Quote:

could I also get away with using M22's as fronts in a properly built cabinet



Only if the M22's were well clear of any boundary surfaces. The only way I can see this really working is if you have the bottom part of the cabinetry fairly deep (so that it forms a counter-top) and have the top of the cabinetry much shallower (bookshelves or whatever) so that you could set the speaker on the front of the flat counter-top surface and have the other casework BEHIND it. You'd get some placement flexibility, but you'd probably eat up the cost savings in additional cabinet work, and then you'd have "boxes" sitting on the cabinets, which may not pass the WAF.

I don't think a scenario in which the front plane of a traditional speaker is flush with any top or side boundary "shelves" is going to give you very good results.

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