed out, you can do much better than the integra 30.3 for $800 dollars. Your CI makes a ton of money on that piece. It is basically the same unit as the Onkyo 609, which can be had for $450 online or even $299 as a factory refurb.

For less than $700 online, you can step up two full levels to the Onkyo 809. It is more watts per channel, has a better video processor for up to 1080p sources (the Vida) and has a much better auto room EQ.

+2

The question was about the quality of SpeakerCraft...not the quality of the duffus (OTOH, we weren't told what constraints were placed on the installer by the homeowner).

There were no constraints by the homeowner, but you could not have known that since this was being discussed in another thread.

OP, are you open to using floorstanding speakers or a bookshelf speaker as well? Or do you prefer in-wall speakers?

Those would be my top top choices as well, but I don't think they will make the $2300 budget

I am already saving for Triad Gold LCR speakers for my mains....

Well then. My suggestion is to be less worried about the quality of SpeakerCraft and more concerned about the quality of those who made the proposal.

I would be concerned about the advice from your CI. If you are forced to do in-ceiling then the AIM speakers are nice to have, but in-ceiling speakers for your mains are definitely frowned upon and it definitely concerns me that your CI would recommend them in the first place. But you might be better off getting the recommendations from this forum and buying what you want and then letting him install it. I would check to see if he has references before you let this guy open up holes in your walls.

Just what is your budget for speakers?

OP - Welcome to the forum.

Try http://www.axiomaudio.com/index.html to start. Lots of options at different price points.

There are lots of threads on this, but my recommendations would be to look at Paradigm, PSB, Ascend, and KEF for starters and go with floor standing speakers as long as you are not trying to cram them in a corner.

I would definitely skip the Integra receiver and amp, get something cheaper and put more of your budget towards your speakers.

Original Poster