GAF/Small Form Factor Speakers.

[Sheep]

Yoddles...

I might be downsizing my home theater in the near future, and was wondering if I could get some small form factor recommendations for speakers. I know of Orb, and I know most companies make puny bookshelf versions of other lines, but I would like small form factor speakers that have a conversation piece type of feel. I want them noticed, in a positive way.

A B&W Zeppelin Air is already in the works for basic music playback, but I want 5 real separated speakers for movies.

I'm new here and don't know anything, please be gentle.

SheepStar

 

[Alex2507]

Congrat's on the g/f.

 

[Adam]

Congrat's on the g/f.

Agreed! I assumed what the "G" stood for...but girlfriend is good, too. (Sorry, Brian, but you knew it was going to happen around here. )

What's your budget?

 

[ski2xblack]

I'm new here and don't know anything

You LIE!

How about the Gallo Nucleus Strada Reference? Kinda pricey, but they look like props from a James Bond or 1960's sci-fi movie, so they may be right up your alley.

http://www.roundsound.com/reference-strada.htm

 

[mike c]

granny acceptance factor?

sheep is alive!

 

[its phillip]

I do like the custom finishes on the orbs and the gallo speakers are also quite attractive and small.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Good to hear from you Brian. How's the photography bug treating you?

Always thought Mirage Speakers looked cool with the grill off.

IDK if they sound good to you though.

 

[alphaiii]

Hmm... some that come to mind...

Paradigm MilleniaOne
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/test-report-paradigm-milleniaone-speakers-milleniasub-subwoofer

Boston Acoustics VS240 - Boston has some refurbs (in cherry) that they're selling for $200 each.
http://www.hometheater.com/compactspeakers/boston_acoustics_vs_240_speaker_system/

Aperion Verus Forte Bookshelf
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Verus-Forte-Satellite-Speaker,296,89,840.aspx

Mirage OMD-5
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/544375712/mirage-omd5-rosewood?s_c=site_search (also Burled Maple and Gloss Black)

 

[Pyrrho]

How small is small? Will an ordinary bookshelf size be okay, or do you require something smaller? I love my Aurum Cantus Leisure 2SE (original U.S. version) speakers for my home theater, and have no plans on ever upgrading. You can read about the replacement here:

http://www.kellsieavdesign.com/products/Leisure2SE.htm
(though the link there to a review is for the inferior "international" version)

And see a brochure on them here:

http://www.kellsieavdesign.com/AC_brochure002.JPG

They have a gorgeous finish, which my wife loves (and so do I). Photographs do not do them justice.

They are beautiful enough for conversation, and the ribbon tweeter is another thing one can talk about.

 

[zieglj01]

Boston Acoustics VS240 - Boston has some refurbs (in cherry) that they're selling for $200 each.
http://www.hometheater.com/compactspeakers/boston_acoustics_vs_240_speaker_system/

I own the Boston 240, and they are real good.

http://www.hometheater.com/compactspeakers/boston_acoustics_vs_240_speaker_system/

 

[Sheep]

The Orb, Gallo, and those types of speakers are what I'm after. Completely forgot about Mirage's smaller offerings, and would actually like those a lot as they are voiced similarly to my Energy's.

Keep em coming!

SheepStar

 

[zieglj01]

Look at Glow Audio
http://www.glow-audio.com/voiceone.html

Focal Dome
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/24437

 

[Sheep]

Look at Glow Audio
http://www.glow-audio.com/voiceone.html

Focal Dome
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/24437

Nice Design but far to big. Focal's are bit to much for what they bring to the table.

SheepStar

 

[GranteedEV]

Focal's are bit to much for what they bring to the table.

Those Focal domes sure did sound good!

 

[STRONGBADF1]

The Orb, Gallo, and those types of speakers are what I'm after. Completely forgot about Mirage's smaller offerings, and would actually like those a lot as they are voiced similarly to my Energy's.

Keep em coming!

SheepStar

I was thinking you might with the Energy/Mirage family connection.

 

[Adam]

First thing that I found after seeing the initial post were those Mirages, but I didn't post them because I didn't think that they stood out enough. My bad.

How did I find them? Searched Amazon for "small speakers," of course.

 

[Pyrrho]

The Orb, Gallo, and those types of speakers are what I'm after. Completely forgot about Mirage's smaller offerings, and would actually like those a lot as they are voiced similarly to my Energy's.

Keep em coming!

SheepStar

In that case, my recommendation is that you reconsider. No tiny speaker is going to be able to go low enough for a proper crossover with a subwoofer, and consequently you will either have a gap in your frequency response or you will be able to locate the subwoofer by the sound (or both, as with these).

From a quick search of online reviews for the two models you first mention, the companies seem to essentially admit as much by the fact that they seem to not send them to reviewers who actually take measurements. Plus, of course, they do not seem to list proper specifications on their web sites, another sign that they have some unpleasant facts that they want to hide.

The absolute smallest woofer that I have ever encountered that goes low enough to be adequate for proper blending with a subwoofer at a low enough frequency to not be a problem is about 5". I do not recommend anything smaller than that.

If space is that much of a problem, I would recommend in-wall speakers instead, so that you will not have the problem of not going low enough to satisfactorily blend with a subwoofer. Or use headphones.

 

[Sheep]

In that case, my recommendation is that you reconsider. No tiny speaker is going to be able to go low enough for a proper crossover with a subwoofer, and consequently you will either have a gap in your frequency response or you will be able to locate the subwoofer by the sound (or both, as with these).

From a quick search of online reviews for the two models you first mention, the companies seem to essentially admit as much by the fact that they seem to not send them to reviewers who actually take measurements. Plus, of course, they do not seem to list proper specifications on their web sites, another sign that they have some unpleasant facts that they want to hide.

The absolute smallest woofer that I have ever encountered that goes low enough to be adequate for proper blending with a subwoofer at a low enough frequency to not be a problem is about 5". I do not recommend anything smaller than that.

If space is that much of a problem, I would recommend in-wall speakers instead, so that you will not have the problem of not going low enough to satisfactorily blend with a subwoofer. Or use headphones.

When I said I am new here and don't know anything, I was joking. I guess some people forget.

I know about these issues, but my receivers bass management is fixed at 90Hz. Localized bass is something I've lived with. I have dual subs at the moment to deal with it, but I also will be placing the sub right next to the TV in the new setup. The OMD-5's have enough bass response to handle a proper crossover. But I really don't mind have the tiny speakers. I can enjoy them as much as big ones, I just focus on different elements, like how they are small yet still sound good. That missing gap or localization isn't going to be a deal for me. If it was, I wouldn't downsize.

SheepStar

 

[GranteedEV]

The KEF KHT1005.2 "egg" speakers supposedly sound really good

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFKHT10052GBA/KEF-Kht1005.2-5.1-Sattelite-Subwoofer-Speaker-Package-Gloss-Black-NEW/1.html

 

[walter duque]

Soundbar

How about a nice soundbar http://www.cineprocustomsoundbarspeakers.com/ and some surrounds. These are not powered and do need some major amplification.