Kitchen audio - ceiling speakers + amp?

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Gemini

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#110656 13-Oct-2012 12:25

We're getting our kitchen redone - anyone wired theirs for sound?
I'm thinking something simple like an amp in a cupboard and some speakers in the ceiling
What about waterproofing against the cooking steam etc
Can you get indoor steam proof ceiling speakers?
I want something with some power and bass
Cheers

Jaxson

8044 posts

Uber Geek

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#700616 13-Oct-2012 13:03

If it's a very humid environment you could consider using marine speakers?
Quality would typically take a dive.

Personally I'd probably go for one of those portable air play capable self drive speaker units.
this sort of thing

Yogi02

238 posts

Master Geek

#700618 13-Oct-2012 13:07

The missus wants a TV in the kitchen. Was going to wall/hinge mount a small lcd. As for audio, prob easier to get a portable airplay type set up so you dont have to go back to a main amp just to have sounds in the kitchen.

Gemini

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#700632 13-Oct-2012 13:23

Yogi02: The missus wants a TV in the kitchen. Was going to wall/hinge mount a small lcd. As for audio, prob easier to get a portable airplay type set up so you dont have to go back to a main amp just to have sounds in the kitchen.

Don't want stuff on the bench so was thinking of sticking a slimline amp in a kitchen cupboard then just speaker wire in wall to speakers. For $900 I can get the whole setup plus an mp3 player?

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#700641 13-Oct-2012 13:42

Car speakers are your friend as they are (usually) built to withstand the pretty harsh environment of a cars interior, downside is their impedance is usually 4 ohms whereas most home audio prefers 8ohm, to circumnavigate this just run two pairs wired in series which creates a home audio friendly 8ohm load

Benefits are they are easy to install, come with grills which you can spray paint to match decor and overall for a modest outlay you will get a fairly respectable result compared to brand name inwall or ceiling speakers

Gemini

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#700845 14-Oct-2012 09:21

Great tip
If you're listening to small speakers at low volumes, 4ohm won't overwork an amp will it?

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#700850 14-Oct-2012 09:35

Gemini: Great tip
If you're listening to small speakers at low volumes, 4ohm won't overwork an amp will it?

Resistance is not volume dependent, less resistance will mean your amp runs hotter, I would expect most amps would put up with this at a low volume but not ideal as it is probably akin to Chinese water torture, it will get you in the end. Hence why running two 4ohm speakers in series presents an 8ohm load to each speaker output on the amp.

There is always the other option of running a car stereo off an invertor instead of a home audio amp, most have USB and or iPod/iPhone control these days

Gemini

429 posts

Ultimate Geek

#700884 14-Oct-2012 10:22

Where would I get an inverter and what sort of cost?

Quic Broadband

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Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#700909 14-Oct-2012 11:32

Something like this should work fine....

Jaycar 13.8VDC Power Supply

Handle9

11409 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#700912 14-Oct-2012 11:39

Wade:
Gemini: Great tip
If you're listening to small speakers at low volumes, 4ohm won't overwork an amp will it?

Resistance is not volume dependent, less resistance will mean your amp runs hotter, I would expect most amps would put up with this at a low volume but not ideal as it is probably akin to Chinese water torture, it will get you in the end. Hence why running two 4ohm speakers in series presents an 8ohm load to each speaker output on the amp.

There is always the other option of running a car stereo off an invertor instead of a home audio amp, most have USB and or iPod/iPhone control these days

Why would you use an inverter on a car stereo? They run on DC so you would need a rectifier or DC power supply.

An inverter converts DC to AC not the other way round.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#700917 14-Oct-2012 11:49

Sue me... i mean't convertor in fact I even linked a suitable one in above post

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#701138 14-Oct-2012 20:59

Car audio?
I wouldn't be drilling holes in my ceiling for that...

Look for a simple 2-channel amp + CD player (Yamaha / Pioneer make them), re-purpose the stock speakers... then grab some weather proof in-ceiling speakers from someone like Polk ($300 for a pair) and you're away.
Now remember, you won't be pleasing bass-heads with in-ceiling speakers, they simply can't go that low. Really in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are meant to be run with a subwoofer, but as kitchens have typically terrible acoustics, as well as cabinets and draws that will rattle feverishly - you're best to forgo it.
All in all, it's a pretty easy project to achieve for around $800 - then just add your cheapie MP3 player.

Oh yeah, the problem with putting a regular amp (even a slimline class-d unit) in a cupboard is ventilation and volume control. How were you looking to handle the volume / track changing side of things?