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How can you tell good speakers by eye?

post #1 of 8
7/14/05 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
My father is moving into an apartment that is pre-wired for sound. It has speakers already installed in the walls throughout the unit. I know that the ultimate test for speakers is how they actually sound, but are there features of quality speakers that can be observed by looking at them?
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post #2 of 8
7/14/05 at 3:53pm
No.


Mitch
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post #3 of 8
7/14/05 at 4:09pm
Inwall speakers usually don't sound as good as speakers that have their own enclosures.
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post #4 of 8
7/14/05 at 6:03pm
you can look at the tweeters and the size of the driver, that would give you indication of the frequency response.

larger drivers = lower frequency playback
metal tweeters = bright and analytical top end
silk/fabric tweeters = smooth rounder top end
fabric surround on metal tweeters are used to compensate for over brightness.

horn drivers = Grado bowl pad sound.

paper fiber drivers tend to have nice sound mid-bass response and are also the cheapest materials, which probably the most common driver material used.

the more rigid and stiffer the mid driver, theoretically, the more accurate the playback.

if your speakers use foam surrounds around the drivers, prepare to face foam rot as the cheap speakers disintigrate over the years.(BOSE)
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post #5 of 8
7/15/05 at 12:33am

If they have a nameplate that says Thiel they are really good

You can read reviews about speakers and get an idea about how they might sound to others. In general in wall speakers don't sound much different for better or worse than car speakers.
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post #6 of 8
7/15/05 at 1:07am
You might also take a lok at how they are put into the wall. If they are not placed symetrically, they probably aren't good, and they sure won't sound good even if they are.
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post #7 of 8
7/15/05 at 10:13am
I wouldn't expect to much from pre-installed, in-wall speakers.
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post #8 of 8
7/15/05 at 11:09am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpr703
I wouldn't expect to much from pre-installed, in-wall speakers.
I don't think you can dismiss pre-installed speakers out of hand, although I will agree that free standing speakers are going to sound better. I say this only because I have a good friend who makes a living out of installing very high end entertainment systems in clients' homes and he has installed some very good quality speakers in walls (among other places). Now my dad is not buying the Taj Mahal, but it is possible the previous owner spent some serious coin for system he had installed. A nice plasma TV is included in the system (they're taking most of the other components). That being said, spending money does not guarantee audio quality.

I think the comments about the materials used are very useful, as well as caution about in wall speakers and symmetrical placement. I thank you all for your comments.
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