Need help picking out speakers for LR

[TeABaG_]

I need to pick out speakers for my LR which measures 12w x 20l x 10h. I am thinking of getting a Yamaha rx-v2500 or rx-v2600 receiver. I will probably be using the system 50/50 for ht and music. I only have one problem: my only real solution for speakers must be wall-mounted. I definetly don't have room for floorstanders (not to mention my wife doesn't want them) and I don't really have space for bookshelf's either. This leaves me with wall mounted speakers only. I don't mind spending a good amount of money to find a nice set of speakers, I just don't know which ones are good. I have been looking at the Paradigm Cinema series as well as the Pinnacle Quantum speakers. Reviews on these smaller speakers are sometimes hard to come by. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to get? Thanks.

 

[j_garcia]

Small speakers are generally a compromize no matter what you do. If you have to wall mount, I'd still look at small-ish bookshelf speakers and mount them (though I am not a fan of wall mounted speakers). Paradigm's Performance line is designed to accept brackets, and the also sell brackets not unsurprisingly, so you might look at a set of Atoms or Titans - they'll be a step up from the Cinemas. They should work fine with your receiver choices. They also have the On Wall Monitor Series, which may work for you too.

Another small set you might consider is the VT-12 + STF-2 or STF-3 packages from www.hsuresearch.com

 

[TeABaG_]

Believe me, I know that its a compromise. I will look into the Performance Series, but I wasn't a fan of the on-wall monitors. Thanks for the other link too. Had never heard of those speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

I'm not crazy about the OWs either (ugly), but they are an option to consider when wall mount is the only choice.

I've owned an HSU sub before, excellent quality stuff.

Others you might check out:

Mordaunt Short Genies or the 300 series www.mordauntshort.com

Anthony Gallo - www.roundsound.com

Rocket Tykes or the ELT packages - www.av123.com

 

[TeABaG_]

Awesome, thanks for the links! I have never heard of any of these and I don't mean to sound like an idiot but are these all pretty good quality speakers? I haven't had that much experience with speakers so that is probably why I have never heard of them. I can probably only spout off about 15 different speakers, I feel like such a newb sometimes

 

[j_garcia]

Most of the brands I mentioned are not too well known outside of forums such as this, so don't feel bad That's how I found out about them. I've heard the Gallos, and they sound pretty good, the Due is much better than the Nucleus thanks to the tweeter. I've been pretty impressed with Mordaunt Short, which is why I use a pair myself. The ELTs are respectable too and have a big following, but I haven't heard the Tykes myself.

You can check www.audioenvy.com to see if there is anyone in your area willing to give you an audition of the various Onyx speakers.

 

[TeABaG_]

j_garcia,
Have you ever heard the Boston Acoustics Micro 120x series? I found a review that gave them a pretty good review. They could easily wall-mount and look pretty nice. However, I have heard the Yamaha receivers and Boston Acoustics are not a good match. Any truth to this?

 

[AVRat]

You could also consider the ProMonitors from DefTech: http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/procinema/procinema.html

Home Theater magazine review: http://www.definitivetech.com/reviews/PrCn100HT.pdf

 

[TeABaG_]

Sweet, thanks for the info!

 

[j_garcia]

I've auditioned and even installed them for one customer (already had them), and I wasn't impressed with the Pro Monitor 80s or 100s.

 

[TeABaG_]

j_garcia,
What about the Boston Acoustics Micro120x (or any other of the Micro line)? Have you ever heard those before? Thanks.

 

[jcPanny]

Bookshelf vs. Satellite

I would encourage you to get a decent set of bookshelf speakers instead of small satellites. Basically any bookshelf can be wall mounted with the right hardware.
Axiom audio makes the M22ti bookshelf and a couple smaller models. They will also be releasing an inwall version of their speakers in the next couple months.

 

[j_garcia]

j_garcia,
What about the Boston Acoustics Micro120x (or any other of the Micro line)? Have you ever heard those before? Thanks.

I haven't heard those ones. The last ones I heard were the VRM-50 bookshelf speakers, which I thought were pretty good.

I would tend to agree that a small bookshelf is usually a better way to go than a small satellite. Midrange is very important, and that is where most satellite speakers tend to not perform as well.