Wall mountable speakers

[timbo343]

I am looking for some wall mountable speakers. In our classrooms, we normally suggest to the teacher which speaker system they would want. Either a 2.0 setup on their desk or a 2.1 setup on the wall.

 

We have been using the Creative Series T3100 and T3030 for this purpose as they provide the greatest flexibility but it is getting harder and harder to source wall mountable speakers.

 

I have seen the logitech X210 X-210 but the only problem with these is the satellite speaker connection into the sub. It is a single 3.5mm connection which both satellites are connected to and i know we are going to have to extend the cable for the speakers to sit either side of the whiteboards, although i have seen the Altec Lansing VS2421 speakers http://www.alteclansing.co.uk/images/spec/VS2421-SELL-SHEET.pdf. The only trouble with these is the sub. I cannot find a speaker bracket that will fit a 14.3cm sub, but if i was to lay the sub down, it wouldnt be a problem.

 

Just seen the Sony D211 which are wall mountable but the wired remote doesnt look practical enough and the sub just looks too big.

 

Can anyone else recommend a wall mountable 2.1 speaker system?

 

Thanks

[3s-gtech]

Why wall-mount a 2.1 system? 2.0 will be much more flexible - and a sub will never sound it's best hanging from a bracket. We very rarely spec 2.1 systems here - we tend to stick to CreativeGigaworks T20 speakers or Edirol MA-7As - they have plenty of bass response for most classroom work. Easy to mount up on brackets, and flexible cabling.

[localzuk]

Can you not go with a 2.0 setup and something like these? Vision SP-1300 Pair 2-Way Wall Loudspeakers + Vision TC2-AMP2 2x20w Digital Amplifier Module

 

This is the sort of thing we do, we use ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS|SP103|INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER | CPC as our base amp now and match speakers to it.

[Ric_]

I've recently started using the Vision gear after using Nuvo speakers for years. The Vision stuff sounds much better (and louder) plus you get a little remote for the teacher to lose

[timbo343]

Just looked at the vision stuff... dont want to sound thick, but... how do you get power to the device?

[Ric_]

Just looked at the vision stuff... dont want to sound thick, but... how do you get power to the device?

 

There is a power brick - one end plugs into the mains and the other into the amp. Simples!

[timbo343]

oh... so i could mount this next to or near the power socket, route the cable in a bit of trunking into the back of the face plate where the amp is and bobs your uncle. Then for the speaker cable, run trunking up the wall to the ceiling up to the speakers.

 

Are the speakers good quality? They will be used for science and some of the videos they are using are fairly quiet. Also, whats the bass like on them?

[timbo343]

Two lots of the Vision stuff bought.... Just hope it all works..

 

@Sysman: Once i have got them installed, i can give you my view on them if you want? It shouldnt take long for me to put them up... Touches wood!

Edited January 20, 2011 by timbo343

[Educare_AV]

Another vote for Vision here too, fitted lots over the past 12 months and had no failures yet. You can also link the amp to your existing faceplate audio input connections, if you want to install the amp in a different location. i.e a locked cupboard etc.

[maniac]

+1 for vision.

 

We kited out our 3 new ICT rooms with vision speakers and the little wall mountable amps and they've been brilliant these last 18 months. The wall mounted speakers are better than the ones you can mount in ceiling tiles we've found, and we run 4 speakers per amp so the teacher can have the volume lower as there's speakers halfway down the room as well as at the front - the specs of the amp say this is OK.

 

Mike.

[plexer]

We use vision speakers and amps the new new amps can share power with the ir blasters as well so you can have wall mounted projector control too.

 

Simple to install unobtrusive and more than adequate for classroom use.

 

Ben

[timbo343]

Im starting to look forward to getting the vision stuff now. Te only thing that is pretty off putting i thought was the price. I can see some members of staff arguing the point that you can buy 2.0 speakers for £10.

[mrbios]

Speakers - Audio & Video | Tronios

 

The ones at the bottom there are fantastic if your classroom cielings are suspended ceilings like ours, nice and cheap too.

[john]

I tend to use these in most rooms I kit out - PULSE|ACTIVE30-BK|SPEAKERS, 5" 30W ACTIVE BLACK | CPC they are good kit, not as flexible as the Vision ones but half the price when you use the right CPC code (IE one from a sale book that takes them to around £30 a unit)

[localzuk]

Im starting to look forward to getting the vision stuff now. Te only thing that is pretty off putting i thought was the price. I can see some members of staff arguing the point that you can buy 2.0 speakers for £10.

 

Indeed you can, but a) they won't last and b) are not as good quality.

[Educare_AV]

I tend to use these in most rooms I kit out - PULSE|ACTIVE30-BK|SPEAKERS, 5" 30W ACTIVE BLACK | CPC they are good kit, not as flexible as the Vision ones but half the price when you use the right CPC code (IE one from a sale book that takes them to around £30 a unit)

 

Plus i find it hard enough explaining how a volume control works when it is under there nose. But if they have to start routing around the back of a wall mounted speaker to adjust the volume I would have no chance. Is the on and off switch on the back of the speaker too? So they probably get left on all the time too.

[Chris_Cook]

Yes, the switch is on the back, but they plug into a normal 13amp socket. If you need them to be turned off, then just use the switch on the socket instead. If you set the volume knob on the speaker to a sensible level they shouldn't need to adjust it. There is always the windows volume control. Personally I quite like this, as it means most staff and students won't fiddle with them. Most of them anyway, theres always one...

 

I have recently put in a few sets of the pulse speakers, and one of the vision amps, and was happy with both, the install was very easy. I was impressed with the audio quality of the pulse speakers. I thought the vision amp was very neat and tidy. It was replacing a bigger amp that sat on the teachers desk, so it really reduces the amount of clutter. I wasn't overly impressed with the volume level, but it was paired with a small and fairly old set of speakers which might have had something to do with it. It was plenty loud enough though, and with a classroom right next door, we didn't really want something that goes up to 11.

 

One thing I didn't like about the pulse speakers was that the bracket holds them too close to the wall, so that a normal iec kettle lead wont fit. The power cable they included is probably long enough for most situations though, and you could always run an extension lead to somewhere near the speaker. I haven't managed to find long iec cables with right-angled connectors, which was a bit annoying for one room.

[localzuk]

Yes, the switch is on the back, but they plug into a normal 13amp socket. If you need them to be turned off, then just use the switch on the socket instead. If you set the volume knob on the speaker to a sensible level they shouldn't need to adjust it. There is always the windows volume control. Personally I quite like this, as it means most staff and students won't fiddle with them. Most of them anyway, theres always one...

 

All well and good until you realise that it isn't just PCs that are plugged into speakers. We have DVD players, CD players, VCRs, iPods, video cameras etc... that all get plugged into classroom speaker systems. Having the volume control on the back only works if you use a PC as the only source of the sound.

[maniac]

I tend to use these in most rooms I kit out - PULSE|ACTIVE30-BK|SPEAKERS, 5" 30W ACTIVE BLACK | CPC they are good kit, not as flexible as the Vision ones but half the price when you use the right CPC code (IE one from a sale book that takes them to around £30 a unit)

 

 

I absolutely hate these speakers, this is what our IWB installers used on a majority of our boards. There's several flaws with them.

 

1) Whatever you set the volume level to, people love to fiddle except they can't see which control is which so they all get moved and you end up with the balance and tone all over the place

 

2) The Phono plugs are so close to the wall that the cable is bent very sharply, putting a lot of strain on the connector. If the speakers get moved a lot, this invariablely leads to the cables being damaged or the plugs being snapped off on the back of the speakers - I have 2 or 3 sets in my office that have suffered because of this.

 

3) I find them awkward to get off and on the brackets.

 

Saying that, the sound quality from them is actually quite good, I just think they're a poor design.

 

Mike.

[john]

I absolutely hate these speakers, this is what our IWB installers used on a majority of our boards. There's several flaws with them.

 

1) Whatever you set the volume level to, people love to fiddle except they can't see which control is which so they all get moved and you end up with the balance and tone all over the place

 

2) The Phono plugs are so close to the wall that the cable is bent very sharply, putting a lot of strain on the connector. If the speakers get moved a lot, this invariablely leads to the cables being damaged or the plugs being snapped off on the back of the speakers - I have 2 or 3 sets in my office that have suffered because of this.

 

3) I find them awkward to get off and on the brackets.

 

Saying that, the sound quality from them is actually quite good, I just think they're a poor design.

 

Mike.

 

1 - Mount them up high out of hands way solves that one, all mine are mounted near enough at ceiling height, this keeps people from playing. The PC has volume control so you don't need to touch them is my view, I set the PC to max volume then set the volume, bass and tone on the speakers to a loud, but not too loud level for the room then just use the PC to control it.

 

2 - Agreed, CPC sell right angled phono leads which I use for them. The 30W units are too tight for straight leads end of, but the 50w units are better with them, but the Right angled leads an adaptor plugs are cheap enough.

 

3 - I actually prefer the brackets on them to many others myself, but its personal preference I'd suspect.

 

There not a perfect solution and my AV supplier friend hates me for using them as they are crimes against audio, but for £30 you get some fair boom out of them and they do a nice enough job for IT rooms. We don't have the space for fancy amps, in dado trunking systems etc due to the design of our rooms (seems we don't like dado trunking thus its all round and square all over the place YUCK!) so they keep the place simple and tidy.

[localzuk]

1 - Mount them up high out of hands way solves that one, all mine are mounted near enough at ceiling height, this keeps people from playing. The PC has volume control so you don't need to touch them is my view, I set the PC to max volume then set the volume, bass and tone on the speakers to a loud, but not too loud level for the room then just use the PC to control it.

 

What about non-PC inputs?

[john]

Loop through the PC, that's what the blue jack is for on them. We input from other sources so rare I cannot remember the last time!

[localzuk]

Loop through the PC, that's what the blue jack is for on them. We input from other sources so rare I cannot remember the last time!

 

Not seen a blue jack on any laptops... We use other sources all the time at our place.

[john]

Not seen a blue jack on any laptops... We use other sources all the time at our place.

 

Multi-Input selector unit works well on them as well, they cost £5 from CPC Job done.

 

But a fixed PC is better than a Laptop in these situations.

[maniac]

We have some rooms with permanetly cabled in DVD/Video players - mainly the science labs and English rooms as those two subjects show a lot of DVDs, and it is awkward to adjust the volume on those speakers with the controls at the rear. Looping through the PC is just adding an un-necessary level of complecation in my opinion.