As the title says, I am looking for some recommendations. The wife and I bought a new home that we close on at the end of the month and the main living area is set up exceptionally well for a TV. Nice mount integrated above the fireplace with a smurf tunnel and some very nice recessed shelves below with clear glass doors for the cable box, BR player, receiver, etc.
However, we have one large factor that is driving me towards a simple wall mounted speaker solution: our 6 month old son. I don't want towers or stands for him to risk pulling over an hurting himself. I could live with any speaker damage that may come, but if something were to happen to him, I'd never forgive myself. So here are the details and goals:
Details
The room is 16x17 with essentially 3.5 walls. The 1/2 wall missing is at the rear (based on TV orientation) leading into the kitchen. The speakers will be wall mounted on the L and R of the TV. They will likely be powered by an older Denon.
Goals
Handle general TV and movie watching. This setup will be a 55" or 60" LED that will get A LOT of use. Think everything from having the TV on during cooking, hosting guests, to kids programming and sports with the primary source being cable. Likely even some music from chromecast/pandora/songza/etc.
What that means to me is the ability to handle dialogue and sound with a well-balanced approach that can provide good volume to still hear in the kitchen but not get muddled. We all know how variable cable programming can be, so these really need to just be a well rounded speaker.
These speakers will never have a sub added. They will never be expanded into a 5.0 or 5.1 setup. It is very likely these speakers will be mounted and never be taken down for 15-20 years, assuming they last that long. I will have a full 7.2 setup with my 65" VT30 and eventually a projector in the media room, so I have the full theater experience covered elsewhere.
Form factor is important for me (not just for WAF, but aesthetics really). A white speaker would look nice, but I could easily get away with black. I'd prefer something flatter.
The speakers MUST be less than $1,000 for both. I'd really love to be around $600-$700. Also, a soundbar is out, there is no provision to mount the bar below or above the TV without drilling the mantle/woodwork, which I won't do.
I really like the looks of the Axiom M22s. The price is right and they seem to be decently well reviewed. I have never heard them however.
Thank you all in advance!