Replacing surround speakers, advice?

[Haaspac]

Ok so as a forward I built all my speakers in my HT when I had access all the tools I needed and 2 people with extensive knowledge of woodworking and building DIY speakers. I just moved to Texas and now I have access to neither, so building new ones isn't really an option at this time, sadly enough.

My surrounds are DIY visaton Alto 2's http://www.visaton.com/en/bauvorschlaege/2_wege/altoii/index.html
One of them is 100% dead. It was knocked over by my dog and I on hard flooring, the visaton tweeter in it broke in two pieces and is no longer sold, and the woofer doesnt produce sound now. As noted above I dont have the resources to build another one, or modify both boxes with new cones.

So this brings me to buying monitors to replace them. I have about a $1000 budget +-$200 and I had some ideas
http://www.svsound.com/products/prime-tower 1k per pair
http://www.svsound.com/products/ultra-bookshelf 1k per pair
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m22-bookshelf-speakers $640 per pair
http://www.axiomaudio.com/m50-floorstanding-speakers $1180 per pair
http://www.xtzsound.us/shop/us/Speakers/95-series/95-44-black-matt 1k per pair
http://www.xtzsound.us/shop/us/Speakers/99-series/xtz-99-25-mk-ii-piano-black $1300 (really pushing it)

So thats what I've come up with. Is there any reason not to go with towers for surrounds? would my alto 2's be considered mini-towers? Is a bookshelf better for a surround speaker?

The placement would be on either side of my couch in a 16'x19' living room with a 10'x13' dining room attached and then a 10'x13'9" kitchen attached to that with no walls separating the rooms and 10' ceilings, so a decently big area.

Thoughts, comments suggestions?

 

[markw]

Here's the thing: If your intent is purely home theater, then an exact match isn't a big issue. surrounds are used mainly for background and ambience sounds and the occasional gunshot or whatever.

Music, however does sort of require that they match the front three They get more usage on a regular basis and blending with the fronts is a bit more critical.

Since your fronts are custom made, nobody can say they have heard them in order to valid suggestions.

 

[Cosmic Char]

Save your money and get a pair of the Philharmonic's Affordable Accuracy speakers for $200. Spend your money elsewhere. What is driving the speakers?

 

[Haaspac]

Save your money and get a pair of the Philharmonic's Affordable Accuracy speakers for $200. Spend your money elsewhere. What is driving the speakers?

Pioneer VSX-21TXH

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Save your money and get a pair of the Philharmonic's Affordable Accuracy speakers for $200. Spend your money elsewhere. What is driving the speakers?

+1. Save your "play" money towards sub(s)

 

[Haaspac]

+1. Save your "play" money towards sub(s)

Already have an 18inch sub that shakes my entire house

 

[Haaspac]

Save your money and get a pair of the Philharmonic's Affordable Accuracy speakers for $200. Spend your money elsewhere. What is driving the speakers?

I emailed Mr. Murphy and he said that his AAmonitors are very competent replacements and going up to his $1150 philharmonitors would be a waste of money for surround duty. I am on a waiting list because he sold out his entire stock of the AAmonitors and they will ship in 3 weeks.

Thanks for the recommendation and saving me 800 bucks!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Already have an 18inch sub that shakes my entire house

DIY sub I assume? is it sealed? if so - I'd recommend Minidsp and measurement mic to dial the bass better. It's not just about shaking the house, bass has a bigger role

 

[Cosmic Char]

I emailed Mr. Murphy and he said that his AAmonitors are very competent replacements and going up to his $1150 philharmonitors would be a waste of money for surround duty. I am on a waiting list because he sold out his entire stock of the AAmonitors and they will ship in 3 weeks.

Thanks for the recommendation and saving me 800 bucks!

Awesome. He is a good guy, and I couldn't agree more with his assessment!