ok to enclose center speaker?

scubaguyjohn

I have a csi5 and would like to hide it...either in a soffit above the screen or in a cabinet below. In either case, do I need to give the speaker its own "box" ? in other words, should the space its placed in be closed to other areas of the cabinet or soffit? What are the negatives to enclosing this speaker?

thanks, John.

Mon40CSMM10

Technically, you can enclose the center channel speaker, but based on what sound I was getting when I tried that, I wouldn't recommend it.

When I enclosed it in the cabinet below the TV, the sound seemed muffled and localized to the cabinet. What I mean by the center channel sound seemed to be localized to the cabinet--the position of the center channel was lower than the front speakers and due to the sides of the cabinet seemed like it was coming from a narrow chamber. To compensate for this, the center channel then needs to be caibrated to rather high channel dB level compared to the rest of the channel volumes--then it seemed much less muffled but still seemed to be localized to the cabinet. All of this was true even though the center channel had its own shelf, once the glass door to the cabinet was closed.

So I prefer the center channel to be above the screen, not enclosed.

Others might give a different opinion, but that's my opinion with what I'm using for a smallish home theater sound system.

scubaguyjohn

thanks for the feedback...that's what I was afraid of...elsewhere i've read that enclosures can change the sound characteristics, just as you say. My next option is to mount it from the ceiling but its heavy, about 29lbs.. this will mean drilling into the back of the speaker as it has no mounting holes...not sure how much this will affect the sound...the lesser of 2 evils....gotta try and hide it somehow...

John.

scubaguyjohn

this speaker is made with 3/4 inch mdf..i guess you need to pull the speakers to get at the inside of the cabinet to see how well the joints are glued, etc....I'm thinking of using an LCD mount screwed to the ceiling and to the top of the speaker cabinet but have no idea how well its built...i don't like the idea of **** into mdf though...

Murray1

Saw a number of open ht stands at frys starting at $250

kcoc321

scubaguyjohn wrote: »

this speaker is made with 3/4 inch mdf..i guess you need to pull the speakers to get at the inside of the cabinet to see how well the joints are glued, etc....I'm thinking of using an LCD mount screwed to the ceiling and to the top of the speaker cabinet but have no idea how well its built...i don't like the idea of **** into mdf though...

I would definatly NOT screw into or thru the cabinets no matter what.
Even IF you did it good enough to support the 30# weight, you will trash the value of the speaker. If you have to mount it above the TV, use a shelf suspended from the ceiling. Heck, you could do a cable suspension or small all-thread shelf that would be basically as invisible as just the speaker.

wutadumsn23

I have my CS2, Onkyo, and Comcast HD box all on a 3 shelf dealy that I have had for about a year now. It works great and eventhough it is a little high for my center channel, it gets the job done. Each shelf holds 75 lbs. and it is screwed directly into the stud in the waal behind my TV. It is similar to the one in the link below, but I didn't get it at Wally World and I didn't pay $99 for it. Might work for you, welcome to Club Polk.

-Jeff

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10715032

scubaguyjohn

thanks guys...I should've explained that I have a drop down screen in front of a fireplace...the only wall mount option is about 6 inches of soffit wall above the down position of the screen or to hang it from the ceiling as kc suggested...my only other option is to hide it in beneath the fireplace seat that is about 12 inches high the entire front of the fireplace...this enclosed space is about 4 feet deep x 10 feet long and 12 inches high...then put a metal grill to hide the speaker and protect it....my options seem to be very few...

scubaguyjohn

one option i've come up with is to take 1/4 inch metal and bend it to 135 degrees.... secure the vertical leg to the "wall" portion of the soffit and then secure the speaker to the bottom, angled leg ... but not to penetrate all the way through the cabinet...

dvran

Either way you go, on top or bottom, make sure to angle the speakers angle of listening towards the couch. For example, if you mount the speaker on top of your cabinet, make sure to prop the back up 1/2" to an inch depending on the angle of sound throw.

scubaguyjohn

excellent point...there's a huge difference in fidelity when the speaker is directed above or below the listening position...I plan to aim it directly at my listening position.