Need recommendation for sub or surround speakers to add to 2.1 set up

[Mai Le]

Hi all,

I currently have the following setup and I'm looking at either adding sub or pair of surround speakers. Eventually, i want to make it 5.1 but i have about $600 to spend so I can't get both.

Current setup:
Front: paradigm Monitor 11 towers
Center: Paradigm C3 center
Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR809
80% movies, 20% music

Should I get sub next or pair of back speakers ? The room is about 15ft wide and 30 ft long but the couch area is about 11-12ft from the front wall (8-9ft from the front speakers). That would also be where i would install the back speakers. I need inwall or something really thin to hang on the wall since there are obstruction on left / right wall impeding the space for paradigm surround 3

I read in the forum about SVS PB-1000 and I'm also considering Paradigm AMS-150SQ. Should i still get paradigm for the surround pair ?

Thanks everyone for your feedback

 

[afterlife2]

Hi and WELCOME! I have these as fronts/surround and love them. Beautiful piano finish: Amazon.com: Nxg Pro 4.1 Satellite Speaker: Electronics

I have the PB1000 in a small apt 10 ft away and love mine and then some. Check their SVS outlet store sale for $450.00. You might wanna check these out too lots of praise as well: Rythmik LV12R - rear vented HT sub Outlaw has a sale. Also check HSU.

 

[Pyrrho]

For the general question you asked, you should ask yourself whether it is more important to you to have deeper bass, or to have sound coming at you from all sides. That will answer the question of whether to get a subwoofer or surround speakers next. I personally would go with an SVS subwoofer first (the best one you can afford, as you want one good enough that you never need to replace it, though their bottom model is quite good), but you should consider the question of which matters most to you.

For the surrounds, when you do that, you might want the speakers on stands closer to the listening area, though whether that is feasible or not depends on things that you have not told us. And if space is really a problem, you might also consider in ceiling speakers for surround use, though I personally prefer freestanding speakers, so that they can be easily moved if one decides one does not like how they sound wherever one places them first.

 

[zieglj01]

Do whatever you want for surround - however, i would not want the speakers too far back

I would start with the sub first - look at PowerSound Audio XV15
POWER SOUND AUDIO — XV15-Base

 

[Mai Le]

I want deeper bass but my husband wants sound to come from all side first. We're conflicted . I think i'll go with sub first and spend more time to find the surrounds. Originally, I was going to buy 2 stands and move the speakers to be where we would sit behind the sofa in the middle of the room and then move them to the side when done. We ran the speakers wire to side wall so we can plug/unplug each time. However, with the new baby, that would be a problem to move the speakers back and forth all the time. On the left side, we have a table against the wall. On the right side is the exterior wall and it's 2 feet between the fireplace and the backyard door There is enough room for Paradigm Millenia LP (thin, looks so nice and wouldn't be sticking out) but those would cost more than what i have for now. I was looking at ceiling speakers since those would be best for the room but all the post on the forums all said to stay away from them. Would ceiling speakers suffice or would I be losing too much quality for the space convenience ? When we went to Century Stereo to audition the Monitor 11 series, they had ceiling speakers for surround but their ceiling speakers were huge. The panel was the size of the center 3. I wonder if that is why it sounds good but I was focusing on the front speakers at that time anyway.

 

[zieglj01]

On the left side, we have a table against the wall. On the right side is the exterior wall and it's 2 feet between the fireplace and the backyard door There is enough room for Paradigm Millenia LP (thin, looks so nice and wouldn't be sticking out) but those would cost more than what i have for now. I was looking at ceiling speakers since those would be best for the room but all the post on the forums all said to stay away from them. Would ceiling speakers suffice or would I be losing too much quality for the space convenience ? When we went to Century Stereo to audition the Monitor 11 series, they had ceiling speakers for surround but their ceiling speakers were huge. The panel was the size of the center 3. I wonder if that is why it sounds good but I was focusing on the front speakers at that time anyway.

In ceiling is OK for surround effects - not recommended for front channel speakers.

For thin on-wall > look at the Boston P442 speakers - for 80% movies, no real need to brand
match surrounds.
BOSTON ACOUSTICS P442 LCR (Left,Right,Center) Speaker Black Each NEW | Accessories4less

 

[ImcLoud]

Why not get both...
Amazon.com: Fluance AVBP2 Home Theater Bipolar Surround Sound Satellite Speakers: Electronics
PB-1000 - SVS

everyone is happy... I would never spend $600 on a set of surrounds, they are only effect speakers...