Hi guys.

I’m hoping I get can get some guidance and discussion here for a space I am working on which needs to be extremely aesthetic and still sound good! I’m understand there will be a compromise somewhere but it’s trying to design it out as much as I can. Let me know if you know of a setup that might work and how to best design joinery for this

As a preface I would like to mention that I am an engineer and I will be building the joinery myself  with the help of a cnc machine. I am also at the start of my hi fi journey so  I’m looking to get pretty much the whole setup  ideally pre-loved so I can stretch the budget as far as it will go. I’m hoping for end game speakers and good electronics without a need to upgrade too soon!

I have large holiday house on the mornington peninsula where we have a lot of family and friends over so it’s quite a social place and I’m trying to setup a wall as a library/bar/listening wall. Attached is the floor plan and some photos currently and it will the wall adjoining the cinema room. The study area will be demolished.

The wall is 4.4m x 3m and the area  im trying to setup is 5.4 m wide and 6 m long and that leads into another 7 x 5.4 m space with just 1 m walls in the middle so it’s quite a large open plan area.

The speakers need to be a part of the wall so if I have monitors there will be mounted into the wall (soffit style might be an option if I can work out how to do it?) or have an alcove with the speakers sitting proud by a touch. Renders are attached with some Chat Gpt help.  The cables will all run behind the joinery wall and I can acoustically treat and separate sections of this wall. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them!

I’m thinking a streamer and vinyl player going into a pre amp into a class a or a/b power amp into external crossover into speakers and sub if required

So far I have worked out I like an energetic sound and filling the space and feeling the music. I’m not sure if I love a super bright high tweeter either. Because of the size of the space I’m leaning towards the bigger sized speakers. Would love your thoughts if you have any ideas on the best setup here.

So far on my shortlist are jbl 43 or 44 series speakers possibly with a 2245 sub (do I need two?) the Osborn speakers or some audio solutions Figaro XLs. I need to listen to some JBLs if I can find them in good nick. If you have any leads on some for sale let me know.

Other than that I would love to know of amps that would match up.  Again on my list are elektra reference hd amps or similar around that range unless someone can tell me more info?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)

Edited January 25Jan 25 by Csgup1
Update info :)

If I recall correctly, Floyd Toole integrated Revel Salon Ultima speakers into his listening room wall (turned upside down iirc!). There are some pictures on google image search: link

There is also a discussion about his set up on ASR, some of which might be relevant for you: link

Not sure how Osborn speakers would react to embedding in the wall but plenty of Osborn owners here on SNA.

Might also be worth checking in with Alan March how he thinks his amps/speakers would suit your situation: link because he approaches things via the scientific angle.

Overbright speakers arguably are not that common, and you could also tame the HF sound power via DSP. But overall it seems that a more studio-style speaker might suit you better than one needing lots of air around it (horns or high density cabinet like Magico).

In terms of amps & electronics a consideration beyond their audio performance is accessibility, user friendliness for family & friends. With some grunty class D amps and an intuitive streamer with display pre-amp one wouldn't be too anxious about over-eager visitors accidentally damaging electronics (e.g. tube amps or other audio jewels).

I like your mock-up pictures, the JBL look much nicer integrated; and big thumbs-up for eschewing a TV!

The stuff for sale in the SNA classifieds at times is mind boggling, e.g. the MBL speakers by @Eggmeister or the AR amps by @Ittaku (not sure either of those fit your use case), really worth checking the classifieds regularly. With the kind of money you are prepared to spend many of the local Hifi shops will also make you very attractive deals (Clef hifi's ProAc speaker + amp bundles come to mind).

Let us know your next moves.

Cheers, Steff

Thanks Steff. Those links are great!

Yes I’m thinking of a food streamer/dac ideally built in with Dirac unless there’s another way to add Dirac? With the way the room is, it would be ideal to have that. Again a compromise for sound but might be needed in the space with the way it is.

Those MBL speakers look amazing as well but quite out of the price range atm. I was thinking more on the elektra reference hd if people have experience with them to be musical? I was thinking more a class a or a/b amp with some decent grunt?

I will have them fairly high up out of kids reach but still on display. I have no experience with tube amps but would like them to be fairly idiot proof.

I’m Definitely keeping a close eye on the classifieds section to see if something would suit as well :)

You could look at the range from Adelaide speakers or Osbourne speakers , they do similar to want you looking for ?

Another option and perhaps easier to integrate with what you want to might be bookshelves and subwoofers

Probably be best to have any bass ports out to the front

Have fun

41 minutes ago, cafe67 said:

You could look at the range from Adelaide speakers or Osbourne speakers , they do similar to want you looking for ?

Another option and perhaps easier to integrate with what you want to might be bookshelves and subwoofers

Probably be best to have any bass ports out to the front

Have fun

Thank you. Yes, the grand monuments are on my list if I can find a pair in my budget, but I was also looking at some of the JBL 4343 or 4344s with the front ports, I think, combined with a 2245 subwoofer and an external crossover?

fwiw...imo.. etc...the retro JBL, black or blue front baffle, soffit mounted, large bass driver vibe would be most in keeping. Pref with high biased Class A SS or toob amps. And if possible predominantly physical media (rekkids and/or CDs) but also some streaming for when that is convenient.

Quick pics below from a J visit last year, and oodles of inspiration in the Jazz Kissa magazines, or online

This is a dream project. An engineer with a CNC machine, a massive open-plan space on the Peninsula, and a hunger for "end-game" sound? You’re speaking my language.

The Mornington Peninsula house looks stunning, but that much glass and open space is an acoustic minefield. You aren't just building a library; you’re building a 3-meter tall acoustic baffle.

Here is the "Audio Bro" engineering breakdown for your listening wall:

1. The "Soffit" vs. "Alcove" Debate

Since you’re CNC-ing the joinery, go for a modified soffit (In-wall) mount. Why: True soffit mounting eliminates the "Baffle Step" (where sound wraps around the speaker and bounces off the wall behind it), causing muddy low-mids.

• The Engineer’s Trap: Do not build a tight wooden box around the speaker. It will resonate like a drum. You need to line the "alcove" with high-density rockwool or recycled PET panels and leave a 25mm-50mm air gap around the speaker to prevent "cabinet-within-a-cabinet" resonance.

2. The Gear: JBL vs. Osborn

You mentioned you like "energetic" and "feeling the music" but hate "bright tweeters."

• JBL 43/44 Series: These are the kings of "dynamic slam." However, those compression drivers can be "shouty" in a room with that much glass (Image 5 & 6). If you go JBL, you’ll need heavy drapes or serious DSP to taming the high-end reflections.

• Osborn Speakers: Being local to Melbourne, Greg Osborn’s speakers are legendary for filling massive rooms. They use high-quality Focal or Lead-lined cabinets that provide a much "smoother" top end than vintage JBL horns while still moving massive amounts of air.

• The Sub Question: In an open-plan space of 70m²+, you need two subs. One 2245 is a beast, but two subs allow you to cancel out the "room modes" (the spots where bass disappears or becomes boomy).

3. The "Wall" Engineering

Because the wall adjoins a Cinema room, you have a massive opportunity:

• Acoustic Transparency: Don't make the entire 4.4m wall solid wood. CNC some slotted or perforated patterns into sections of the library. Behind those slots, hide 100mm thick acoustic absorption. This turns your "bookshelf" into a massive bass trap without looking like a recording studio.

• Mass is King: Use double-thickness MDF or high-grade Birch ply for the speaker sections. If the joinery isn't heavy and inert, the JBLs will make your whiskey bottles on the bar rattle like a tambourine.

4. The Power

The Elektra Reference HD is a fantastic Aussie-made choice. It’s high-current and "musical" without being clinical. It will drive the big JBLs or Osborns with ease. Pair it with a pre-amp that has HT-Bypass so you can integrate this "Social Wall" with your Cinema processor if needed.

Any other questions let me and congrats this is EPIC..

On 25/01/2026 at 2:11 AM, Csgup1 said:

Hi guys.

I’m hoping I get can get some guidance and discussion here for a space I am working on which needs to be extremely aesthetic and still sound good! I’m understand there will be a compromise somewhere but it’s trying to design it out as much as I can. Let me know if you know of a setup that might work and how to best design joinery for this

As a preface I would like to mention that I am an engineer and I will be building the joinery myself  with the help of a cnc machine. I am also at the start of my hi fi journey so  I’m looking to get pretty much the whole setup  ideally pre-loved so I can stretch the budget as far as it will go. I’m hoping for end game speakers and good electronics without a need to upgrade too soon!

I have large holiday house on the mornington peninsula where we have a lot of family and friends over so it’s quite a social place and I’m trying to setup a wall as a library/bar/listening wall. Attached is the floor plan and some photos currently and it will the wall adjoining the cinema room. The study area will be demolished.

The wall is 4.4m x 3m and the area  im trying to setup is 5.4 m wide and 6 m long and that leads into another 7 x 5.4 m space with just 1 m walls in the middle so it’s quite a large open plan area.

The speakers need to be a part of the wall so if I have monitors there will be mounted into the wall (soffit style might be an option if I can work out how to do it?) or have an alcove with the speakers sitting proud by a touch. Renders are attached with some Chat Gpt help.  The cables will all run behind the joinery wall and I can acoustically treat and separate sections of this wall. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them!

I’m thinking a streamer and vinyl player going into a pre amp into a class a or a/b power amp into external crossover into speakers and sub if required

So far I have worked out I like an energetic sound and filling the space and feeling the music. I’m not sure if I love a super bright high tweeter either. Because of the size of the space I’m leaning towards the bigger sized speakers. Would love your thoughts if you have any ideas on the best setup here.

So far on my shortlist are jbl 43 or 44 series speakers possibly with a 2245 sub (do I need two?) the Osborn speakers or some audio solutions Figaro XLs. I need to listen to some JBLs if I can find them in good nick. If you have any leads on some for sale let me know.

Other than that I would love to know of amps that would match up.  Again on my list are elektra reference hd amps or similar around that range unless someone can tell me more info?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts :)

Recently opened as part of the Merivale Group where Lily Blacks cocktail bar used to be in Myers Place...

For Jazz bar look- Go JBL's or Tannoys (top of the line) Canterbury/Cheviot/Kensington.
Lot's of speakers out there will sound just as good if not better (Osborns being one of them) but just don't look the part.

Amps: I think you will need to try a few before you settle on the right flavour for the speakers.

With your space you should set it up behind the bar (you have room for one)

INVITE ME over for drinks when you do?

@Csgup1 i'm seeing it now....with some clever joinery, hidden cupboards, etc ----> highly tax deductible WFH space* during the day 😜----> Speakeasy jazz bar by night 😏

Now...just hurry up and get it done...and INVITE ME too 😁

*all advice is general in nature and does not take into consideration your personal circumstances

17 hours ago, apu said:

This is a dream project. An engineer with a CNC machine, a massive open-plan space on the Peninsula, and a hunger for "end-game" sound? You’re speaking my language.

The Mornington Peninsula house looks stunning, but that much glass and open space is an acoustic minefield. You aren't just building a library; you’re building a 3-meter tall acoustic baffle.

Here is the "Audio Bro" engineering breakdown for your listening wall:

1. The "Soffit" vs. "Alcove" Debate

Since you’re CNC-ing the joinery, go for a modified soffit (In-wall) mount. Why: True soffit mounting eliminates the "Baffle Step" (where sound wraps around the speaker and bounces off the wall behind it), causing muddy low-mids.

• The Engineer’s Trap: Do not build a tight wooden box around the speaker. It will resonate like a drum. You need to line the "alcove" with high-density rockwool or recycled PET panels and leave a 25mm-50mm air gap around the speaker to prevent "cabinet-within-a-cabinet" resonance.

2. The Gear: JBL vs. Osborn

You mentioned you like "energetic" and "feeling the music" but hate "bright tweeters."

• JBL 43/44 Series: These are the kings of "dynamic slam." However, those compression drivers can be "shouty" in a room with that much glass (Image 5 & 6). If you go JBL, you’ll need heavy drapes or serious DSP to taming the high-end reflections.

• Osborn Speakers: Being local to Melbourne, Greg Osborn’s speakers are legendary for filling massive rooms. They use high-quality Focal or Lead-lined cabinets that provide a much "smoother" top end than vintage JBL horns while still moving massive amounts of air.

• The Sub Question: In an open-plan space of 70m²+, you need two subs. One 2245 is a beast, but two subs allow you to cancel out the "room modes" (the spots where bass disappears or becomes boomy).

3. The "Wall" Engineering

Because the wall adjoins a Cinema room, you have a massive opportunity:

• Acoustic Transparency: Don't make the entire 4.4m wall solid wood. CNC some slotted or perforated patterns into sections of the library. Behind those slots, hide 100mm thick acoustic absorption. This turns your "bookshelf" into a massive bass trap without looking like a recording studio.

• Mass is King: Use double-thickness MDF or high-grade Birch ply for the speaker sections. If the joinery isn't heavy and inert, the JBLs will make your whiskey bottles on the bar rattle like a tambourine.

4. The Power

The Elektra Reference HD is a fantastic Aussie-made choice. It’s high-current and "musical" without being clinical. It will drive the big JBLs or Osborns with ease. Pair it with a pre-amp that has HT-Bypass so you can integrate this "Social Wall" with your Cinema processor if needed.

Any other questions let me and congrats this is EPIC..

Haha. Yes whoever is happy to help me out with the project is very welcome to come use the space. Its 6 bedrooms so plenty of space. With the number of family and friends it hosts, the sound requirement is more excellent quality social sound like a jazz kissa bar vibe than a super critical listening sound in the one perfect spot in the rooms

Thanks, Apu, for the tips. I think I'm thinking along the same lines. I love the idea of this link below for a separate speaker bays as wel,l but not sure how easy it would be to execute. Any ideas if someone in australia can build things like this?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGs9I8WNi0L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I'm only going to be using birch ply for the project rather than MDF. So far, the idea is to build multiple bays against the wall and work out how to decouple them from each other. The speaker bays Im thinking will involve double-thickness cabinets that are lined with acoustic material, which will house the speakers.

The speakers I'm planning to rest on something like Auva speaker isolators as well. Then I can fit a front panel around the speakers with a gap so it's kind of like a semi soffit mount? The other stuff I'm seeing built is walls with concrete and springs but I'm not sure if I need to go that extreme?

With regards to the rest of the media wall, Ill try and bolster it with acoustic absorption the best I can. Ive heard books are excellent as is, but I will have a bit of room behind the library sections to insulate.

The rest of the walls I can work with aesthetic finishes as much as I can but have to still keep it wife-approved for big social space.

If you have any more ideas let me know!

Regards

Taj

On 06/02/2026 at 5:45 AM, Lil Caesar said:

Recently opened as part of the Merivale Group where Lily Blacks cocktail bar used to be in Myers Place...

Are these 4350s? I neeed to drop past a few of these places if anyone wants to join. Theres bar selecta, music room and Sabi sounds as well on the list

I think I’ll check out the Pitt and giblin setups for some of the places in Melbourne as well :)

6 hours ago, Csgup1 said:

I think I’ll check out the Pitt and giblin setups for some of the places in Melbourne as well :)

Another option could be the fyne range of speakers, they do designs similar to tannoy.

https://www.fyneaudio.com