Recessed RTi12s

[blshaw]

Hello, all!

I did a search of this forum (I'm a newbie) and could not find another discussion of this subject; forgive me if I just missed it.

I will be building a new house next year and have a 12 foot wide wall that will be the focus of my home theater, with a 60" wall-hung flat-panel TV in the middle and two (not yet purchased) RTi12s as my main speakers positioned left and right of the TV by about 5.5' (on center). The issue is this: the RTi12s are not exactly shallow in depth (21"!) and will look quite inapopropriate if simply backed up to the wall, i.e. they will protrude much too far into the room.

My current plan is to build recesses for the speakers so that their face is flush with the wall. The recesses, as currently designed, are about 23" deep and 14" wide.

So the question is, will recessing the speakers in this fashion impair their performance? Should the recess be enlarged? If so, what would you recommend as the minimum dimensions? I realize that their are no rear-facing drivers in the RTi12s, but I suspect that the foreward-facing drivers must move a heck of a lot of air which, in turn, probably requires a certain amount of free space around the units.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, will I be happy with the RTi12s?

[MillerLiteScott]

Welcome

I think that recessing The RTi12's would severely limit any tweeking abilities. You may just want to set them on either side and see how it looks or impacts your traffic in the room. If that does not cut it for you or the wife ( if applicable) then maybe just build some wing walls on one or either side of the whole wall to give the impressin of them being recessed but still have the ability to make adjustment in their possitioning. The wing walls may even improve the sound or afford the space and ability to add some non obtrusive acoustical treatments if necessary.

Just my 2 cents. I hope it helps and I am sure someone else will offer other solutions or options.

[PolkWannabie]

IF you are going to recess them ( which I don't think is a great idea ), then remember a couple of things ...

- The speakers should protude at least some distance beyond ( closer to the listening area ) the front of the TV ...

- Your recessed area should have enough width to it so the speakers can be toed in ...

[anonymouse]

If the 12s are not yet purchased, and aesthetics are very important to you, then you should consider in-wall speakers and an infinite baffle sub. Performance will equal or exceed the 12s if you set them up right and they will disappear into your room. Consider the LSi series of in-walls for amazing performance.

[Dennis Gardner]

General rules of thumb.............recessing box speakers is against their intended design thus hurt performance and recesses in walls don't help home resale since they rarely fit the new buyer's needs.

Inwalls will serve your flat display choice better, just don't skimp on speaker investment.

[blshaw]

Thanks to you all who have replied so far. The bit about future home resale implications is a real good one! I hope to live in this place until I kick the bucket, but you never know.

I think the in-wall speaker idea is excellent. I don't know why it never crossed my mind. I'm off to research my options in that regard, starting with the LSi's, as suggested by anonymouse.

Thanks again. Forums are always a great resource.

[PolkWannabie]

Either that or give some consideration to putting your plasma on a stand ... I have a 71" TV that works fine on a stand ... This leaves a lot more options for future speaker and other upgrades etc ...

[blshaw]

If the 12s are not yet purchased, and aesthetics are very important to you, then you should consider in-wall speakers and an infinite baffle sub. Performance will equal or exceed the 12s if you set them up right and they will disappear into your room. Consider the LSi series of in-walls for amazing performance.

Anonymouse:

You suggest the "LSi series" but all I see is the LCi series. Am I missing something, or did you mean LCi? Regardless, which specific model would you most rceommend? I looked at the LC265i speakers and noticed that Polk makes no recommendations for center-channel or surround speakers to go with the LC265is. Is that an issue, or will most any decent center and surrounds work well? Since most of the in-walls are only available in white (ugh), can I paint them a different color?

[anonymouse]

Yes the LCi's are the in wall models that match the LSi's. You can use the LSiC as center with the LC265i's or you can use a single LC265i. Do mix brands and speakers from different series or manufacturers. If you are going with the LC series, you can safely match with the LSi series, but nothing else if you value a seamless theater experience, where sounds move effortlessly from speaker to speaker without changing tonality.

Yes in-walls can be painted to whatever color you want. The grilles are designed for this. Just follow the instructions which come with them.

[reeltrouble1]

I say go ahead and recess those RTi if that is what you want to do and then let us know how they sound, there is no reason it wont work.

damm nice looking speaker to cover up though.

RT1