Surround satelites or something else, perhaps a soundbar at the front?

[admin_exported]

I need your help.

I'm installing a surround sound system in the kitchen. The space is about 20ft square but the plasma is going to be placed to one side of the main wall. I had hoped to place it a little more centrally, which would allow the speakers to be spread across the main wall to throw the sound a little wider, but that's not to be.

So I have about 5 ft of width across which to distribute the front 2 speakers and then a similar-ish situation on the back wall facing the screen for the 2 rear speakers. (The sub will go below the screen inside a cabinate with an acoustic cloth front.

2 problems. I was going to go for the B&W MT30 but with such a restricted placement for the front 3 speakers would a soundbar of some type be better suited for front speakers? Would it send its sound out in a more "ambient" sort of way?

Equipment is a Pioneer 427XD plasma, Onkyo 905 amp and undecided BlueRay player.

The other question is whether the B&W PV1 can really be housed inside a cabinate, even with an acoustic cloth door, as it fires both ways, will it work, from within such a housing? Think kitchen unit cabinate, then go solid wood and a bespoke door and you're pretty much there.

If not the MT-30, then what would work better? A front firing sub perhaps?

Any advice gratefully received!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Will Harris:I need your help.

I'm installing a surround sound system in the kitchen. The space is about 20ft square but the plasma is going to be placed to one side of the main wall. I had hoped to place it a little more centrally, which would allow the speakers to be spread across the main wall to throw the sound a little wider, but that's not to be.

So I have about 5 ft of width across which to distribute the front 2 speakers and then a similar-ish situation on the back wall facing the screen for the 2 rear speakers. (The sub will go below the screen inside a cabinate with an acoustic cloth front.

2 problems. I was going to go for the B&W MT30 but with such a restricted placement for the front 3 speakers would a soundbar of some type be better suited for front speakers? Would it send its sound out in a more "ambient" sort of way?

Equipment is a Pioneer 427XD plasma, Onkyo 905 amp and undecided BlueRay player.

The other question is whether the B&W PV1 can really be housed inside a cabinate, even with an acoustic cloth door, as it fires both ways, will it work, from within such a housing? Think kitchen unit cabinate, then go solid wood and a bespoke door and you're pretty much there.

If not the MT-30, then what would work better? A front firing sub perhaps?

Any advice gratefully received!

Check out the new Monitor Audio Radius HD package (in today's mag). It looks fantastic.

 

[Anonymous]

I have the mag, but that doesn't really answer the question, Gerrard do you think a soundbar would throw the front three channels out a bit wider than 3 separate fronts, so close together, and will a PV1 work in an enclosed space with just the front being acoustically transparent cloth?

 

[Anonymous]

I've never heard any soundbars so I can't really comment on your 1st issue, but as for the 2nd, I wouldn't think the PV1 would be too happy sitting in an enclosed space like that. As you say, the fact it fires both ways horizontally is the concern - the sound is just going to be rebounding right back on itself. It's also going to have to be a very solid cabinet too - My PV1 rattles the window frames on the opposite side of the room at certain frequencie, so I would imagine putting it in a enclosed space like that is akin to letting a firecracker go off in a clenched fist !

I would explore something front firing, that is happy to have it's back against the wall. Sunfire subs are very good, and they even have one for tricky spaces !

 

[Anonymous]

How well would it work if I took my own Dali Ikon Subwoofer (worth about £400) and substituted that for the PV1 and then used the PV1 in place of the Dali in my Ikon 6 5.1 setup? Would the Ikon Subwoofer go well with the MT30 satellites? Would the PV1 go with my Dalis?

 

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts?

It's rather a tricky situation.

My plan is to build a box around all three fronts and cover the front in accoustic cloth, so they'll all be invisible anyway. This will work much much better in terms of visual appeal. I can also angle the three fronts to spread the sound a little, but invisibly!

Still really appreciate everyone's views, particularly in view of the sub choices!

 

[Anonymous]

Speakers are without a doubt the trickiest part of the hi-fi / home cinema puzzle. Really appeciate any help here people.

Could even go for some regular looking fronts as they'll be hidden on the bookshelf effectively. They need to be happy lying on their sides and close to the wall. Any suggestions? Something not too large would be best! Then the B&W sats for the rears and any Sub I guess. Thing is the MT-30 is a great combo for the money!

 

[Anonymous]

Been reading the review in this months edition of the Monitor Audio Radius HD speakers. They sound lovely. Subwoofer appart, how do the satelites compare with the M-1 B&W satelites?

And how do the Arcam speaker compare?

The sub is an issue, but I'm also currious to get an opinion on the interesting sounding "soundbar" front speaker that includes all three channels. If covered behind a screen of cloth, would it be better to stick with individual speakers and have a bit more directional control?

 

[pioneer7]

Hi Will

Have you heard of the Q-AV System its a flexable bar, in other words it will expand to the width of your TV it also comes with small rears and a sub if you want these, but the Bar had 5STARS in this very mag, you should be able to find it in the review section, hope this helps, just hope i have got the name right its from QED GROUP maybe some one from the team can confirm please.

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andy, interesting indeed! But a bit too cheap. Looking at the £1500 price point.
Thanks though!

 

[pioneer7]

Ok will, well i would say you should get something pretty special for your money, hopefully the What-HiFi Team can point you in the right direction.

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Andy! And I've commented on your thread again ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

Please forget soundbar. It's a solution for cosmetics but three 'timbre matched' satellites will almost always be better, even with the small spacing - it's like a ghetto blaster with detachable speakers versus one with built in. Try the KEF 3005SE as it has a 'real' centre instead of a satellite turned on its side so you get accurate dialogue that is timbre matched to the left and right. It also handles more power as 60% of the signal averages to be in the centre channel. The 3005SE system is a bargain as you effectively get a £200 discount compared to buying it 'a la carte' and the woofer comes close to the PV1 for half the cost.

 

[Simon Lucas]

It's this kind of robust independent thinking that makes these forums so enjoyable.

Sonicaccuracyisall: the woofer comes close to the PV1 for half the cost

That's half-right - it is half the cost.

 

[Anonymous]

But NOT half the output or LF extension!

 

[Anonymous]

I personally wouldn't go down the soundbar route, I've heard a few and it sounds a bit "naff". Almost like the "Virtual Dolby Surrounds" that used to be equipped to old Tosh CRT's... but that's my personal view, and this is a *KITCHEN* after all, so I can only suggest you go and listen to some in an audioroom somewhere to see it it will fit your needs. Having mentioned B&W separate equipment, I really doubt that it will.

Regardless, sounds like a helluvasetup for a kitchen though, I'm slightly jealous!

 

[Anonymous]

Hehehe, now don't start scrapping on my thread!

I was looking at the B&W MT30 so a PV1 would have been in the price anyway. I think the KEF 3005.1 sounds great but isn't as good as the MT30 which is my benchmark / starting point. Even given your comments re: centre speaker.

I have an annoying requirement to put the sub in a cupboard so I need to find a front firing sub that will be happy being placed there. Hence my thoughts to take my own Dali Ikon sub and swap it round with the PV1, so the B&W satelites get the Dali sub for company and I get the PV1.

Now this would be great if the PV1 is actually worth it, but people are saying you can match it's performance with a BK XLS200 at £289. Now I don't know if that's true but if it is, then am I doing myself any favours with the MT30 in the first place.
Maybe the Monitor Audi Radius HD would be a better selection. With a Velodyne sub or something very good and front firing, so it can go in a kitchen cupboard. Nuts I know, but hidden this way).

 

[Anonymous]

It will be awesome and I reckon my sister and I will be heading down to the parents house much more often with a decent system. Cinema in the next room, surround plasma in the kitchen / diner / day room. Nice.

And a total bitxx to wire up. I'm working with the electrician at the moment to route CAT5E to all the rooms, speaker cable in the walls and all the AV connections to the screens because once everything is plastered that's it. No more cables are going in. You either accommodated it or bad luck. This means a lot of thinking things through is required.

Great fun but a stress!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Will Harris: Hehehe, now don't start scrapping on my thread!

Wouldn't dream of it mate! lol Regardless of what you go for, (and unless you plan to recess everything into the wall

) the cabling will remain roughly same, just make sure you have plenty of cables in the walls!

And you'll be wanting CAT6 for true gigabit..... lol

 

[Anonymous]

Cat6 is too pricey but I'm running 4 cat5 lines to each of the cinema room and kitchen room, plus every phone line and potential internet point has a double run.

Future flexibility ensured. And at £60 for 300m, why not!

 

[Anonymous]

Fair point - why would a house ever need true delivery of 125 megabytes per second per point lol! Use shielded *low oxygen* Cat5e though... from previous experience this works best for in-wall installation

 

[Anonymous]

Really do need some suggestions here. If I'm hiding the front three speakers, then aside from the need for them to not be too huge, (thinking 20cms heigh and deep max - on their side if need be), then what would work best?

Are the Radius HD the best bet? What sub, if it must be forward firing, would you team them with?