I’m looking for recommendations on a high-end in-wall speaker series for a dedicated home theater that is on the large end of the spectrum as far as size goes. The speakers will be mounted left, right, and centered below the 170” diagonal 2.35 Screen Innovations Slate 1.2 ALR screen.
One recommendation I’ve received is the Paradigm Elite Series, and the E5-LCR retails at $2,500 per speaker. It has two 6.5” bass range drivers, one 6.5” mid range driver combined with a 1” tweeter, and two passive 6.5” drivers. I would do Paradigm E80-IW for the rear surrounds and E80-Rs for the Atmos heights.
The other option that has been recommended to me is from the relatively new company Episode made by SnapAV. Their 900 series LCR with dual 7” woofers and a 5.25” mid range and 4.65” ribbon tweeter retails for $2,200 each.
I’m looking for recommendations on a high-end in-wall speaker series for a dedicated home theater that is on the large end of the spectrum as far as size goes. The speakers will be mounted left, right, and centered below the 170” diagonal 2.35 Screen Innovations Slate 1.2 ALR screen.
One recommendation I’ve received is the Paradigm Elite Series, and the E5-LCR retails at $2,500 per speaker. It has two 6.5” bass range drivers, one 6.5” mid range driver combined with a 1” tweeter, and two passive 6.5” drivers. I would do Paradigm E80-IW for the rear surrounds and E80-Rs for the Atmos heights.
The other option that has been recommended to me is from the relatively new company Episode made by SnapAV. Their 900 series LCR with dual 7” woofers and a 5.25” mid range and 4.65” ribbon tweeter retails for $2,200 each.
Triad is a Portland-based company that hand builds speakers in just about every configuration you can imagine. They will even color match the speakers and grills to match the paint on your walls.
Triad has In-Wall and angled InCeiling speakers and subwoofers that work amazingly well for spaces in which you have no floor space, or when you wish to hide the speakers from view. The company has speakers in many different price ranges, starting at $300 per speaker -- all the way up to $15k per speaker.
While not a household name, Triad is a favorite of custom installers and has won numerous industry awards.
Visit the Triad thread here on AVS to talk with Triad owners.
I don't have experience with those Paradigm speakers specifically, but I am a Paradigm fan for sure. Head over to the Paradigm Owners thread, and ask away about these!
I'm also a fan of Totem Acoustic, check out their Tribe line, both in-wall and on-wall/stand:
Right now Harman is killing it with their speakers.
JBL Synthesis and Revel make great in walls.
Another one that is seldom talked about is Phase Technology, and not too many are aware of them. But their performance is supposedly just as good as the above.
Episode is a high margin brand, usually recommended for people who want cheap installs or the dealer can get away with a very large paycheck.
You don't mention anything about the size of the room. This is one of the most important issues when dealing with speakers.
And what are you using the space for.
Also, do you NEED the SI slate non-perf screen? Having the center below the screen would be a major issue if you are dealing with more than one row of seating.
You don't mention anything about the size of the room. This is one of the most important issues when dealer with speakers.
And what are you using the space for.
Also, do you NEED the SI slate on-perf screen? Having the center below the screen would be a major issue if you are dealing with more than one row of seating.
Not many (any?) companies have facilities comparable to JBL/Revel to design and test in wall speakers. Harman has four anechoic chambers and have developed a way to measure their in wall speakers in one of the chambers. They also go through rigorous double blind listening tests.
As others have said, Revel and JBL SCL series speakers are some of the best in wall options.
My theater is 29 feet deep and the screen wall is 24 feet wide. The screen is planned to be 170 “. There are lots of opinions out there but it’s really hard to know which way to go without a demo. There doesn’t seem to be much love for the Episodes. I’d love to hear from someone that has heard the Paradigm series.
For some reason, Paradigm is using a "voiced" response that is not flat or neutral. Revel and JBL use spinorama measurements and produce speakers based on the work of Dr. Floyd Toole that says most people prefer neutral on and off axis frequency response.
In a room that big, if you want to be able to play loud, you need some serious professional main speakers and subs with enough power to drive them to the levels you want to achieve. Lots of free info on Dr. Toole's website and I recommend reading his book too.
The first row is about 1/3 into the theater, or 9.5' feet from the screen. The second row is about 18 feet from the screen. There is a bar about 3-4 feet behind the second row.
The black box-shaped subwoofer in the right corner will likely be a pair of SVS PB-3000s, stacked on top of one another, or possible a single SVS PB-16 Ultra. And then in the back corner, the round shaped sub is an SVS PC-4000.
The center channel is planned to go right below the screen. I realize this isn't ideal, especially for the 2nd row, but to go to an acoustically transparent screen would almost double the price. And I really don't think the AT screens look as good as the solid weave screens, so in my opinion you either choose to prioritize sound quality or picture quality...
Here is my build thread link, over in the other forum, which has more pictures of the actual space:
The center below the screen is a major major design flaw and a total half or even1/4 measure on a theater project where you clearly care about the finished project.
The notion that AT screens have pq issues is a dead one, and a common misconception, with so many out there that are done well. I don't remember the last time I DIDN'T do an AT screen on a theater for a client.
I didn't see what screen brand you're going with, but am struggling with the AT screen doesn't have as good a picture. Severtson, Screen Innovations, and DaLite have absolutely outstanding AT screen materials - and at very reasonable money, that I've used in anything from an entry level 1080p piece to $15,000+ 4K machines. Spectacular results. Hell, even SnapAV's inexpensive DragonFly AT screen doesn't even show it's weave after about 8 inches away. Even on that entry level AT screen it's undetectable to the human eye.
It's your theater so, obviously, do as you please. Hell, put the center channel behind you for all anyone cares. But, as a professional who does this for a living, the notion that you will get any significant pq degradation, especially... especially compared to the trash presentation of a center below screen/near floor is bogus for 2019. There is some great stuff out there to accomplish the right end result and itndoesn't have to be top of the line (Stewart) to do so.
Best of luck, but major major performance difference on the center channel height vs the AT screen.
Thanks for the input, The screen brand is Screen Innovations, 5 series, Slate 1.2 material. To go with the AT Slate 1.2 material that is also ALR would almost double the screen price, according to my dealer. So cost was the primary consideration, but apparently I needn’t be worried about picture quality. My current screen is a Seymour AT screen and it isn’t great but I think they’ve come along way and the Screen Innovations is a whole other level in quality. An ALR Screen is important to me since watching sports with friends is a significant use of the theater, and when serving food and drinks it is nice to have some lights on.
I would not be placing the center below a screen with multiple rows of seating.
I would I do not like the looks of the perforated screens out there, thats being said, the SI ALR screens are the best in the market but none will be effective against lights directly in front of the screen, or else the projector light wold be dim as well.
We have used Severtson 4K-TAT screens and I think they are among the best built and easiest to assemble AT screens out there.
AT screens will allow you to place speakers higher and get better results. In-wall speakers would be ideal if you don't want to build a false wall to place more regular speakers behind the screen.
The room is also fairly sized and if you want to pressurize the room with sound, I would look at high output speakers. Pro Audio technology, James and JBL are some that I would look at. There are many more capable speakers out there as well.
They Paradigm and Episodes will not be able to produce high SPL levels.
And maybe look at a true 4K projector please.
And FYI, 170" is a huge screen for 9.5' from the first row of seating. I would re-think that size.
A screen that is both AT and ALR is not an easy task. I could either choose AT and prioritize sound quality by placing the speakers higher up, or choose ALR and put the center channel below and prioritize picture quality in low light situations for sports parties.
What projector would you recommend over the Epson 6050UB? You guys are really good at helping me spend money! I could size the screen down too, but I was thinking the second row would be the money seats anyway, but maybe not if the center channel is too low..
Maybe look at the Optoma UHZ-65 Laser 4K projector. While not a Reference JVC, it should be great for a media room. Especially at 3000 lumens.
The Severtson TAT-4K projection material will help a little with the small amounts of ambient light in the room.
Remember that ALR screens are meant to help with light coming at angles from the screen. Light in the room won't help a lot unless it is a ultra short throw ALR material. But then we are back with the speaker placement problems.
Pro Audio Technology are usually rather pricey. But it is relative I guess to your budget.
A really good sounding product was the new PMC inwall/onwall. Same speaker just different build out. $6,000/$8,000 msrp.
At CEDIA, to me, if going inwall the real stars where the JBL, RBH and GoldenEar. Pricing from $1,000 - $3,000 each.
Again if going inwall.
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