Looking for input on choosing small satalite surround speakers.

[cleandan]

I am helping a friend search for some small surround speakers. They just moved into a new house and the room that has been chosen for the tv is kinda small. The wife has made one very important request. "I don't want big speakers", and big to her is anything larger than bookshelf. The system we are talking about is basic off the shelf best buy stuff, so no real audiophile equipment here, but they like it just the same. I have almost zero experience with the small satalite style speakers, except for those I have heard at other houses. I am guessing the total speaker budget is $700-1000, with the cheaper being better. I have informed them that if they are going to use the small satalites they will need a powered sub, and that is ok with them. From talking to them their only real concern is how will the small speakers sound with music. So what is a recommended satalite set up, even the "system in a box" stuff. Thanks and have a great day.

[therockman]

I would highly recommend a complete set-up of INFINITY ENTRA POINT FIVE. This system is listed for $749 in the Crutchfield catalog, and I thing that these Infinitys sound great with music or mvies.

[Clay]

http://www.centurystereo.com/equipment/equipment-speakers.html

The Anthony Gallo are really small, sound good and look cool.
Even Good Guys sells them now.

The smallest (what my wife wants) are invisible speakers - in-wall speakers.
They spread the whole spectrum of cost.
You can use a phantom center (no center)

I am using small monitor audio fronts and small B&W hanging from the ceiling for the rears - this is in your budget with a small sub like Polk.
I went for the best sub available at the time ADS so my bass sounds better than anything else in the theatre set up. (I can rock the house like in road to perdition when the train goes by WOW! - caught me by surprise.

[AudioEnz]

cleandan,

the probem with really small speakers is that they can't go down far enough to meet up with the subwoofer. This leaves a hole in the all-important midrange.

My suggestion is to buy some smaller "real" speakers (such as Paradigms) and add a powered woofer. That way you'll still get a good midrange plus the speakers won't be too big.

[Taurus]

Cleandan: These are actually below your quality requirements, but I'll let you decide:

Radio Shack die-cast aluminum "mini" speaker (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F004%5F003%5 F003&product%5Fid=40%2D5001)

These have RCA's name on them, but for many years (since around 1978) they were part of Radshak's "Minimus" model line. They use a very heavily built woofer that sounds much larger than it really is. It was one of the first of the wave of super mini speakers back then (IIRC, a/d/s & Visonik had designs like this also). It isn't very efficient, but that's because to get that much bass out of such a small woofer, compromises have to be made. But they do go down to 90Hz, which should match up decently with a subwoofer. There is a white version too.

The only big change that I could see over the years was the change to a bass-reflex enclosure (all they did was add a port)--I personally think this wasn't a good idea since usually doing that keeps it from going as low, just to make it a little louder. Oh well.

Anyhoo........I own their big brother, the model with the 5" woofer, which I use as my rear channels. I tried them out in front just to see what they could do, and they have a pleasant & easy-going sound, but nothing ultra detailed (they only cost me $80 each two years ago).

Judging from these speaker's continual price drops lately, I don't think the Shak is going to carry them much longer. My versions are finally gone, along with the 6.5" model too. And their respected "Linneum" speaker line is gone too (they used some unique ribbon tweeters). Bummer.

I always thought five of these little guys and a 8" sub would make a nice budget system for a bedroom, dorm room or study.

[T]

[paul cbc]

I'd look at either some small paradigm's-say the atoms or NHT superzeroes if you can find them. With these small speakers a sub is a must IMHO.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

paul

[Strabo]

If they'd be willing to go with a bookshelf size they could get down to where the sub kicks in.

Depending on how ambitious he is I'd recommend trying a DIY set like these from GR Research (http://www.gr-research.com/performer/av1.htm). $274 per pair with grills.

Or this North Creek (http://www.northcreekmusic.com/OkaraII/OkaraII.htm) bookshelf monitor. Base price $299 per pair, $212 for the center. Total under $850.

This way they could pick the upgrades that they want to afford, and build whatever finish they want.
DIY is upgradable so they can start with the basic parts and hear the difference if they decide to upgrade in the future.

Who know's, might even peak their curiosity for music in the future.

[SVL]

You may want to look at whatever Energy is making in that range today; their Take 5 and Encore sub+sats systems were not bad at all for the money.

[AudioEnz]

Originally posted by SVL
You may want to look at whatever Energy is making in that range today; their Take 5 and Encore sub+sats systems were not bad at all for the money.

The Encore is the best sub-sat system I've heard. There's still a touch a leanness in the lower mids, but not the hole that's often found with sub-sat systems. The Take 5.2 (there's also a Take 5+1 - don't get them confused!) is also good, but has more of a hole.

[Gary]

Originally posted by Taurus
Cleandan: These are actually below your quality requirements, but I'll let you decide:

Radio Shack die-cast aluminum "mini" speaker (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F007%5F004%5F003%5 F003&product%5Fid=40%2D5001)

These have RCA's name on them, but for many years (since around 1978) they were part of Radshak's "Minimus" model line.

Huh! Well I'll be!

Five of these nifty mini-mites are to be the speakers for my TV DVD-V surround system! I just have to get a 1/2 decent 5.1 receiver and then see if I really do need a sub!

Not for audiophile listening but they'll do for fun surround stuff! :)

[oxenholme]

I have gotten rid of my Energy sattelite speakers and sub and replaced them with Monitor Audio Gold 10's - about 36cm x 20cm x 27cm - in a VERY small room. It is beyond belief just how much information the Energy speakers were losing.