Speakers for Classroom
I am looking for speakers to use in the classroom setting for both vocal reinforcement and media presentation (stereo). The room is about 20 x 30, short carpet squares, block wall on one side, windows on another, and sheet rock on the other two. Ceiling is about 11ft. I'd like to distribute the sound as evenly as possible. Because of this, I'd like to use ceiling mount speakers. The system will sometimes be used for media (music, movie, videos, etc..) and I'd like it to sound good for that but primary use is voice amplification.
My current idea is to use a 2.1 stereo system with 4 ceiling speakers (2 on each channel in parallel) and a small sub woofer. Unfortunately, the ceiling of the room is only an inch or two away from the roof of the building so speakers designed for ceiling mount will not work well in the room. However, I do have 2 large wooden beams splitting the room into thirds so I could mount wall or bookshelf speakers on these beams. Another option would be to build enclosures that protruded from the ceiling and use ceiling mount speakers (maybe the 620-RT?). A 3rd choice would be to use pendent speakers (probably from Atlas Sound as not many folks make these).
I'm also concerned because the amplifiers I'm looking at that are designed for classroom use and have features we want (small enough to mount in a small media enclosure, ability to be controlled via LAN/RS-232, PA override, channel ducking, automatic powersave/sleep) are also quite low power. We don't need a lot of volume and in most cases the students should be within 6-8 feet of the speakers. The FrontRow CM-3000 is one Amp I'm looking at: http://gofrontrow.com/en/products/amplifierswitch
I've also considered using the CM-3000 as a mixer/pre-amp only and using it's line out to feed another more powerful amp (something like this http://www.amazon.com/TOPPING-TP-22-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B00EOKQ9Q6/ ) that I could also put in my media enclosure.
I appreciate advice on any of this, but my main question is what to use for speakers. Options I've considered include OWM-3's or Atrium-4's. A concern with the OWM-3's is if the amp will put out enough power for them (they recommend a minimum of 20W) and if my calculations are correct, the speaker configuration I'm looking at would only provide around 8W. I don't want to damage the speakers by under-driving them. Atrium's have lower power requirements but seem designed for outdoors. Also considered basic bookshelf speakers like the T15's. Besides mounting concerns, are there acoustic reasons not to use a bookshelf speaker on a ceiling?
For bass, I though I'd listen with just the ceiling speakers first. If bass was really lacking, I'm considering a small (no more than 8") in wall subwoofer and separate amplifier.
We are adding a wooden wall over existing block wall on one side of the room as part of this remodel so we can hide cables, subwoofer in here. Don't really want to put the other speakers on this wall as it will be the front of the classroom and we want to minimize feedback with the mic'd speaker.
I appreciate all advice and feedback. Oh, and did I mention we don't have much budget? Like to have < $500 in the speakers total.
My current idea is to use a 2.1 stereo system with 4 ceiling speakers (2 on each channel in parallel) and a small sub woofer. Unfortunately, the ceiling of the room is only an inch or two away from the roof of the building so speakers designed for ceiling mount will not work well in the room. However, I do have 2 large wooden beams splitting the room into thirds so I could mount wall or bookshelf speakers on these beams. Another option would be to build enclosures that protruded from the ceiling and use ceiling mount speakers (maybe the 620-RT?). A 3rd choice would be to use pendent speakers (probably from Atlas Sound as not many folks make these).
I'm also concerned because the amplifiers I'm looking at that are designed for classroom use and have features we want (small enough to mount in a small media enclosure, ability to be controlled via LAN/RS-232, PA override, channel ducking, automatic powersave/sleep) are also quite low power. We don't need a lot of volume and in most cases the students should be within 6-8 feet of the speakers. The FrontRow CM-3000 is one Amp I'm looking at: http://gofrontrow.com/en/products/amplifierswitch
I've also considered using the CM-3000 as a mixer/pre-amp only and using it's line out to feed another more powerful amp (something like this http://www.amazon.com/TOPPING-TP-22-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B00EOKQ9Q6/ ) that I could also put in my media enclosure.
I appreciate advice on any of this, but my main question is what to use for speakers. Options I've considered include OWM-3's or Atrium-4's. A concern with the OWM-3's is if the amp will put out enough power for them (they recommend a minimum of 20W) and if my calculations are correct, the speaker configuration I'm looking at would only provide around 8W. I don't want to damage the speakers by under-driving them. Atrium's have lower power requirements but seem designed for outdoors. Also considered basic bookshelf speakers like the T15's. Besides mounting concerns, are there acoustic reasons not to use a bookshelf speaker on a ceiling?
For bass, I though I'd listen with just the ceiling speakers first. If bass was really lacking, I'm considering a small (no more than 8") in wall subwoofer and separate amplifier.
We are adding a wooden wall over existing block wall on one side of the room as part of this remodel so we can hide cables, subwoofer in here. Don't really want to put the other speakers on this wall as it will be the front of the classroom and we want to minimize feedback with the mic'd speaker.
I appreciate all advice and feedback. Oh, and did I mention we don't have much budget? Like to have < $500 in the speakers total.
Post edited by scotru on
Comments
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With cost as a major consideration, I installed these in a meeting room at church for purposes similar to yours:
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-b652-6-1-2-2-way-bookshelf-speaker-pair--300-652
While not audiophile approved, they sound much better than they have any right to for the price. Note that they are a sealed box design--a wise choice in my opinion, since they knew that at that price point they couldn't get deep bass, so they went for better sound quality in the low end instead. The specs say they are 6 ohm nom. imp., but I think they are more like 4 ohm.
This is what I used for an amp:
http://www.parts-express.com/lepai-lp7498e-200w-class-d-stereo-amplifier-with-bluetooth-aptx-and-power-supply--310-298
It will handle a 4 ohm speaker & provides bluetooth connectivity (although the range for the bluetooth is limited & depends on the source, eg my iPad seems to have more range than my wife's Mac Book Pro.)
PE also sells a small mic mixer w/ ducking, but I forget the brand/model.
Two pairs of those speakers and two of those amps will be well within your budget.
Cheers, JimA day without music is like a day without food. -
Thanks for the suggestions--I appreciate it. Those speakers are certainly very affordable! Would you foresee any acoustic problem from mounting them on the ceiling pointing down.
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I have them mounted on a wall in the meeting room at church & they seem fine. I think that works OK because the low end is limited, so you get less boom from the boundary reinforcement.
Of course, as others here will tell you: sound stage & imaging will be compromised, but, again, this is not an audiophile setup.
Cheers, JimA day without music is like a day without food. -
I'd go cheap cheap cheap. Maybe the Pio bookshelves.
Cuz if they are nice, someone is going to rip them off.
The news is flooded here with stories of school break-ins and 'nice stuff' being stolen.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Erik Tracy wrote: »I'd go cheap cheap cheap. Maybe the Pio bookshelves.
Cuz if they are nice, someone is going to rip them off.
The news is flooded here with stories of school break-ins and 'nice stuff' being stolen.
This. Maybe even check out Goodwill, pawn shops or Salvation Army.
