advice: wall mountable speakers < $400 for 2.1

[timbre-ho!]

I'm piecing together a system for the living room that will be used exclusively for music. The room is 18' x 16' and open on one side to the DR and kitchen. System will be powered by an SVS SB-1000 sub and Denon X-2000 AVR. I need to find wall-mountable speakers that sound great and look nice (to make wife happy). I'm looking at:

HTD Level Two (or Three?) bookshelf
EMP TEK 5Bi (red burl)
Def Tech ProMonitor 1000 (available under budget through craigslist)

Could spend up to $400 but would like to stay at $300 or below (went well over budget with the sub). Any feedback would be appreciated!

 

[rojo]

Have you checked out the classifieds here? These or these would be well worth considering, for example. Also, I've heard the Philharmonic-modded Pioneers are excellent for the money. You'll have to use wall-mount clamp brackets on those, as they have no rear mounting holes.

Edit: Of all the speakers mentioned thusfar, I'd lean toward the HTD and the Def Tech, as all the others are rear-ported, which probably won't allow for proper breathing when wall mounted. Between those two, I'd go for the HTD as they'll have a more solid low end for easier blending with the sub.

One more to consider, if you can stretch your budget a bit for shipping and clamping brackets, look at the MB Quart Alexxa. See the AH review of them. They're a steal on closeout. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?

 

[ecologydoc]

I'm very happy with all my NHT speakers, and they sell an Absolute Wall Speaker for $220. nhthifi.com

 

[timbre-ho!]

thanks rojo. The NHTs Classic Twos are tempting, though possibly a little too big and heavy to wall mount? Those MB Quarts look like a phenomenal deal, but again they may be too large for wall mounting.

Also was considering the Audioengine AP4s in bamboo. They are front ported so no issue there. I have the AE2 speakers on my desk at work and like them a lot.

 

[rojo]

If you're tempted by the MB Quarts, these are the wall mounts I had in mind. At 7 3/4" wide, 12" deep, and 28lbs, the Alexxa bookshelfs are within the published tolerances of the brackets. If you're obsessive, you could lay a strip of rubber shelf liner under them and inside the side clamps to make extra sure there's lots of grip without damaging the finish.

The NHT Classic Twos are threaded for wall mounts like these. Actually, they're pretty light, only 12.7 lbs, according to Crutchfield.

Bamboo would have a pretty high WAF. Those Audioengine AP4s are likewise threaded for the same sort of satellite speaker threaded brackets as the NHT.

 

[zieglj01]

thanks rojo. The NHTs Classic Twos are tempting, though possibly a little too big and heavy to wall mount? Those MB Quarts look like a phenomenal deal, but again they may be too large for wall mounting.

This NHT is 7.2 lbs each
Absolute Wall Speaker | Home Theater | High End Audio

The Focal 705V is 12 lbs each - and is wall mountable
FOCAL CHORUS 705V BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

 

[Drunder40]

I recently got a pair of Energy CB-20 Bookshelf speakers for my 2.1 and wow.. just wow.. Absolutely awesome sound and well under 400 bucks.. Just a thought