bose 161 alternatives

[dbaplaya]

i'm installing a multiroom sound system with ceiling speakers. this is fine in most rooms as i can use flush mounted speakers. in the kitchen though i have a vaulted ceiling with insulation in the roof so i need a surface mounted solution. the company i had a quote off suggested the Bose 161, but they seem expensive and im after something with a bit of base.

can anyone suggest an alternative? looking to spend up to £200 but they must be quite small and cant be 'normal' bookshelf speakers as the wife wont be liking that!

thanks

 

[Mickymoody]

I use Gale speakers on my surround, small enough, but enough punch.., for your price range..an alternative is bi-wireable I believe, or they can be modified?

Why install speakers all over the house when other technologies are available?

 

[dbaplaya]

Why install speakers all over the house when other technologies are available?


what other technology would you recommend? im after 2 speakers in most rooms with a keypad on the wall wired back to a central server.

I have been looking at the Nuvo and Opus systems.

thanks

 

[Mickymoody]

Misquote, but Nuvo system is better, but at the price you quote you can afford?

 

[dbaplaya]

sorry mickmoody, did you mean i should pay more than £200 for speakers?

thanks

 

[Mickymoody]

If you can afford more, for better quality vs how often you would use the system while in the kitchen? Do you spend a lot of time in there, is it open plan, dining area, Family area in there? or will they only be used when cooking? How many speakers are you looking for @ £200 ? 2, 4, surround? Are they linked up to a TV in the kitchen, hence how you use the kitchen?

Ultimately up to you, what sounds great to me, in my living room, might sound awful with the accoustics of a kitchen. A decent base sound in a carpeted room, would sound totally different in a tiled kitchen..

Then you have to consider them regards the varying heat, grease, etc, so a speaker could degrade in that environment, so is paying megabucks worth it, when they might need to be replaced in 12 months time? My fruit machine is in the kitchen, and the keys are forever seizing up due to the environment.

Good luck choosing though, it's nice buying tech.

 

[dbaplaya]

there will be 2 ceiling speakers and 2 bookshelf type mounted high in the vaulted ceiling. im not looking for mega high quality as i wont get it it - the acoustics of the tiled floor etc are not going to give me that. i just want it to sound good when i want to crank it up the odd time without sounding tinny or a poor sound.

i was looking on the Nuvo website and you can buy standalone speakers for around £220 a pair. The bose 161 and 201 have pretty poor reviews on the net saying poor build and lack of base.
I will try and demo the Nuvo system before i buy.

 

[Mickymoody]

there will be 2 ceiling speakers and 2 bookshelf type mounted high in the vaulted ceiling. im not looking for mega high quality as i wont get it it - the acoustics of the tiled floor etc are not going to give me that. i just want it to sound good when i want to crank it up the odd time without sounding tinny or a poor sound.

i was looking on the Nuvo website and you can buy standalone speakers for around £220 a pair. The bose 161 and 201 have pretty poor reviews on the net saying poor build and lack of base.
I will try and demo the Nuvo system before i buy.

A tiled floor is going to give a lot more reverb than expected, as the sound is bouncing off a solid surface, plus you say you have a vaulted ceiling, to give reverb? Too much bass, and the thing will disappear into an echo! Bose for me always overrated, but underperforming..

I really don't think you need the base in that space, but you still don't say what you use that space for? High ceilings, and solid floor = bass boosters.

Good to get the setup tested in the space. When I play a rare CD in my house, the setup is so good, it's like I'm there! When watching TV, and someone on TV rings a doorbell, I've actually got up to answer the door.