Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Bookshelf speakers-gasp!-actually on a bookshelf!

I like in the Gulf Coast area ravaged by Katrina and have a wonderful opportunity to start from scratch. I had a Techniques receiver and a Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 system. I can have anything I want (within reason) as long as the speakers can't be seen! The Mrs is hung up on the notion that ALL floorstanding speakers are a throwback from the '70's and has threatened macrome baskets with hanging plants to complete the motif if I push too hard. This not being a hill to die on for me, I'm looking at my options for bookshelf systems. On top of the list is the Epic Grand Master system. Also on the list is the Klipsch RB-81 system as well as (at the $$ extreme) Paradigm Reference Studio 40 System Two. My biggest concern is stuffing a rear ported speaker on a shelf with a bunch of books and the subs in the cabinet below the TV. Room size is 4200 CuFt (~ 25 x 21 x 8) with the TV (entertainment center) on the long wall and the couches about 12 feet back.

So the quetion is, is how much is being relegated to "hidden" speakers gonna mess with the sound quality? I like better sound quality than most, particularly good solid bass when and where it needs to be, but I don't consider myself a true audiophile.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks in advance,

Scott

Is your use HT or 2 ch? If it is HT, what about the architectural series? I have not heard them but they, by your wifes standards, are not floor standing.

Hi Scott.

Craig (Lomb7) makes a good suggestion regarding the Archetictural series speakers.

Here's the bad news:

How Speakers Radiate Sound: Why Wall Units are the Enemy

If the books and other things get in the way of the speakers you can always wall mount the M22's with the custom wall mounts that axiom sells.

Man Ajax, you put a big kabosh on my Archetictural suggestion. Be nice, I've only been back for a day!

It is kind of funny that Axiom sells the Archetictural series but their top Engineer does not recommend wall units. Have I missed something while I was MIA?

Bookshelf and Architectural speakers are two wholly different designs. They don't recommend bookshelf speakers in wall units, Architectural speakers are designed to go in walls, I'm not sure how they would be affected if at all in a wall unit.

Alan posted recently about some tests they were doing with M22s close to the rear wall. Seemed like the results were pretty good -- a nice increase in bass response without sounding "boomy". I think M2 or M22 would be fine but I would be iffy about sticking M3s too close to the back wall.

I always had good luck with shoulder-level bookcases and inverted bookshelf speakers hanging 1/2 inch or so over the front edge of the shelf to minimize diffraction effects.

Just a reminder that the in/on-wall Architectural speakers are more expensive but can be pretty much invisible if you have the right grill colour.

Sorry Craig. I guess I didn't make my point well. I think the in-wall/on-wall architectural speakers are a better way to go that sticking bookshelf speakers in an entertainment center, or on shelves surrounded by books, etc. Thus, my sincere praise for your suggestion.

Craig, welcome back, and yes, you misinterpreted Jack's reply and Alan's article. Having speakers on the wall can be fine, but recessing them into "wall units", aka "entertainment centers" or whatever, can cause diffractions/reflections which have an undesirable effect. As long as the port has about 3" of breathing room and the front edge of the speaker isn't recessed, it should work out well.

Well Ok then. I will get my panties out of a wad.

Good to be back