Help picking compact surround speakers

K

K-Dubb

Audioholic Intern
Hi,

I need to some very compact surround speakers for my living room. This is a fairly large space (5600 cubic feet), so I am not expecting miracles out of tiny speakers. They need to be less than 4.75x4.75x8, and will be the surrounds for a 5.1 system. I have no wiggle room on this size. They will be placed about 5 feet off the ground on a shelf on each side of the listening area. The right side will be about 4 feet further away from the listening area than the left. I don't have my complete system yet, but I have an onkyo nr809 on the way, will have ARX A5s as fronts, and an ARX A3 as a center. Still up in the air on the sub but I am leaning towards an 18.2.

These are the speakers I have come up with, but I don't know which would be the best:

Nanosat regular or prestige (prestige are supposed to sound brighter (although not sure they are worth the extra money)
Cambridge MC105
Pure Resonance Audio MC2.5B
Bic America DV32B



I am leaning towards the omnisats, but i don't really know if there are better options out there, or if maybe one of the other options listed above are a better choice.

I was looking at the DefTec promonitor800s, but I just don't think i could make them fit. At minimum the right one would not be pointed directly at the entire listening area.

Thanks!!
 
gtpsuper24

gtpsuper24

Full Audioholic
I'd go with the Mirages. You could also take a look at Orb Audio they have fairly small speakers that sound pretty good.
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
With your size room and limitations - go with the cheapest.
Do not close the Mirage in. If you want things to look fancy,
then look at the Orb.
Quick Pack
 
K

K-Dubb

Audioholic Intern
I'd go with the Mirages. You could also take a look at Orb Audio they have fairly small speakers that sound pretty good.
Oh yeah the Orb speakers. I saw those a while back then forgot the name of them. Those are a good size, but not sure they are worth the expense over the other choices?

Edit. Actually i guess the mod1s are cheaper than the regular nanosat. How do these sound in comparison to the orbs?
 
K

K-Dubb

Audioholic Intern
Looking at the mod1 specs a little closer, they may the better speaker. They are more efficient and have a larger speaker..though that does not always tell the whole story.
 
K

K-Dubb

Audioholic Intern
Gotcha, so up against a wall would not be a good idea..
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
Looking at the mod1 specs a little closer, they may the better speaker. They are more efficient and have a larger speaker..though that does not always tell the whole story.
I would buy the speaker with the biggest woofer that can fit - and
the most efficient. None of them have any real bass - It will be more
about loudness and power handling, from the lower midrange on up.
 
Last edited:
N

nioveratus

Audioholic Intern
I know Canton has small speakers and they sound really good...check them out.
 
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