Need advice for nearfield setup. Pics included.

[Patrick_Wolf]

I'm in the process of upgrading my "home theater" (see sig) and before I start considering speakers I need to know what would be overkill for my setup.

I have low vision (but good hearing ) and optimum viewing for me is rouhly 1.5ft from a 32in screen. Yes, it's very close.

Pics of my rat's nest. Dimensions are 18x12x7 (LxWxH) w/ opening into kitchen.

I know I need bookshelf/satelite speakers, but is their certain specs I should be looking for? Like a certain woofer size?

 

[droht]

I think conventional wisdom for near field is to stay away from speakers that tend to be bright. Horn tweeters, for example, would probably not be best. You can certainly get away with smaller speakers, but you need to provide a bit more info to get some solid recommendations. What is your budget? What about a subwoofer? What will you be powering speakers with?

 

[Mike19]

Energy Take Classic 5.1 system - $400

http://www.crutchfield.com/app/product/search/searchresults.aspx?us=2&SearchTab=Shop&search=Energy+speakers&x=16&y=10

 

[Seth=L]

Energy Take Classic 5.1 system - $400

http://www.crutchfield.com/app/product/search/searchresults.aspx?us=2&SearchTab=Shop&search=Energy+speakers&x=16&y=10

I concur, excellent price as well. H.H. Gregg is running that same price in store this week while supplies last.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

I think conventional wisdom for near field is to stay away from speakers that tend to be bright. Horn tweeters, for example, would probably not be best. You can certainly get away with smaller speakers, but you need to provide a bit more info to get some solid recommendations. What is your budget? What about a subwoofer? What will you be powering speakers with?

Thanks for the replies.

I'd like to pick out speakers first before I get into the sub and receiver (though I do have a few of both in mind). How much I spend on speakers will affect how much I spend on the sub & receiver.

I'm not really looking for suggestions just yet, I have a very good idea of what they would be anyway (Energy Take Classic for one ). But I guess my question is would getting, for example, speakers with a 6.5" woofer be over overkill considering how close I'm sitting? Or doesn't it really matter as I can always adjust the volume? Maybe this is a dumb question?

 

[droht]

Thanks for the replies.

I'd like to pick out speakers first before I get into the sub and receiver (though I do have a few of both in mind). How much I spend on speakers will affect how much I spend on the sub & receiver.

I'm not really looking for suggestions just yet, I have a very good idea of what they would be anyway (Energy Take Classic for one ). But I guess my question is would getting, for example, speakers with a 6.5" woofer be over overkill considering how close I'm sitting? Or doesn't it really matter as I can always adjust the volume? Maybe this is a dumb question?

I don't think the woofer size matters in and of itself, especially if you are going to add a sub. Size and placement can be issues, so smaller woofer size might help.

My concern with somethinkg like the Energy system would be limited low end and asking sub to do more than it reasonably can without being easily localized. In your shoes I'd be thinking about small-ish monitors, no center, and satellite style surrounds. It's pretty easy to get great imaging near-field, so if you invest more in a pair of quality front speakers I think it will be best bang for your buck.

 

[fredk]

I don't know anything about imaging in a nearfield application, but I agree with droht. Focus on a quality set of bookshelves that go low enough to integrate well with a sub.

The size of the driver does not matter, its the quality of sound it puts out and how well it is integrated with the other drivers in the speaker that is important.

There were a couple of very good threads on bookshelf speakers in the last couple of months. Do a search for bookshelf in the threat title and they will pop up.
Edit: Personally I would look for bookshelves that reach down to at least 60Hz so you can set the crossover in the 80Hz region. 115Hz is no where near low enough for your mains.

 

[Boonaroo]

I have had a very nearfield system in my office before. I used the Insignia speakers available at the big brick and morter store. They worked wonderful.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Cool, thanks guys.

Well, I want/need 5.1 and my budget for speakers is set tightly around $650 (was at $400 before I came to this damned forum!) and $350 ($150 before!) for a sub . But this setup has to last a long time so I'll deal with the bump in cost. I will not expand to anything over 5.1. Usage being 90% movies/games, 10% music.

My receiver budget is $300 and the receivers I was most interested in, for price & features, are the new Pioneer VSX-519V($200) and VSX-819H($300), but then I saw the Marantz SR4003 recertified for $350 at A4L. If the Marantz has a better amp (better SQ?) then I'll go for it. I don't need it to decode the HD formats (player decodes them), but it needs to accept PCM via HDMI.

My list thus far:
1) Aperion Intimus 4Bs/4C - $680 new, $604 if I get the 4Bs from B-Stock -- Small & attractive, but stingy on freq. response. 120Hz-20kHz
2) SVS SBS-01 5.0 set - $641 shipped -- Rather large, but no doubt would blow away my current Klipsch
3) Energy CB-10 mains/CB-5 rears/CC-10 center - $620 shipped (B-Stock), or CB-5s/CC-5 $560 shipped -- My favorite 2 options so far due to size, asthetics, price, reputation.
4) Ascend HTM-200 SEs/HTM-200 SE C - $664 shipped -- Good rep, nice looks. Great dimensions, except kinda tall especially for the rears. But I could get smaller, cheaper rears instead.

Any thoughts or other suggesions?

 

[just-some-guy]

you should get mains that have descent bass = 6 1/2" woofer. unless you can put the sub right behind the tv.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

you should get mains that have descent bass = 6 1/2" woofer. unless you can put the sub right behind the tv.

I'll put the sub where ever it sounds best using the crawl test. Not just plop it next to my desk like I have it now.

 

[droht]

Cool, thanks guys.

Well, I want/need 5.1 and my budget for speakers is set tightly around $650 (was at $400 before I came to this damned forum!) and $350 ($150 before!) for a sub . But this setup has to last a long time so I'll deal with the bump in cost. I will not expand to anything over 5.1. Usage being 90% movies/games, 10% music.

My receiver budget is $300 and the receivers I was most interested in, for price & features, are the new Pioneer VSX-519V($200) and VSX-819H($300), but then I saw the Marantz SR4003 recertified for $350 at A4L. If the Marantz has a better amp (better SQ?) then I'll go for it. I don't need it to decode the HD formats (player decodes them), but it needs to accept PCM via HDMI.

My list thus far:
1) Aperion Intimus 4Bs/4C - $680 new, $604 if I get the 4Bs from B-Stock -- Small & attractive, but stingy on freq. response. 120Hz-20kHz
2) SVS SBS-01 5.0 set - $641 shipped -- Rather large, but no doubt would blow away my current Klipsch
3) Energy CB-10 mains/CB-5 rears/CC-10 center - $620 shipped (B-Stock), or CB-5s/CC-5 $560 shipped -- My favorite 2 options so far due to size, asthetics, price, reputation.
4) Ascend HTM-200 SEs/HTM-200 SE C - $664 shipped -- Good rep, nice looks. Great dimensions, except kinda tall especially for the rears. But I could get smaller, cheaper rears instead.

Any thoughts or other suggesions?

With $650 for speakers I would do the following:

Buy this pair of red Usher S520s for $350 + shipping (maybe negotiate down a bit). <I have no affiliation with seller>

Pick up a cheaper, small pair for surrounds, maybe around $100.

This leaves $100+ in the budget. I'd skip the center. No way you need it with decent bookshelves at 1.5 ft. And the Ushers are way better than decent, imho. Use some of that left over cash for Auralex Mo-Pads; $40 from Sweetwater. Nice improvement in sound quality and makes it very easy to get tweeter pointed at right height and angle.

Specs on the Ushers:
2-way system tweeter 1" (UA025-10), mid-bass 5" (KSW2-5029B)
Sensitivity 86 dB @ 1 watt / 1m
Nominal impedance 8 ohms
Frequency response (-3 dB) 52 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Power handling 75 watts
Crossover frequencies 2 kHz
Weight 15 lbs
Dimensions (w x d x h) 7.09" x 10.43" x 11.81"

 

[jamie2112]

2 of these should fit into that room nicely http://www.wilsonaudio.com/images/alexandria/Enlargements/alex_s2_loc_full_2.jpg

Just kiddin but they would shake the room no doubt....

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

2 of these should fit into that room nicely http://www.wilsonaudio.com/images/alexandria/Enlargements/alex_s2_loc_full_2.jpg

Just kiddin but they would shake the room no doubt....

Wow, you think it would also clean my room?

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

With $650 for speakers I would do the following:

Buy this pair of red Usher S520s for $350 + shipping (maybe negotiate down a bit). <I have no affiliation with seller>

Pick up a cheaper, small pair for surrounds, maybe around $100.

This leaves $100+ in the budget. I'd skip the center. No way you need it with decent bookshelves at 1.5 ft. And the Ushers are way better than decent, imho. Use some of that left over cash for Auralex Mo-Pads; $40 from Sweetwater. Nice improvement in sound quality and makes it very easy to get tweeter pointed at right height and angle.

I'll pass on the "red" Ushers, but the MoPads look like just the thing I need to angle my speakers.

 

[jamie2112]

Wow, you think it would also clean my room?

Actually they would blow everthing that wasn't tied down out of your.....so to answer your question...Yes it would in no uncertain terms....
Mopads are great for putting an angle on your spaekers..

 

[fredk]

Mopads are great for putting an angle on your spaekers

So are hokey pucks... so I hear.

 

[lsiberian]

Cool, thanks guys.

Well, I want/need 5.1 and my budget for speakers is set tightly around $650 (was at $400 before I came to this damned forum!) and $350 ($150 before!) for a sub . But this setup has to last a long time so I'll deal with the bump in cost. I will not expand to anything over 5.1. Usage being 90% movies/games, 10% music.

My receiver budget is $300 and the receivers I was most interested in, for price & features, are the new Pioneer VSX-519V($200) and VSX-819H($300), but then I saw the Marantz SR4003 recertified for $350 at A4L. If the Marantz has a better amp (better SQ?) then I'll go for it. I don't need it to decode the HD formats (player decodes them), but it needs to accept PCM via HDMI.

My list thus far:
1) Aperion Intimus 4Bs/4C - $680 new, $604 if I get the 4Bs from B-Stock -- Small & attractive, but stingy on freq. response. 120Hz-20kHz
2) SVS SBS-01 5.0 set - $641 shipped -- Rather large, but no doubt would blow away my current Klipsch
3) Energy CB-10 mains/CB-5 rears/CC-10 center - $620 shipped (B-Stock), or CB-5s/CC-5 $560 shipped -- My favorite 2 options so far due to size, asthetics, price, reputation.
4) Ascend HTM-200 SEs/HTM-200 SE C - $664 shipped -- Good rep, nice looks. Great dimensions, except kinda tall especially for the rears. But I could get smaller, cheaper rears instead.

Any thoughts or other suggesions?

The best small speaker setup I've heard is the KEF 3005 series. You can get just the speakers and look for another sub.

A4lless is the place to get them. The nice thing is you can get all your KEF speakers and receiver together.

They had a full set with receiver, cable, and great speakers for around 1000 bucks of KEFs all you would need is a sub.

and the 4002 is the same receiver basically but 100 dollars less.

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Uhhh, too many possiblities! I'll lose my freakin mind before ever making a decison.

Thanks for the replies so far though.

I'm still really interested in Energy. AH needs some pro reviews of some Energy speakers! I found one from back in 2000 that was... unfavorable.

There was this Budget Bookshelf Shootout recently which stated:

Of the 9 pairs evaluated, only 7 were really considered competitors...

I would say the C-50 and C-100 are very budgety (even the newer CB-5 & CB-10) Were they among the 2 omitted I wonder?