satellite speakers..bang for the buck

[92nsx]

hello all. I am wondering what you use or sounds good for satellites.
Im not looking for the "best ones on the market" but a well sounding set of satellites (4 of them).
I'm not looking to spend $200 each. any ideas on the best bang for the buck?
receiver is yamaha RX-V659
also any ideas on a center or sub also that dosen't brake the bank would be sweet?

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker size

Do you intend to buy really small satellite type speakers or are bookshelf speakers OK? For about $100 per speaker you can bet a bookshelf system with the SVS speakers or the Onix X-LS speakers.

If these are too big, you might consider on-wall or inwall speakers for a performance and asthetics compromise.

 

[Nick250]

The Hsu Ventriloquist is well regarded considering their price and size. Myself, I would get small bookshelves if at all possible.

Nick

http://www.hsustore.com/vt12.html

 

[j_garcia]

Small satellite speakers are not the best way to go. I agree with Nick, some affordable bookshelf speakers would be the way to go. You could look at the Athena line, as they are fairly inexpensive and sound good for the price. The Infinity Primus line seem to be on closeout at many places, which would suggest new models coming soon - that means you can pick up the current ones for good prices. What exactly is your total budget?

 

[stratman]

There are excellent satellites, audition these: Gallos, Orb. You'll be very surprised at what these puppies can do.

 

[92nsx]

bookshelf size speakers are ok just not too large. i am looking to spend around $250 on sub and maybe $300-400 on the 4 Surround speakers and center. hint 7.1 system.

 

[tman]

Can I ask slightly different question

Hi. I'm newbee, not audiophile-- can you help?

I want satellite+sub for HT and am trying understand what satellite I need for my space. We watch TV within 5800cuft room, TV along long wall, sit about 15ft wide space, 8-10ft from TV. Question: Does room size matter or speaker placement for sizing satellites?
For Sub you size for full volume of the room.
For satellites mainly interested direct sound (?) so placement should matter, not room size to first order.

I see 2-way bookshelf speakers, 5 1/4-6 1/2", MTM advertised "suitable for large rooms" on websites. 2-way MT w/same tweeter do not say this. Both MT and MTM have higher decible level and continuous power vs. my present speakers (Advent Legacy II) which are loud with 8Ohm 80-100W/channel amp and reach low (<=40-45Hz?). Example= Ascend Acoustic CBM 170SE rated @ 8Ohm, 91db, 200W continuous pwr; CBM 340SE rated @ 8Ohm, 92db, 240W.

Is there other specification, equation for selecting speaker impedence/ power/db level needed to play loud satellite+sub HT? Is Ascend Acoustic MTM "suitable for large rooms" not relevant when you add a sub? I have a constrained budget.


Thanks!
tman

 

[j_garcia]

YES room size matters, as small speakers with small drivers do not have sufficient surface area to move large amounts of air within the room. Regardless of sub, you still need a speaker that can generate sufficient sound within your room. Just to differentiate a little, satellites are generally very small speakers, with drivers less than 4" usually. You would probably do well to start your own thread tman.

 

[tman]

Thanks-- I will start separate thread.

J Garcia, Thanks-- I will start separate thread.

 

[Bee-Man]

I run the Hsu's Ventriiloquist on a YAMAHA RX-V559 and it produces a very good sound at that price range. Get the VFT- MK2 as a package and you will be surprised just how good this system will sound.

The Hsu VT-12 has a much larger and substantial centre speaker than the surrounds...and the system plays like a bookshelf IMHO - and my room is pretty decent in size.....

The YAMAHA 659 would show off a better speaker IMHO. If you can work with the larger speakers get an SVS package with the sub upgrade. It is a better system - but we are talking different price points.

For sats though (and I have a separate system for music) I really do have a lot of respect for the performance of the Hsu VT-12

 

[tman]

Re: Ventriloquist, check out the reviews on Hsu website.

There are really good reviews on the Hsu Ventriloquist linked from the Hsu website (www.hsuresearch.com). I read the first two from top of their list. They were good not only in explaining that speaker's design but also explain where small satellites have intrinsic limitations, how ventriloquist fixes some of those, what compromises it still makes and when the reviewers could hear them. I think if you read those articles and then listen to bookshelfs, Bose satellites, etc you'll probably be more confident with how much money you want to spend vs. size of the speakers, etc. Because the Ventrilquist speakers are just $200 more when you buy a Hsu sub it ends up being really, really good value. I haven't heard Ventriloquist but from reading the articles it really seems to address some of what I don't like in satellite/sub systems I have heard. Also Hsu is replacing it's subwoofer product line which means they have introductory prices on their new subs and many of their old subs are discounted to liquidate inventory ($400 sub is now $320, etc). From what I read there I decided I'm sticking with bookshelf speakers MT w/ at least 5 1/4" woofers instead of Ventriloquist but if my budget situation was different and I didn't already have an HT setup, I might have gotten that instead. I am definately buying a Hsu sub, though, since they are as good as anything of comparable price (like the SVS's).

 

[jcPanny]

Bookshelf speakers

Check out the onix X-LS and X-CS speaker from AV123.com. Look for a discounts on their B-stock or classified pages. Even if you can only afford the mains and center right now, you will get better sound quality than a 7.1 system with satellite speakers.

 

[92nsx]

yes i just looked at the Hsu Ventriloquist system w/o sub. um i think "vary good" and every one says good things about them. i just wonder about the "highs" not having a Tweeter of any sort. thats all. I'm thinking something like 3-4 inch woofer plus tweeter would sound better. Just using logic is all i am thinking. keep it coming. two thumbs up to every one. also what is up with tman, he should start a new fourm. Im just looking for what you all think and or use for you Surround/center speakers. just want to get the best bang for the buck since money dosent grow on trees in my front yard.

thanks
92nsx/

 

[92nsx]

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