Any reasonable on-wall speakers out there?

[Doctors11]

Another alternative similar to the above SLM might be the Motion 8i. It has the same tweeter in a slightly deeper cabinet but it has a considerably lower -3db point. I would think that would make it easier to crossover to the sub, and maybe add some "heft" to multichannel instruments/voices. It can be mounted vertically.

 

[yossarian]

Is anyone aware of measurements results for this class of speakers? Are there particular brands (from ones mentioned) that have a reputation for measuring well (or poorly)?

 

[Wes]

Magnepan makes some planars that swivel out from the wall for use, then fold back in - SQ/$$ is lower than their regular speakers.

I don't suppose that cutting big holes in your walls is do-able??

 

[hex168]

Does anyone still make an on-wall speaker utilizing the Allison solution: upward-facing woofer right next to the wall, forward-facing tweeter?
http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...eries_brochure_2/allison_models_five_six_bro/

 

[maglito]

I've been searching for the same thing: decent on-wall / in-wall speakers but allowing for a slightly higher $$. I want something taller to match up to my 85" TV. My top choice so far is the Legacy Audio Silhouette:
https://legacyaudio.com/products/view/silhouette
Review here:
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews...kers/legacy-audio-silhouette-speakers-review/
I know member @seedragon had a set and even listed them for sale here on this forum (I missed it, sadly). Perhaps he can give his thoughts.

I'm confident I'll prefer this Legacy AMT tweeter sound and it's price is actually competitive in this group. Downside is to fit well, I'll be putting significant sized holes in my wall. But in what you get for the money (driver size and quality), it seems to be a bargain compared to the rest in this group. These have been around for some time as well (2014).

Interesting newer alternatives below (all of these announced/available in the last year):

Focal on wall 300 series (just announced):
https://www.focal.com/en/custom-integration/in-wall-in-ceiling-loudspeakers/on-wall-300
Only 2-way, aluminum/magnesium tweeter look nice but likely $$ for what you get.

PSB PWM series:
https://www.psbspeakers.com/product-category/speakers/architectural/on-wall-speakers/
3way, Titanium tweeter, still $$ for what you get in the larger models

Arendal 1961 monitor (from @outlookrt 2nd post in this thread)
https://arendalsound.com/product/1961-monitor/
Only 2 way, attractive larger drivers, soft dome tweeter (not my preference), but great reviews and said to be very neutral. Relatively inexpensive ($1000 shipped for the pair), 6" depth is borderline needing to be recessed into wall and no really clean, easy way to pull that off, they aren't designed specifically for in-wall, there is a VESA 100 on-wall application, likely increasing the depth to ~7"

I wouldn't mind trying either the PSB or the Focal on the wall before I begin hacking large holes in my wall for the Arendal or Legacy speakers. However, I don't really know where do get deals on PSB or Focal products.

I welcome any additional thoughts or alternatives.

Thanks!

 

[jhaider]

Has anyone heard the Monitor Audio Soundframe speakers? They have an interesting coax with an inverted cone and tweeter at the apex, that also seems to be rotatable. Monitor seems to use this on their sub-Platinum wall and ceiling speakers. Oddly, considering the novel design, they have basically no marketing copy about the driver. They write more about the grilles! (Which, to be sure, are also novel and interesting.)

https://www.monitoraudio.com/en/product-ranges/soundframe/soundframe-1-on-wall/

 

[maglito]

Has anyone heard the Monitor Audio Soundframe speakers? They have an interesting coax with an inverted cone and tweeter at the apex, that also seems to be rotatable. Monitor seems to use this on their sub-Platinum wall and ceiling speakers. Oddly, considering the novel design, they have basically no marketing copy about the driver. They write more about the grilles! (Which, to be sure, are also novel and interesting.)

https://www.monitoraudio.com/en/product-ranges/soundframe/soundframe-1-on-wall/

I haven't heard the monitor audio sound frames but I did read a few reviews, they sounded underwhelmed with the sound and more interested and the gimmicky feature of printing pictures of their children over the grills...

 

[Wader]

My on-wall research has moved me toward in-walls. Focal 300-IWLCR6 and Atlantic Tech IW-30LCR. Both are three way with rotatable MT module to keep the correct orientation when horizontally mounting the speaker. The AT also supports tilting the MT module. Focal specs show dispersion graphs and they look ok for my setup. I can't find graphs for the AT, and have requested them.

 

[jhaider]

I haven't heard the monitor audio sound frames but I did read a few reviews, they sounded underwhelmed with the sound and more interested and the gimmicky feature of printing pictures of their children over the grills...

Are these the same tin ears who panned the excellent Technics coax standmount?

 

[gags11]

I had Martin Logan SLM-XL speakers a few years back. They sounded great with a sub, but of course this was subjective.

https://www.martinlogan.com/uploads/documents/brochures/brochure_motion_slm_slm_xl_slm_x3.pdf

 

[aac]

Procella audio makes some really shallow onwalls.

 

[tifune]

JBL CBT used or open box/refurb from JBL store. I believe they all have flush mount options and allow you to emphasize either vertical or horizontal dispersion which should help w the off axis listening.

 

[seedragon]

I've been searching for the same thing: decent on-wall / in-wall speakers but allowing for a slightly higher $$. I want something taller to match up to my 85" TV. My top choice so far is the Legacy Audio Silhouette:
https://legacyaudio.com/products/view/silhouette
Review here:
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews...kers/legacy-audio-silhouette-speakers-review/
I know member @seedragon had a set and even listed them for sale here on this forum (I missed it, sadly). Perhaps he can give his thoughts.

I'm confident I'll prefer this Legacy AMT tweeter sound and it's price is actually competitive in this group. Downside is to fit well, I'll be putting significant sized holes in my wall. But in what you get for the money (driver size and quality), it seems to be a bargain compared to the rest in this group. These have been around for some time as well (2014).

I decided on the Silhouettes for the same reasons you are considering them: the AMT tweeter and a large and strong diver compliment.

I found the AMT tweeter to be extremely neutral (sometimes too neutral, but that could have been due to Audyssey). They also take as much power as you can throw at them without blinking. More than once, my subs didn't come on (an issue with my AVR) but I thought they were on because the Silhouettes put out a surprising amount of low end. You definitely want subs to go with them, but if you enjoy 2.0 listening, they do a good job.

They are heavy and extremely well built; inert as hell. Legacy support is literally a phone call away; I've talked to Bill Dudleston personally on a few occasions because he picked up the phone when I called!

The downsides, IMO, are getting the sound staging and imaging right for your room. But that is going to apply to any on-wall or in-wall setup because it's very hard to test different positions - and there's really no such thing as "toe-in". After you install them, they're hard to move. I spent a long time trying to dial in my imaging and never truly got it where I wanted for 2.1 listening. However, I was also in a VERY small room (~1,400 cu. ft.), which presents significant acoustical challenges. I wonder sometimes if the AMT tweeter's inherently wide dispersion pattern was a deficit in such a small space. I think the Silhouettes would have performed even better in a larger space, say 2,500 cu. ft. and up. I sold them because I moved into a much bigger space (~6,000 cu. ft.) and got free-standing towers.

Hope that helps!

 

[XDM]

Focal 300-IWLCR6

Erin reviewed the Focal 1000 IWLCR6

He called it sibilant, boomy, recessed midrange, strong resonance around 200 Hz even in free air.

- Kef T301:

KEF T-series got terrible measurements from Amir: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kef-t101-review-thin-speaker.29574/
"It is one, if not the worse sounding speaker I have tested."

I made a list of on-wall models that I think look promising, but sadly very few reviews.

-ELAC (Elac WS-1425, fairly original looking layout, and of course the budget ELAC Debut OW4.2)
-Quadral Phase series, e.g. https://www.cloneyaudio.com/store/p/quadral-phase-r6 (there's also Quadral Aurum Phase 9)
-Emotiva E1
-I see Heco has a full line of on-wall speakers: https://www.heco-audio.de/en/speaker/ambient-line/

 

[Rednaxela]