Ceiling speakers. Passive or active?

[Marvt74]

Hi guys

We're currently in the process of getting our kitchen and backroom stripped out and altered quite a bit.

This has given me the idea of putting in some speakers and using a small pro-ject Hifi system.

I'm just trying to work out what would be best. I could use active speakers but this would mean I'd have to just a preamplifier as we'd just have phono sockets in the wall.
Whereas if I used a binding post wall socket it would mean we could use pretty much anything. Even a generic all in one box thing and just hook up the speaker cables.

Anyone have any experience with these things?

Cheers

[rabski]

No direct experience, but I would definitely suggest passive. If you're talking about built-in speakers (in wall or in ceiling) then bear in mind actives need permanent AC supply and you may end up with long, plumbed in coax. Also a lot more flexibility with passive in terms of what you can drive them with. If it's a small kitchen system there are some good 'one box' solutions. Active speakers is going to mean pre + CDP at a minimum.

[Marvt74]

Well at first i thought about the possibility of just connecting an ipod dock with a volume pot. I know Pro-Ject do one but then i'd miss out on the ability to play cd's

This looks like it might be quite good though
http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/m...ode=KLAB20MDC8

[silencio]

Why don't you look up Boston Accoustics: http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Confi....aspx?RoomId=1

[Frank Abela]

Most in-ceiling/wall speakers try to stick within a 4" depth in order to fit in between joists. Fitting an amplifier or two in with them is a bit much although the newer class D modules make that easier since they need less heat management than traditional class A/B. I certainly haven't seen any active ones although I guess they could exist. As me ntioned elsewhere you'd have to run coax around - although I guess once you're making an active speaker you might as well try for a wireless/networked solution at the same time so the only cables you'd need would be a run of CAT6 and power. I haven't seen anything like this but it's a big world.

The simpler solution would be passive speakers (so many to choose from) and an amp, or a Sonos if you want distribution across rooms. Sonos makes it easy.