Bookshelf speakers for all purpose use

[NJTitan]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased a new entertainment center which is 100" wide and the floor standing front speakers (which are quite old and need to be replaced) are placed on either side of the entertainment center. My wife and I agree that getting new floor standing front speakers make a large entertainment center look even larger so we do not want floor standing front speakers. Bookshelf speakers are the only option for us today. I currently own a fairly new Boston Acoustics VRC center speakers and I am very happy with it, but I can replace it so my front speakers are all the same brand and sound quality. The room is 15' x 20' with a cathedral ceiling. We are sitting roughly 12' away from the TV. The TV is along the 20' long wall but we are offeset to one side because of the 6' wide sliding glass door.

Option 1 (easiest option)
Purchase new bookshelf speakers to place beside the TV. The distance from speaker center to speaker center would only be 48" (not ideal). The overall opening space for the TV is 54" and the TV is 39" wide leaving 7.5" of space on either side of the TV for speakers. This is the only space to place speakers and may not sound very good because they are too close together.

Option 2 (more involved and costly)
Mount narrow speakers on the wall on either side of the entertainment center. I would only consider this option if it is determined that placing speakers 48" apart is really bad.

What would you do and what speakers would you recommend?
Sticking with Boston Acoustics will save me money, but the RS 230 appears to be my only option and may be too small for front speakers. I would like to be in the $200 range for each speaker.

My System
Yamaha RXV659
BA VRC center speaker
Infinity US1 surround speakers
Velodyne DPS-12 subfwoofer

Thanks!

 

[sholling]

In my opinion 4' is a too close together but some people do it. Probably the best solution if you want to keep your center is to buy a pair of used VR50 and put them on stands, but they go for $400-500/pr used. On the other hand you might be able to get away with a pair CS26s. They are rear ported and will have to go on stands at least 5" from the back wall. I just paid CompSource $78ea a pair for my bedroom but I haven't installed them yet. Boston swears they are a good timbre match for my old VR10 center. I'd email them and get their opinion.

But honestly I'd keep towers for a space that size. I'd think that they would make that huge entertainment system look less monolithic.

 

[njedpx3]

Cambridge Audio S30

These are about $219 a pair. Here is a picture of my mounet on Sanus stands at my National Woods Cabin. Ported and exceptionally good bass ( down to 55 Hz0 fro a small bookshelf speaker.

http://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Speakers-Black/dp/B00198LYMU

Good Luck and Good Sound,

Forest Man

 

[NJTitan]

My System setup

[/IMG]

Looking for good suggestions for speakers. The wife wants to place the speakers beside the 39" wide TV, but this may be too close for good sound. I am open for suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[jamie2112]

If your only option is bookshelf speakers then I would remove the glass doors and you could effectively put bookshelf speakers there.Don't know if thats an option or not but it looks like the only way it will work to me.

 

[yepimonfire]

i have to have my floorstanders 4' apart because of space constraints and it doesent really affect the sound imaging too much, although i would prefer they were 8' apart, i mean, isnt that one of the main reasons for having a center channel? anyways i personally would not place them in the entertainment center. IMO most entertainment centers tend to "color" sound, at least in my experience everytime i have placed speakers in an enclosed space simlar to thatr, it had a bad affect on the sound, especially the upper low end, it made it very boomy (over exagerrated lows in the 100-300 hz range that were very directional). i also notice you center is much higher then the tv and mains, also, IMO, keeping all channels at the same height greatly increases the accuracy of the sounds imageing. and having them at around 8 inches above ear-level when sitting seems to help as well. just some random advice.

 

[bandphan]

i have to have my floorstanders 4' apart because of space constraints and it doesent really affect the sound imaging too much

That 4' apart doesnt sound good at all. 4' will cause major issues Why not use one speaker and play the sources mono

 

[lsiberian]

That 4' apart doesnt sound good at all. 4' will cause major issues Why not use one speaker and play the sources mono

It's fine if your like 4' from the tv, but I'd not call it ideal. Be careful on them bridges.

 

[highfigh]

Hello Everyone,

I purchased a new entertainment center which is 100" wide and the floor standing front speakers (which are quite old and need to be replaced) are placed on either side of the entertainment center. My wife and I agree that getting new floor standing front speakers make a large entertainment center look even larger so we do not want floor standing front speakers. Bookshelf speakers are the only option for us today. I currently own a fairly new Boston Acoustics VRC center speakers and I am very happy with it, but I can replace it so my front speakers are all the same brand and sound quality. The room is 15' x 20' with a cathedral ceiling. We are sitting roughly 12' away from the TV. The TV is along the 20' long wall but we are offeset to one side because of the 6' wide sliding glass door.

Option 1 (easiest option)
Purchase new bookshelf speakers to place beside the TV. The distance from speaker center to speaker center would only be 48" (not ideal). The overall opening space for the TV is 54" and the TV is 39" wide leaving 7.5" of space on either side of the TV for speakers. This is the only space to place speakers and may not sound very good because they are too close together.

Option 2 (more involved and costly)
Mount narrow speakers on the wall on either side of the entertainment center. I would only consider this option if it is determined that placing speakers 48" apart is really bad.

What would you do and what speakers would you recommend?
Sticking with Boston Acoustics will save me money, but the RS 230 appears to be my only option and may be too small for front speakers. I would like to be in the $200 range for each speaker.

My System
Yamaha RXV659
BA VRC center speaker
Infinity US1 surround speakers
Velodyne DPS-12 subfwoofer

Thanks!

Could you do a DIY project? There are a lot of really good smaller speaker kits out there.

 

[NJTitan]

what do you mean?

Could you do a DIY project? There are a lot of really good smaller speaker kits out there.

Can you please elaborate?

 

[yepimonfire]

It's fine if your like 4' from the tv, but I'd not call it ideal. Be careful on them bridges.

its actually more like 5', but the sitting space is only 5' from the tv or thereabouts.

 

[NJTitan]

What about going up?

What if I were to install speakers horizontally on the wall above the two tall cabinets and angle the speaker downward toward the couch where you sit?

Anyone have the Boston Acoustics Bravo II speakers?

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/PDFs/BravoIINPA.pdf

 

[bandphan]

What if I were to install speakers horizontally on the wall above the two tall cabinets and angle the speaker downward toward the couch where you sit?

Anyone have the Boston Acoustics Bravo II speakers?

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/PDFs/BravoIINPA.pdf

IMO you can do better.

 

[sholling]

Based on the photo I have a few suggestions. You could move the subwoofer next to the couch and use it for an end table. This is a common thing to do. Or move it behind the couch - that's where mine is. That would give you the room to center towers or book shelf speakers on stands between the cabinet and the wall. I'd also bring the speakers forward even with the front of the cabinet. I also think taller-thinner speakers or medium sized bookshelf speakers on stands would look better.

I'd take that photo and use bits of black or dark red craft paper as stand-in as speakers to mock up options.

 

[sholling]

What if I were to install speakers horizontally on the wall above the two tall cabinets and angle the speaker downward toward the couch where you sit?

You could mount the CS26 that way but 4-5" out from the wall and no higher than the center. But I'd rather see them on stands.

Anyone have the Boston Acoustics Bravo II speakers?

They would not be a good choice. I would want a speaker that can go down below 80hz. The CS26 will go below 60hz.

What are you using now?

 

[yepimonfire]

i personally wont buy a speaker unless it has an extension of 50hz, even when using a subwoofer with speakers capable of 100hz and crossed over at 100hz it always seems to be lacking in "fullness"

 

[NJTitan]

You could mount the CS26 that way but 4-5" out from the wall and no higher than the center. But I'd rather see them on stands.


They would not be a good choice. I would want a speaker that can go down below 80hz. The CS26 will go below 60hz.

What are you using now?

My front mains are Infinity SM112
http://manuals.harman.com/INF/HOM/Owner's Manual/SMseries om.PDF

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response: 59Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB)
Crossover Frequency(ies): 900Hz, 5.5kHz
Sensitivity: 100dB (1 watt/1 meter)
Power Rating: 10 - 200 watts
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Woofer: 10" (254mm) polypropylene coated
Midrange Driver: 4.5" (114mm)polypropylene coated
Tweeter: 1" (25mm) polycell "high-output"

 

[highfigh]

Can you please elaborate?

Madisound, Parts Express, Zaph and other sources have parts lists and diagrams for tested designs. There's a whole DIY section here that has several threads about these, with reviews. For a few hundred dollars, you can make something that would cost significantly more if you were to go to a store. Also, some of the Audioholics sponsors make well-received speakers. If you have a few tools, you could buy pre-made boxes and the hardest part would be to cut the holes cleanly. If you don't have the tools or desire to build something, some of the members here have done this for others.

Some links for you:
http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=CAT&srchCat=769

http://www.madisound.com/kits/index.php

 

[yepimonfire]

Frequency Response: 59Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB)
Woofer: 10" (254mm) polypropylene coated

this is sad for the size of those speakers, i have a set of floorstanders with an extension of 40hz that are smaller and cheaper.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I would agree with the bookshelf speaker kit suggestion. I would also suggest that you either place them on a pair of slender stands, so they won't be as imposing as your floorstanders. Or, you can also get wall mount brackets that have arms which extend so that the fronts of the speakers are at least flush with the front of the entertainment centre.

I would not lay a speaker, which was designed for vertical placement, on its side. The frequency response at the listening position is likely to be adversely affected.