Flush finish Plasma and front speakers???

[Sirguy969]

Hello all

I'm moving my lounge around and repositioning all of my AV gear. I have the opportunity to recess my Plasma and 3 front speakers into the wall.

The questions I need answered before I go ahead with the major building work involved are these:

1/ Will recessing my MA Silver RS8s & RSLCR affect the sound?

2/ If the answer to the above is yes then how big an enclosure would they need to "sit in" to counter this?

3/ Could the hole in the wall or box they are in be closed off at the front to finish flush with the front of the spaeker?

4/ Would the RSW12 also be affected by this treatment?

The main reason for recessing all of the above is the future fitment of a projector screen and, if I'm honest, I think it would look neat!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cameron.

 

[The_Lhc]

I think you should be asking about the plasma to be honest, they get very hot and I don't suppose enclosing one in a tight-fitting space will do it an awful lot of good really.

 

[scene]

the_lhc:I think you should be asking about the plasma to be honest, they get very hot and I don't suppose enclosing one in a tight-fitting space will do it an awful lot of good really.
Recessing plasma screens is possible, and is usually detailed in documentation from the screen's manufacturer, with required clearances, etc.

As for the OP's question about recessing the speakers. Yes, this will impact the sound considerably and adversely. The Silver series is rear ported, and enclosing it will drastically alter it's response, even placing a speaker to near a corner will have the same effect.

If you want to have speakers flush to the wall, it's probably best to buy ones designed for mounting in-wall. Monitor Audio do some, for example, that will match your existing RS speakers. They don't do a sub that can be mounted in-wall AFAIK, but other manufacturers do, such as Velodyne.

 

[Sirguy969]

Thanks for the replies.

scene - how far should these speakers be set from the wall? They are currently either side of the screen about 30cm off the wall. They also have foam "bungs" in the rear ports, should I remove these?

Thanks.

 

[scene]

Sirguy969:
Thanks for the replies.

scene - how far should these speakers be set from the wall? They are currently either side of the screen about 30cm off the wall. They also have foam "bungs" in the rear ports, should I remove these?

Thanks.

The bungs in the rear ports are there to allow for the speakers to be put closer to the wall. Whether or not your given speaker position (30cm from the wall) needs the bungs or not is a factor of room geometry, furnishing / room treatment and, to some extent, personal taste - some people like more bass than others. I have an RS-LCR centre flush to the front (give or take) of an open backed AV cabinet that's 60cm deep. I don't have it bunged. I ran it on a shelf up against a wall bunged. I must admit, I am considering trying it bunged again, as it might be a tad bassy for my likes...

Monitor Audio suggest a guideline distance of 20cm from the rear wall and 50cm from the side walls, but "If you find there is too much bass place them further away from the wall. If, on the other hand, you find there isn't enough bass for your liking, place them slightly closer to the wall." (That's from my RS manual.) So, it's all down to taste.

 

[Andrew Everard]

scene:Monitor Audio do some, for example

Clickety.

 

[scene]

Andrew Everard:
scene:Monitor Audio do some, for example

Clickety.

I was thinking of the "in-wall" ones they do. Had forgotten that the soundframe ones had just come out, but as these are 87mm deep, saying they're "flush finish" might be stretching the point a tad.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Indeed - but due to the design, they could be recessed into the wall rather more easily than a pair of RS8s!

 

[scene]

Andrew Everard:Indeed - but due to the design, they could be recessed into the wall rather more easily than a pair of RS8s!

Good point.

 

[Sirguy969]

Thanks all for the helpful replies.

I think that my OP hasn't really properly explained my idea, I'll try to be more descriptive.

I have the option to knock out an area of my wall say 6ft long by 5ft high. I can then build an alcove or reverse chimney breast to any depth I chose. I would like to run the skirting flush to the original room (pre opening) and raise the RS8s on a suitable plinth inside the alcove (about 6inches off the floor), fix the plasma and centre speaker to give the illusion of flush with the original rooms dimensions. I would like to build my AV gear onto purpose made shelving beneath the screen to give the same effect.

I realise that the speakers need room to breathe, I do not intend to jam them into RS8 size holes but rather their own recesses either side of the plasma.

I suppose what I'm really asking is if I do this what size would the "box or hole" need to be so as not to affect the RS8s?

Would I be correct in believing that if a suitable volume of air surrounding these was available then the sound is always fired forwards?

Any advice welcome.

 

[Anonymous]

Sirguy, rather than cutting and weakening a perfectly good brick wall ( i assume it is brick ), i would suggest that you strap the wall then sheet it, in the process of doing so you can fashion any openings you like, run and hide cables, create access points etc, and believe me it will be a lot easier, more cost effective and a better finish than still sawing load-bearing brick.

 

[Sirguy969]

johnnyjazz - thanks for your input, I'm actually in Saudi so God only knows what these villas are made of! But suffice it to say that the opening and making good will be someone elses problem! I am having a small extension built and it gives me the perfect opportunity to get this done as well. Just have always wanted the "built in" clean look.