Low End Surround Sound Speaker Selection: Best Bang for $500

[SoCalAudioNewb]

Thanks everyone who posted on this thread - your expertise has been invaluable. I like the Take Classic speakers that markw and others suggested, and they are currently installed in my living room. This process opened my eyes to how little I know on the subject, and I am excited to lurk through lots more threads on AH to build my knowledge level. I am still excited to hear the SVS speakers that Isiberian suggested, but for now the $99 shipping fee is cost prohibitive for me to try them out. Likewise, I am excited to hear the Behringer 2030P monitors that WmAx reccomended, but I called 15 brick and mortar stores that were listed on Behringer's website and none of them have these in stock.

So for now I am going to stick with the Take 5 Classics, and once I know enough to know what I am missing (and have a budget to buy it), I will inevitably be looking at upgrades.

Thanks again everyone for all your help!!

 

[bo-cephus]

First, I don't appreciate all the prejudgment. You clearly don't know us and our budgets. Yet you choose to assume a lot of things that are just untrue. We have one goal. Help people find the speakers that meet their requirements with the best sound possible.

I can tailor solutions to you if your willing to work with us.

Now on size constraints would a normal bookshelf size speaker be ok for the fronts? If so I will suggest you look at the KEF iQ1s and pair them with the KEF iQ8s.

That setup would be a very nice mid-fi system. With dipole type surrounds and good 2-ways on the front.

I do suggest you look at KEF products. They make the best small speaker on the market IMO.

Also please take a look at craigslist. Type KEF in and see if anything hits.

I got my speakers for 1/5th their retail price. IOTW I got 800 dollars of speaker for 160. So do check it out. Use posts here for speaker brands.

A little off topic, but re: your first sentence, I think I can relate to his sentiments a bit. I try to read alot here, and I still consider myself in the "a little knowledge is dangerous" category. Through not fault of your (collective) own, posting here can be a little intimidating. For me, it's simply because I realize how much more most here know than me. I appreciate you stating the goal of yourself and many here is to help, but it still can be intimidating. For me it's not a "pre-judgement" of you folks, but a realization of how far I have to go to "hang".

Regardless, thanks for helping. It truly is appreciated.

 

[bo-cephus]

I concur with jaime2112. I would definitely recommend demoing some bookshelf speakers and you may want to bring the wife. Honestly, if you get a nice stand bookshelf speakers can look nice. I would personally push for them if I were you.

And how in the world are you going to get your wife to buy into letting you get a subwoofer

It's not a subwoofer - it's an end table...

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

Internet Direct

As others may have mentioned already you can try ID brands that do in-home trials:

Energy - They just opened their online store and don't have every speaker available, but free shipping both ways. Nothing to lose!

Axiom - Return shipping isn't free, but it seems fairly cheap.

The Speaker Company - Free shipping both ways.

Aperion - Free shipping both ways.

Personally I haven't heard ANY of these speakers because I too am in search of a better sound system. I am interested in Energy though so I think I'll be trying out the Energy CB-10s.

Also I think the C series is being discountinued and replaced by the CB variants. As such the C series of speakers can be found very cheap. See Vanns.

 

[SoCalAudioNewb]

As others may have mentioned already you can try ID brands that do in-home trials:

Energy - They just opened their online store and don't have every speaker available, but free shipping both ways. Nothing to lose!

Axiom - Return shipping isn't free, but it seems fairly cheap.

The Speaker Company - Free shipping both ways.

Aperion - Free shipping both ways.

Personally I haven't heard ANY of these speakers because I too am in search of a better sound system. I am interested in Energy though so I think I'll be trying out the Energy CB-10s.

Also I think the C series is being discountinued and replaced by the CB variants. As such the C series of speakers can be found very cheap. See Vanns.

Awesome suggestion Patrick. Hearing the product is important, and high shipping charges are a barrier to that. This will give me the peace of mind to buy stuff after I research it a lot, knowing that if something doesn't meet my expectations, I can return it.

Happy Cinco de Mayo Audioholics!

 

[lsiberian]

Thanks everyone who posted on this thread - your expertise has been invaluable. I like the Take Classic speakers that markw and others suggested, and they are currently installed in my living room. This process opened my eyes to how little I know on the subject, and I am excited to lurk through lots more threads on AH to build my knowledge level. I am still excited to hear the SVS speakers that Isiberian suggested, but for now the $99 shipping fee is cost prohibitive for me to try them out. Likewise, I am excited to hear the Behringer 2030P monitors that WmAx reccomended, but I called 15 brick and mortar stores that were listed on Behringer's website and none of them have these in stock.

So for now I am going to stick with the Take 5 Classics, and once I know enough to know what I am missing (and have a budget to buy it), I will inevitably be looking at upgrades.

Thanks again everyone for all your help!!

I think many other options would be better for home theater. Even infinity Betas. (there are 3 for sell in the classifieds.)

I just don't think the small speakers are going to cut it for home theater.

3 infinity betas and maybe a pair of take 5 classics would probably be a great setup.

Don't sell yourself short. Home theater is very easy to do well. Music is where the challenges tend to lie. If this is a home theater setup get the betas and a pair of take classics. I used Betas for my home theater setup before and they do a great job.