We have a large dining kitchen with a pair of ones in the working area as a stereo pair. All is OK with music but we often listen to voice, pod casts and radio. It is almost impossible to listen to spoken material over kettle boiling or extractor fan without raising volume to uncomfortable levels.
I have tried adjusting bass / treble and speaker positioning, but to no great effect, in the eating area we have a beam which is much better when playing the same material. When my son was visiting at Christmas he said he had the same problem. The problem is such that I am considering a change of system in this location.
In an experiment we tried a large vintage Bush transistor radio with FM ( over 60 years old ) which had no problem producing sufficient volume and clarity, as well as a surprisingly good music reproduction, it is a large radio with a large speaker and simple but effective tone control.
I have a range of sonos speakers throughout my house including an Arc which I like very much.
Suggestion welcome.