Speaker/Soundbar Options with Limited Space

[Space2013]

I've been part of the Audioholics community for a while (shout-out to everyone who gave me excellent advice on setups in the past), but I need some new advice for a more constrained setup.

I recently added a small TV to my home office (TV is on one side of the room, computer setup on the other side of the room). The room is 10x10 feet. The TV sits on a stand with a closet door on one side and an entry door on the other, so there is absolutely no room for speakers. Basically the TV fits perfectly between those two doors, so there is zero space on either side of it. For various reasons, I'd prefer not to wall mount the TV either.

So that leaves me with two options: 1) a small riser that can sit on the existing stand so I can fit speakers under it or 2) a soundbar.

Are there any options I'm missing? And if not, what would everyone here recommend? I won't be using this for music, just gaming and movies. I don't need surround sound - it would be a nice bonus but the surround speakers would have to be very small to fit amongst the other times in the room. My budget is ideally less than $1000, ideally closer to $500.

 

[diwit]

I've been part of the Audioholics community for a while (shout-out to everyone who gave me excellent advice on setups in the past), but I need some new advice for a more constrained setup.

I recently added a small TV to my home office (TV is on one side of the room, computer setup on the other side of the room). The room is 10x10 feet. The TV sits on a stand with a closet door on one side and an entry door on the other, so there is absolutely no room for speakers. Basically the TV fits perfectly between those two doors, so there is zero space on either side of it. For various reasons, I'd prefer not to wall mount the TV either.

So that leaves me with two options: 1) a small riser that can sit on the existing stand so I can fit speakers under it or 2) a soundbar.

Are there any options I'm missing? And if not, what would everyone here recommend? I won't be using this for music, just gaming and movies food grade flooring. I don't need surround sound - it would be a nice bonus but the surround speakers would have to be very small to fit amongst the other times in the room. My budget is ideally less than $1000, ideally closer to $500.

I'm currently in the process of sorting out a media wall, and have been looking at audio options. At the moment, we've got a HQ-Q70T, however I've just realised its got upward firing speakers which are probably going to cause a bit of an issue if its built into a media wall. Can anyone recommend a 5.1 (or greater) system that might have wireless rear speakers, as well as a soundbar that doesn't have upward facing speakers? I did contemplate going for a full surround system, but it seems most of the packages now use soundbars anyway, rather than a separate amp (works in my favour anyway as i dont have room for an amp). I was looking at the Bose 700 but they don't seem to support Atmos like my Q70T If anyone knows of a wireless surround system that doesn't need a huge amp and doesn't have a soundbar, i'd be open to that too!

 

[shadyJ]

I've been part of the Audioholics community for a while (shout-out to everyone who gave me excellent advice on setups in the past), but I need some new advice for a more constrained setup.

I recently added a small TV to my home office (TV is on one side of the room, computer setup on the other side of the room). The room is 10x10 feet. The TV sits on a stand with a closet door on one side and an entry door on the other, so there is absolutely no room for speakers. Basically the TV fits perfectly between those two doors, so there is zero space on either side of it. For various reasons, I'd prefer not to wall mount the TV either.

So that leaves me with two options: 1) a small riser that can sit on the existing stand so I can fit speakers under it or 2) a soundbar.

Are there any options I'm missing? And if not, what would everyone here recommend? I won't be using this for music, just gaming and movies. I don't need surround sound - it would be a nice bonus but the surround speakers would have to be very small to fit amongst the other times in the room. My budget is ideally less than $1000, ideally closer to $500.

I would just get a soundbar. Those circumstances are not going to allow you get a great sound, so don't spend a lot of money fighting the situation there. The soundbars from all the major speaker manufacturers are likely competent designs, so I would look at them: Polk, Klipsch, Yamaha, Bose, Sony, Harman: they are all probably fine.

 

[Space2013]

I would just get a soundbar. Those circumstances are not going to allow you get a great sound, so don't spend a lot of money fighting the situation there. The soundbars from all the major speaker manufacturers are likely competent designs, so I would look at them: Polk, Klipsch, Yamaha, Bose, Sony, Harman: they are all probably fine.

Thanks. That is what I figured was the best solution. Never gone the soundbar route before, but at least it will be an improvement of the TV speakers.

I could theoretically get the TV high enough to fit some bookshelf speakers underneath, but I’m assuming they will be so close together I still won’t get great sound, correct?

 

[shadyJ]

Thanks. That is what I figured was the best solution. Never gone the soundbar route before, but at least it will be an improvement of the TV speakers.

I could theoretically get the TV high enough to fit some bookshelf speakers underneath, but I’m assuming they will be so close together I still won’t get great sound, correct?

Speakers will get you more dynamic range and more extension, but they will sound very congested in the acoustic situation you described. Plus, you will get essentially a monophonic sound.

 

[Wardog555]

Did you consider rearranging the room in any capacity?

I'd find a way to accommodate speakers rather than a bar of tiny speaker drivers.

 

[Space2013]

I have looked into rearranging the room, but this 10x10 room is also my office, so the desk setup takes priority (I have powered JBL speakers with the computer for music listening). The TV is there as a larger screen for gaming and some TV/movie watching. Unfortunately there isn’t much else I can do with the setup, the room is pretty small And the doors and windows don’t leave a lot of wall space.

That being said, it is a small TV that I sit pretty close to, probably around 3-5 feet (it really is used more like an oversized monitor for games). So maybe even with the narrow width (~43 inches) maybe I could get two decent bookshelf speakers in there if I raise the TV up?

 

[ben_]

If this is all nearfield, why not just use the JBL speakers for everything?

 

[Space2013]

If this is all nearfield, why not just use the JBL speakers for everything?

The computer speakers are setup anround the primary monitor and the TV cannot face the same direction in the room. So the speakers will be off to one side or behind me when I face the TV. Just limitations of the small room. So I need separate speakers for the TV because it will always face a different direction.

 

[lovinthehd]

What is your monitor setup?

 

[Space2013]

My computer is setup with two monitors, a couple laptop and tower computers as well as a bunch of other things on a big desk. I have two JBL speakers setup on the desk to use with the computers. Those speakers are great for music and all my computer work (as well as some gaming). The TV is on another wall in the same room. I use the TV for gaming and watching shows. I don’t use the TV for desktop work because it is a bit too big, but I love it for gaming as it is an OLED. The dual-purpose setup is great except for the sound. The room is too small to have the desk and TV on the same wall. I often use headphones while gaming so it isn’t a huge deal, but sometimes I like to use the TV without headphones and the built in speakers really ruin the experience for me. Thus my current situation. I want to improve the sound on the TV but with very limited space. It seems like a soundbar is the best solution, although I was thinking maybe I could squeeze in some RSL speakers under the TV if I were able to raise it up a bit.