Minimalist Look

[ivseenbetter]

Ok, I am still working toward building an independent theater room. In the meantime my wife wants to take over the living room and she doesn't want any huge speakers to be seen. I have a 50" plasma. She wants to get one of those AV racks that look like they are "floating" under the TV. This means I will need minimal av equipment in the room. Well, she doesn't care about surround either.

This is what I was thinking:

Get something like the Yamaha YSP-800. It is pretty cheap and it combines LCR into one box with it's own receiver. I figure I can run audio from my DVD player and cable box direct to this speaker. Then I will just run a small switch box going to the TV for the picture for both the cable and DVD. Throw in a decent sub and it should be a decent minimalist system for about $800.

Anybody have any better ideas?

Maybe there is a better single speaker solution than the Yamaha for about the same price? I'm willing to include a shelf for a receiver if I need to but I really have to keep my speaker thin so that it blends with the TV. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[adam71]

I would show the wife whose boss. LOL

 

[no. 5]

From what I've heard, the Yamaha is about the best choice for a single speaker system.

A subwoofer (or two!) would be a highly recommended addition.

 

[sparky77]

How would she feel about In-wall speakers? It might not hurt to ask.

 

[flippo]

mirage

mirage also makes a soundbar

 

[ivseenbetter]

Unfortunately I will not be showing her "who the boss is". We have already agreed that I get an entire great room upstairs to make my theater. She wants the living room to look a certain way and I am happy to give it to her. In the meantime I don't want the place to sound like complete butt. It's a 16.5 ft by 16.5 ft room with 8 ft ceiling. The TV is offcenter on one wall due to a door. I don't want to spend more than 1 thousand but it appears I can get a YSP and subwoofer system for about 550. If somebody can suggest a nice clean looking 2.1 system for around the same price than I might swing in that direction instead. The key is having clean straight lines and a nice finished look.

 

[brulaha]

I would consider the LG LFD790 2.1 channel system. From a looks standpoint it's impressive and it doesn't sound too bad either. I just like a true 2 channel system over sound bars. Just personal preference.

The LG system can be found at best buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8264969&st=lg+2.1&type=product&id=1170289604878

 

[flippo]

mirage

take a look at these:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RyXPeYVKViV/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=653NANSYPB&cm_re=weekly_specials*t3_offer_text*_

 

[no. 5]

The key is having clean straight lines and a nice finished look.

How large? A set of smallish towers may create a satisfying enough experience to negate the need for a sub.

Some ideas for bookshelf's:
NHT Absolute Zero
Mordaunt Short Avant 902i
KEF HTS1001

Towers:
KEF iQ5
Mordaunt Short Avant 904i

Good looking subwoofer:
KEF HTB2

Integrated amplifiers:
Marantz SR4320
Onkyo A9555
Marantz PM7001

These don't all have straight lines, but curves look good too.

 

[Warpdrv]

Has anyone suggested Bose..?

Didn't I hear you say minimalist... ?

 

[3db]

Has anyone suggested Bose..?

Didn't I hear you say minimalist... ?

B??? *plugs my ears* I can't hear you!!!

 

[3db]

Ok, I am still working toward building an independent theater room. In the meantime my wife wants to take over the living room and she doesn't want any huge speakers to be seen. I have a 50" plasma. She wants to get one of those AV racks that look like they are "floating" under the TV. This means I will need minimal av equipment in the room. Well, she doesn't care about surround either.

This is what I was thinking:

Get something like the Yamaha YSP-800. It is pretty cheap and it combines LCR into one box with it's own receiver. I figure I can run audio from my DVD player and cable box direct to this speaker. Then I will just run a small switch box going to the TV for the picture for both the cable and DVD. Throw in a decent sub and it should be a decent minimalist system for about $800.

Anybody have any better ideas?

Maybe there is a better single speaker solution than the Yamaha for about the same price? I'm willing to include a shelf for a receiver if I need to but I really have to keep my speaker thin so that it blends with the TV. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Have you considered in wall? This question was asked before but I don't recall seeing a response from you. Do you think in-walls would be an option?

 

[adam71]

Perhaps you could find something made by Bang and Olufsen. They are the gods of making small equipment that sounds huge.

 

[abefroeman]

How about a pair of Rocket RS250 MKII and a subwoofer?

 

[ivseenbetter]

Have you considered in wall? This question was asked before but I don't recall seeing a response from you. Do you think in-walls would be an option?

I did consider inwall. I like the idea but I am scared to go cutting up my walls as I am not too good at that kind of stuff. Also, right where I have the TV I have a light switch that is next to the TV and beyond that is a door so I would have to relocate the light switch and I don't want to start messing with the internal wiring inside the wall.

 

[ivseenbetter]

How about a pair of Rocket RS250 MKII and a subwoofer?

I did consider those but I don't think she will like having stands in the room and they are too small to put on the ground. It either has to be an onwall solution that is very low profile (which makes me nervous as I don't see how small cones can move enough air to sound decent) or some kind of smart looking floorstanding model.

 

[ivseenbetter]

How large? A set of smallish towers may create a satisfying enough experience to negate the need for a sub.

Some ideas for bookshelf's:
NHT Absolute Zero
Mordaunt Short Avant 902i
KEF HTS1001

Towers:
KEF iQ5
Mordaunt Short Avant 904i

Good looking subwoofer:
KEF HTB2

Integrated amplifiers:
Marantz SR4320
Onkyo A9555
Marantz PM7001

These don't all have straight lines, but curves look good too.

I think I might be able to get her to bite off on the KEF or Moduant solutions you suggested. They are very clean looking speakers. I have never heard these speakers though and now I need to find someplace around here to audition them. I really didn't look at the bookshelf solutions you listed because I don't think she will like having stands. I might run it by her though just to see.

If I go with a tower solution I am not sure I will even need a subwoofer so this may end up saving me money.

 

[mecon]

Look at some Energy or PSB Towers they sound great at a good price.

 

[mazersteven]

How about a pair of Rocket RS250 MKII and a subwoofer?

You could spend the money more wisely on a better pair of speakers then the RS250's. IMO

 

[mazersteven]

Small Speakers For Smart People

Orb Audio

www.orbaudio.com