Speakers for a small room - Energy Take Classic 5.1?

[MikeLeone]

Hello. I am considering these speakers for my home setup.

I have a Samsung LN46C 46in LCD flat panel TV, hooked to an Onkyo
TX-NR509 receiver. Current speakers are a small set of KLH HT60 speakers
(a 5.1 setup, with passive subwoofer). I just got the Onkyo, and upgraded the speaker wire to 12 guage Monoprice.com wire, and ran the Audyssey calibration, and I have better sound now than before. Now I'd like to upgrade my speakers, and am hoping for recommendations.

Environment: room is a rectangle (it's a small rowhouse), 14W x 25L,
carpeted, with a picture window (with drapes) at one end of the
rectangle. Viewing/listening area is across the width of the room, not the length, so the viewing/listening distance is approx 10 feet from screen/ front
speakers.

Primary purpose is home theater (TV broadcasts, some in surround sound).
Also digital media as played from my home theater PC (which connects via
HDMI), both videos and music (MP3s).

Based on a few reviews, and forums such as this and others, I am thinking of the Energy Take Classic 5.1 speakers for my situation.

Thoughts/warnings/recommendations?

Thanks

 

[its phillip]

I used a very similar setup in my bedroom before...Take Classic 5.1 paired with a TX-SR507. I was happy with it, but my room is also much smaller than 14x25. I feel that you should save a little bit more money and get some more capable speakers in a room of that size.

 

[MikeLeone]

I used a very similar setup in my bedroom before...Take Classic 5.1 paired with a TX-SR507. I was happy with it, but my room is also much smaller than 14x25. I feel that you should save a little bit more money and get some more capable speakers in a room of that size.

Yes, but consider that the viewing/listening area does not take that whole 25 feet into consideration. As I said, the setup is across the width of the rectangle, not the length. So my listening/viewing position is less than 10 feet, from where I sit to the TV screen (and speakers). And the system is in the front half of that 25 feet. So effectively speaking, it's a "room" that is probably 10W x 12L, with an no wall on one side, and a picture window with drapes on the other side. I'd never be listening in that second half of the room, so I'm looking to concentrate the soundstage to that area in front of the TV.

I considered the Pioneer SP-BS41-LR, but that seems *too* big for the area/room, especially since I'd have to find a way to raise my TV another 6 inches higher on it's stand, so the center speaker can sit directly under it.

 

[sholling]

The Take Classic is suitable for a very small bedroom or den. It's not suitable for a room that size. If you sit close enough you might get away with the little satellites but I wouldn't recommend it. But small satellites vs larger and more capable bookshelf speakers aside, assuming that you have an 8' ceiling and no other areas open to your room you're looking 2800cuft and that's way too much for that little Take subwoofer. The sub needs to be sized to the total volume of the room including any attached spaces open to the room. I understand that it's a row house and you probably can't blast your system but if you're on a tight budget my advice is to start with a more capable 2.1 or 3.1 system and add the surrounds (or center and surrounds) later after saving a bit more. It's not as convenient as buying one big box of speakers but that's how you get to a having good system without breaking into the piggy bank.

 

[MikeLeone]

The Take Classic is suitable for a very small bedroom or den. It's not suitable for a room that size. If you sit close enough you might get away with the little satellites but I wouldn't recommend it. But small satellites vs larger and more capable bookshelf speakers aside, assuming that you have an 8' ceiling and no other areas open to your room you're looking 2800cuft and that's way too much for that little Take subwoofer. The sub needs to be sized to the total volume of the room including any attached spaces open to the room. I understand that it's a row house and you probably can't blast your system but if you're on a tight budget my advice is to start with a more capable 2.1 or 3.1 system and add the surrounds (or center and surrounds) later after saving a bit more. It's not as convenient as buying one big box of speakers but that's how you get to a having good system without breaking into the piggy bank.

I have more in the budget; the Energys are $400, but I have $1,000 or so I can spend. I was also recommended to the Klipsh Quintet Home Theater System , by a local store. What do you think of those as an alternative? No sub, but I can add one later (and keep my current passive sub until then).

(sorry; I can't post links yet, because I haven't made 5 posts yet)

(and yes, the ceiling height is just under 9 feet. And no, I can't blast the sound very high, as I have neighbors on both sides)

 

[its phillip]

If you are willing to spend up to $1k, I would build a system around the infinity primus line:
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?brand=INF&status=C&market=HOM

$770 will get you 2x P363, 2x P163 and 1x PC351.
$425 will get you 5x P163 (use one as a vertical center and mount above or below your display)
or various other configurations.

If you went with the second configuration it would leave you with a decent amount of money to get a quality subwoofer.

 

[sholling]

If you are willing to spend up to $1k, I would build a system around the infinity primus line:
http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?brand=INF&status=C&market=HOM

$770 will get you 2x P363, 2x P163 and 1x PC351.
$425 will get you 5x P163 (use one as a vertical center and mount above or below your display)
or various other configurations.

If you went with the second configuration it would leave you with a decent amount of money to get a quality subwoofer.

I agree with these recommendations and maybe a slightly modified version with 2xP363/1xPC351/2xP153 or 2xP163/1xPC251/2x153 just because the P153 are a bit smaller and thus more easily placed as surrounds. These are very capable speakers and a bargain. For a room that size I'd contact Hsu Research and Elemental Designs and have them suggest a sub for your room. If you share a wall you'll probably want to put the sub on an isolation pad sized to fit the sub. That's just to keep any vibrations from bothering neighbors.

FWIW I'm very familiar with the Quintets and they're in the same category as the Take Classics. They sound nothing alike but they're in the same class of small room satellite. Neither would be my choice for a room that size. One of the things that I look for in speakers is the ability to produce solid bass down well below 80hz. The reason is that 80hz is the point below which your ear can't easily locate the source of the sound. In other words the source of the sound moving from speakers to subwoofer and back won't be obvious.

 

[zieglj01]

I think you should go bigger - however, take a look at KEF
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFKHT20053BLKA/KEF-Kht2005.3-5.1-Speaker-Package-W/Kube2-Sub-In-Black-NEW/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/KEFKHT3005SLV/KEF-Kht3005-5.1-Home-Theater-Speaker-Package-In-Silver/1.html

 

[MikeLeone]

I agree with these recommendations and maybe a slightly modified version with 2xP363/1xPC351/2xP153 or 2xP163/1xPC251/2x153 just because the P153 are a bit smaller and thus more easily placed as surrounds. These are very capable speakers and a bargain.

An excellent idea. I think that second suggestion may just be what I go for - 2xP163/1xPC351/2xP153. That would be approx $450 US.

For a room that size I'd contact Hsu Research and Elemental Designs and have them suggest a sub for your room. If you share a wall you'll probably want to put the sub on an isolation pad sized to fit the sub. That's just to keep any vibrations from bothering neighbors.

I share 2 walls.

So you don't think I should look for a sub that is matched to the other speakers - i.e., look for an Infinity sub, if I get Infinity speakers?

Thanks to everybody for all the advice so far!

 

[sholling]

So you don't think I should look for a sub that is matched to the other speakers - i.e., look for an Infinity sub, if I get Infinity speakers?

There is no, zip, zero, nada reason to match the subwoofer with the speakers. Subwoofer are a specialty and you'd get a much better sub from Hsu or eD then you will from Infinity.

Auralex makes excellent subwoofer isolation pads in three sizes SubDude/Gramma/Great Gramma all of which are available from Amazon. Pick one that is big enough for which ever sub you choose.

 

[MikeLeone]

There is no, zip, zero, nada reason to match the subwoofer with the speakers. Subwoofer are a specialty and you'd get a much better sub from Hsu or eD then you will from Infinity.

Auralex makes excellent subwoofer isolation pads in three sizes SubDude/Gramma/Great Gramma all of which are available from Amazon. Pick one that is big enough for which ever sub you choose.

I finally decided on the Pioneer BS41s as both fronts and surrounds, and the Pioneer CS21 as center, and an Outlaw Audio M8 as subwoofer. Looking forward to using all that with my new Onkyo!

Thanks for the help.