speakers for a 2.1 system

[don maico]

I am looking for a small pair (with sub) to go with a Behringer A500. I thought of SVS but then I read they are considered average for stereo use. Kef Q compact because they are not room fussy( size about 10ft x 13ft). Any ideas anyone?

 

[j_garcia]

BUDGET?

What are you using as a pre- or pre/pro?

 

[jaxvon]

Yes, a budget is very helpful for making suggestions. If you have the budget and want, it would be beneficial to use two subwoofers, assuming they're set up in a true stereo configuration.

 

[don maico]

Heck, you know I hadnt really thought about that but I guess that maybe £200 which in your currency is abou $360 appprox. Ths SVS, which are becoming increasingly popular amongst AV aficionados here, sell for about $300 -$320 at a guess so they would be most affordable.
My pre is a rather old Audio Innovations 800c tube amp but I can get rid of that. Depends on what works well with a Behringer A500 I suppose and what is available here. I am open to suggestions . Thanks guys!

 

[bandit]

Check out AV123.com. There X-Series products have been fairly well recieved and are very inexpensive. I think they just reviewed the sub here - and said it would be very good for music applications.

 

[billy p]

I wondering

why do you feel you must order from this side of the pond? I'm in Canada and those prices in the US look rather tempting but the duty and brokerage fees jack up the cost to nearly double. So for that reason I would rather buy speaker fron a local shop IMO!!

 

[don maico]

Those Onix x-ls monitors look very tasty I must say. Only trouble is they are not as yet available here in the Uk Odd thing is there used to be a manufacturer of amplifiers called Onix here back in the eighties/nineties. I wonder if AV 123 bought the name out?

 

[don maico]

why do you feel you must order from this side of the pond? I'm in Canada and those prices in the US look rather tempting but the duty and brokerage fees jack up the cost to nearly double. So for that reason I would rather buy speaker fron a local shop IMO!!

In a way I'm kind of keen to know what people buy over there.Whilst you are right that duty fees would make them unattractive, at some point in the future they maybe available here as the SVS ones are now.

From this post in a UK AV site people are already aware of these products so I envisage them being up for grabs pretty soon
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184684

this is an example of one of their amps

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONIX-OA-21S-amplifier-ONIX-SOAP2-control-unit_W0QQitemZ110041045261QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3280QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[AVRat]

B&W DM601
Monitor Audio Bronze B2

 

[don maico]

B&W DM601
Monitor Audio Bronze B2

B&W's made in my own home town

 

[Nick250]

B&W DM601
Monitor Audio Bronze B2

Good choices by Rat. If you audition the 601, try the 602 as well. I was impressed by it.

Nick

 

[don maico]

I think they are now owned by an American company. I'll give the an audition anyway as they are sold in a shop just round the corner from my house

Actually thinking about it think the DM 600s might be a better bet because they are smaller- about 12" high, which means I could slide them into a shelving system such as this :http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=7&langId=-20&parentCats=15561*15639*15651*17068&categoryId=17068&productId=77048&chosenPartNumber=S39831445
Any idea what the MA B1s are like ? Its the size that attracts as I can use them with this sub:
http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/Sub_Woofers/XLS200-DFandFF.htm

 

[billy p]

I read somewhere that rear ported bookshelf speakers should not be placed in a enclosed bookcase such as that. Although they may look neet and tidy they will sound better on stands or mounted on a wall .

Heh, I know because it was me who asked the question and I have a Billy bookcase and ent. centre from Ikea .

 

[don maico]

I read somewhere that rear ported bookshelf speakers should not be placed in a enclosed bookcase such as that. Although they may look neet and tidy they will sound better on stands or mounted on a wall .

Heh, I know because it was me who asked the question and I have a Billy bookcase and ent. centre from Ikea .

So completely enclosed ones are better in this case? My options appear to be narrowing

 

[nibhaz]

It's really not a matter of porting. Despite their name, bookshelf speakers really shouldn’t be placed in recessed locations such a bookshelves or an entertainment center, if you want to get the best performance out of them. If you must do this you should pull the speaker as far forward as possible to reduce their interaction with the shelving unit.

As far as the DM600 S3 are concerned, they come with a port plug which B&W calls a bung, which would minimize the possiblity of the rear port interacting with shelving unit you are looking at.

Personally I would take a harder look at the DM601s if they’ll fit. They offer a lower frequency response, and the front port design would reduce the chance of the speaker adversely interacting with the shelving unit you are considering.

 

[don maico]

It's really not a matter of porting. Despite their name, bookshelf speakers really shouldn’t be placed in recessed locations such a bookshelves or an entertainment center, if you want to get the best performance out of them. If you must do this you should pull the speaker as far forward as possible to reduce their interaction with the shelving unit.

As far as the DM600 S3 are concerned, they come with a port plug which B&W calls a bung, which would minimize the possiblity of the rear port interacting with shelving unit you are looking at.

Personally I would take a harder look at the DM601s if they’ll fit. They offer a lower frequency response, and the front port design would reduce the chance of the speaker adversely interacting with the shelving unit you are considering.

Mmm maybe I could fix them to brackest to each side which would please my wife no end( not). i'll have to sneak them up there somehow
Seeing as I would be using a sub then size doesnt matter so much does it?

 

[don maico]

I was lookinbg at these as a possibilty http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3ti_main.html as they seem to be ok for shelves. Thinking about it the shelving system I'm buying is only 5 feet high so I could fix the speakers with brackets to the wall above and to each side of the shelves.



Btw whats the general consensus on picture frame speakers - the flat ones?

http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/product.asp?id=1936

They seem very cheap but maybe thats because they are not highy rated. People seem very conservative about their equipment choices

Think I'll forget about the flat panels . How about these:http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.models/label/Model LM1

 

[j_garcia]

On the wall doesn't solve the problem when using a rear ported speaker; it still puts them too close to the wall.

 

[don maico]

On the wall doesn't solve the problem when using a rear ported speaker; it still puts them too close to the wall.

I cannot find anything in the description for the B&W speakers which would suggest they are rear ported

 

[j_garcia]

I cannot find anything in the description for the B&W speakers which would suggest they are rear ported

Well, the last thing you mentioned before that were the Axiom M3s and they are rear ported. I haven't heard the LMs, so can't comment on them.