Help me replace my Genelec 8341's for the sanity of my beloved wife

[Andysu]

I do not know the rest of the room and the floor layout, however, would it be an option to place the TV screen into the corner and have a diagonal setup? That would be visually more appealing and might improve the acoustics as well (less sidewall reflections especially on the right side - more symmetrical reflections).

Floyd Toole shows such a setup in his third Edition of "Sound Reproduction", figure 7.18

but does floyd have return of the jedi on laserdisc and does have 83 THX that can do rancor scene with bass directional pressing against his body

 

[antcollinet]

but does floyd have return of the jedi on laserdisc and does have 83 THX that can do rancor scene with bass directional pressing against his body

Lovin' the obsession.

 

[JustJones]

but does floyd have return of the jedi on laserdisc and does have 83 THX that can do rancor scene with bass directional pressing against his body

I had Return Of the Jedi on laser disc. This was one of my favorite disc's

But alas the 90's ended and the player and disc's move on to a better place.

 

[EJ3]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well!

As the title suggests, I have a really difficult dilemma to attempt to resolve for which I hope you lovely people will be able to help me with.
After a few drinks last night, we got on to the discussion of decorating the living room as we haven't really touched it for over 5 years so it needs a bit of an update.
It was during this conversation that my wife of 12 years broke down in tears (no exaggeration) at her hatred for my amazing Genelec 8341's and how they have ruined the "look" of her home.....
I was quite taken aback by this revelation as I wasn't aware that she hated them so much! They ruin the aesthetics of the room as they stand out like a sore thumb....which they do.....she has a valid point.

They are the 8341AWM (white model) and they stand proud on a pair of walnut and black speaker stands and I love them.
I have owned a huge number of speakers in my time but these Genelecs are by far, the best speaker I have ever heard in my room (with the GLM kit of course).
I love everything about them but I cannot continue to keep them if I know my wife hates them so much!! That would make me rather selfish.
She went on to tell me about the comments some of our friends have passed which include: "they look like a blood pressure monitor" the one's you see in hospital, the one's where you sit next to it on a chair and put your arm actually into a large machine and it prints out a report for you. Other evil comments were mentioned which I won't say on here as saying those comments will upset us audio loving people. The funny thing is, they are not wrong.

So, I am looking for a replacement speaker that has all the qualities of the 8341's (in particular, the concentric drivers) which are available in Walnut to suit the aesthetics of our lounge (KEF Concerto or R3 Meta maybe)?.
They don't need to be active speakers as I'm happy with going back to needing a power amp or integrated as long as the power amp measures well on it's power delivery and has plenty of it on tap.
I am really interested in the recent developments in the mini power amps that are currently wowing people on here....

My current set up is:

MiniDSP SHD (Full version)
Genelec 8341 AWM (x2) White + GLM Kit
Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 1S (x2) Gloss White
Intel NUC - ROON Core - ROON Lifetime member
Nvidia Shield - PLEX Server

My room is a traditional English small lounge but the plan is to replace the 8341's AND the Arendal subs for speakers and subs that are available with a walnut cabinet which I know limits me somewhat but this is the scope of works.

I did own a pair of BK Electronics XXLS400 (English brand) subwoofer before the Arendals came, they were really nice to look at in walnut and, being a 12" sealed cabinet and with having two of them, they certainly packed a punch!

Anyway, does anybody have any thoughts on how best to replicate the Genelecs in my room with non powered monitors.....with a pair of subs of course...

 

[markstein]

What I wonder: How do you realize a good, low resonance housing for these in-wall speakers? Is there a wooden box built into the wall? Is not it - technically - easier to wall mount a speaker incl. its own housing?

 

[EJ3]

What I wonder: How do you realize a good, low resonance housing for these in-wall speakers? Is there a wooden box built into the wall? Is not it - technically - easier to wall mount a speaker incl. its own housing?

Since I have no need for something like this, I have not delved into the construction. But, it seems to be a viable option, especially if one is redoing the room, anyway.

 

[Audio Science Pal]

I am really focusing on how best to preserve the set up I currently have in a way that is pleasing to the eye but it won't be easy.

Keep your speakers. Make your wife happy at the same time. You don't need to wait for the room remodeling to try it out.

Build or have built, something like this lamp shade. Replace the shade material with some acoustically transparent speaker grill cloth (that your wife chooses) and set the thing on/around your speakers. You get the idea. She picks the colors. The possibilities are unlimited.

 

[Esprit]

After a few drinks last night, we got on to the discussion of decorating the living room as we haven't really touched it for over 5 years so it needs a bit of an update.

I'm a lucky man: I've been married for 36 years and I can do whatever I want because it doesn't cause any problems for her.
In fact, she really liked the 8361, musically speaking, and when I can buy them the only problem will be paying someone to bring them home (they're heavy).

 

[Esprit]

1) I run Meyer Sound X40’s in our living room

I have 4 of these:

 

[mglobe]

Agreed. I am going to have to discuss it with her openly to see her reaction. I really don't want to have to sell the best sounding system I have ever owned in my lounge.

I'll have to draw a mock-up of how it potentially might look when it's finished.

She was crying for God's sake. Find some other speakers. In the long run you will be happy you did.

 

[DMill]

If it hasn’t already been said, why not just ask your wife what she thinks would look acceptable? People have been throwing around KEF LS50s and I think they look like crap. It’s very subjective. But if you involve her in the decision, she will feel like she had a say in the purchase.

 

[AudioJester]

If your building a new media room, a multichannel in-wall system is worth looking at. With a properly setup Kef architechtural system - I would not miss my 8361a.

 

[Newman]

Hi, I have just joined this thread. I am delighted that you are determined to help wifey out here. Her suffering in silence for you shall be rewarded.

Yes. I've been looking at a whole range of passive speakers but everything I look at is a backwards step for sure.

I am really focussing on how best to preserve the set up I currently have in a way that is pleasing to the eye but it won't be easy.

The thing is, if I go for another pair of monitors, I will still be left with a pair of speakers sat within a box on a media wall....

If you care about sound quality, you do NOT want to put them in a cavity on a wall. (Some of the box-like containers suggested also have this issue, and will create some of the cavity effect.)

Toole has mentioned this issue in his book:-

Free space response on the left. Cavity in the centre. Filling it with fibreglass on the right, helps a little but doesn't make the issue go away.

I am yet to show the wife a pair of speakers that she likes the look of. Pray for me guys.....

Yes, I immediately thought that might prove to be the case, when in post #1 it was evident that wifey was not in the habit of telling you what she thinks of the looks of your gear.

Ask wifey what specific attributes she doesn't mind the look of too much, in the speakers she has looked at with you. Don't ask her if she likes them: that is almost not a fair question. Light or dark? Any favourite wood finish? Neutral tones? Grill cloth or bare?

It has crossed my mind to discuss keeping the Genelecs but dealing with their appearance issues. Namely:-

1. Close to the wall. Genelec approve of this, mentioning that a 5 cm gap to the front wall is fine. Take advantage of it. You have the EQ to deal with it acoustically.
2. Socks. Put the speakers in an acoustically-minimal stretch sock of a colour chosen by wifey. Or the lamp-shade type of sock mentioned in #127 above. You have the EQ to deal with it acoustically.
3. Screens. Either hang a narrow curtain, or stand a narrow decorative screen, in front of each speaker, of an acoustically-minimal material (visual example). You have the EQ to deal with it acoustically. With the speakers close to the wall, this makes sense.

Don't be too biased against #2 and #3. Hifi hobbyists tend to overestimate the audio impact of well-chosen acoustically light materials in front of the speaker. It's a psychological thing: clear air = clear sound, so anything blocking the visual clarity just has to be 100% wrong, right? But reality is different, especially with a speaker that is amenable to EQ like your Genelecs. When you examine projection screens made of a material that is meant to have speakers placed behind them, listed as (functionally usable) acoustically transparent screens, you wouldn't think they are going to work sonically, but they do.

cheers

 

[suttondesign]

Seems like the new, all-wood Buchardt would do well.

 

[dfuller]

Free space response on the left. Cavity in the centre. Filling it with fibreglass on the right, helps a little but doesn't make the issue go away.

Correct, proper in-wall mounting has the hard surface essentially flush to the front baffle. Otherwise you get this mess. So, yes, the rounded Genelecs, which are explicitly designed to be freestanding, will not do well with this.

 

[johny_2000]

they just don't work in this sort of house at all

True!
But I agree with some other opinions that the KEF Reference 1 Meta may look better in a home environment.
Show them to your wife and see if she likes them better.

 

[Newman]

Ugh. You are not looking at this from the non-audio person's perspective.

 

[johny_2000]

Ugh. You are not looking at this from the non-audio person's perspective.

Which is what the vast majority of women are! Offer to exchange them for potted flowers and see her reaction.

 

[TurtlePaul]

I was thinking something like R3 Meta with grills.

 

[Robin L]

View attachment 407573I was thinking something like R3 Meta with grills.

I really don't think this will help. A pair of speakers that makes a statement about their appearance, that draw attention to themselves, only makes the situation worse. My guess is that the wife doesn't want to see any speakers. Some sort of in-wall installation might be the only solution, but that means goodbye to the sound the OP loves. I'm lucky - in our house the TV is in one room and the stereo is in another and the two are sonically isolated enough from each other that they don't interfere with each other. She can watch "Matlock" in one room while I listen to Bach in the other.