odd room..best small speakers needed..help

[Cratinus]

howdy. the room is approximately 9X16. 40" lcd against one of the 9' walls. right side of the room is all walls and windows. the left side is all open shelving and a walkthrough into a larger room in the house. ALSO,..the ceiling slopes upward (right to left) from 9 feet to 12 feet. the floor is carpeted. floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on both sides of the telly (and on both sides of the rear wall). the room has a comfortable rectangular floor shape,.but the seating (due to a walkthrough area) is off-axis. there a two viewing seats about 7-8 feet from the screen at both sides of the room (and not directly in front of the screen). there IS a centrally placed sofa about 12 feet from the tv (which is used only when company comes around). MY QUESTION IS...would "omnipolar/bipolar" type speakers be the best option for me? i am interested in a 5.1 satellite/sub system. AGAIN..viewing (in most cases) will be from an off-axis position. i'm afraid that a standard bookshelves/center setup my cause a narrower sweetspot than my seating arrangement will permit. the fact that one side of the room is about 65% open might cause issues as well. budget is $500-$1000 (although i might stretch the budget by a couple hundred if necessary...even if i have to buy the rears later). i've fallen in love with the Martin Logan Dynamo sub and will probably try to obtain one (due to it's power, precision and size...AND the fact that it sounds great with music..as i own many concert/music dvd's) so i'd need a center and four satellites. useage will be 75% movies/HD broadcasts, 25% music. are there any compact speakers that "spread" the sound around a little bit? i've heard the Mirage Nanos and Omnis and they seem pretty nice (although the "upfiring" drivers concern me...due to the fact that they WILL be placed in shelves). i'd appreciate all thoughts. WAF is in play (a bit). cheers.

 

[mazersteven]

I would forget Satellite speakers.

http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

 

[mazersteven]

If you had to go with a smaller Satellite speaker

http://www.aperionaudio.com/catalog/Satellite-Bookshelf,20.aspx

 

[Cratinus]

they have to be small. i have bookshelves galore...so that's were they'll have to go (8" or less). it's that whole "off axis" thing that has me bothered. i need the soundfield to be as cohesive (for multiple seating positions) as possible. it certainly doesn't have to be (and wont't be) "audiophile perfect"....i'm just trying to "wring" the most out of an awkward space (utilizing as invisible a footprint as possible).

 

[jcPanny]

EMP Satellites

Check out the recent AH review of the EMP satellite speakers. They sound like a good compromise of performance and size.
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/satellite/emp-eca-4

To maximize asthetics, you might also consider in-wall/in-ceiling or on-wall speakers. In your budget, however, Bookshelf speakers or "good" satellite speaker would offer the best performance.

 

[Guangui]

Mourdant-Short Genie: http://www.mordauntshort.com/content.php?COID=24

Reviews: http://www.mordauntshort.com/assets/documents/dvd_monthly_jan_05_genie.pdf

http://www.mordauntshort.com/assets/documents/whf-nov-2004-genie-gtw.pdf

http://www.mordauntshort.com/product_reviews.php?PID=8&Title=Genie+402

In one of the reviews you will see KEF being mentioned, as they are a benchmark for this type of speakers. You can find both, KEF and MS Genie, at www.accessories4less.com (authorized new & refurb dealer).

Don't know what you consider small, but you can also check a complete set of PSB Alpha Mini Theater System, which uses their smaller speakers, and is a highly rated and reviewed system:

http://www.psbspeakers.com/Alpha-home-theater-systems

Thre are many PSB dealers out there, probably one of the most popular brands, but I've found the best price from www.saturdayaudio.com