Small speakers for enclosed AV rack

Posted by: epike222 on 17 July 2016

We are building a theater room with an enclosed rack below the projector screen.  The rack will have fabric on the doors in front of the speakers.  Obviously audio quality isn't the primary focus for this system, but I'd like to select speakers that are less bad than others in this environment.  With that in mind, are there any decent smaller speakers that would work in such a compromised environment?  Sorry for the somewhat off-topic query!

epike222

Posted on: 17 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Have a look at Monitor Audio Custom Install series

Posted on: 17 July 2016 by cdboy

See if you have access to Totem speakers. Ideal for your scenario if you do.

Posted on: 17 July 2016 by epike222

Thanks for the tips gents.  CDBoy - I do have access to Totem.  Any particular models you had in mind?

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by Frank Abela

Totem Kin Mini and Dreamcatchers are tiny. There's also a Kin sub which matches that model perfectly. Slightly larger would be the Mite and larger again would be the Rainmaker which is a VERY fine speaker indeed.

Frank.

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by Beachcomber

You could try ATC - I have found them very good, particularly for their size.  SCM series.

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by epike222

Thanks again.  These are all solid suggestions

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by hafler3o

PMC DB1i (I think the 'gold' version is still current) Designed for placement on mixing desks and on walls (they have integral rear mtg screws) so are very much at home in difficult spaces. The cabinets are acoustically rigid and 'dead' due to the transmission line (not ported) so won't 'vibrate to death' anything nearby. If spl is high I would look at the twenty.21 as it has a front 'firing' transmission line exit. ATC would be good as they are very rigid and fully sealed (no port). I would avoid any speaker with a thin skin enclosure and/or not magnetically shielded (for the sake of your AV kit not sound quality!) such as Harbeth etc. 

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by joerand
epike222 posted:

We are building a theater room with an enclosed rack below the projector screen. 

epike222,

Some greater detail on the organization and size of the room might help. On one hand you say you're 'building a theater room' with a 'projector screen'. That seems somewhat large-ish and dedicated to me, something that might warrant a 5.1 system, yet you're looking at just frontal speakers. If it is a smaller room and you only want speakers at the front why not consider a 2.1 sound bar + wireless sub. These are relatively cheap, do a decent job of projecting surround images, have a variety of settings for dialogue clarity/music/theater, and there are numerous reviewed models to choose from. As well. the wireless sub can be placed wherever it performs best in the room

Posted on: 18 July 2016 by cdboy

Hi. Frank beat me to the Totem answer (see above). Basically anything that fits both the budget and the dimensions will work really well. And matching other speakers is no issue, if required.

 

Posted on: 19 July 2016 by Eloise

As I commented on a recent thread ... try some pro-audio monitors.  Genuflect Genelec, JBL, ATC all do speakers which are designed for such a situation.  HiFi brands also do custom install type speakers which will also work well in that situation.

Ideally, don't mount them below the projection screen but use an acoustically transparent screen and mount them around 1/3 - 1/2 from the bottom.