Speakers for family room $500

[tanya2ky]

Hi Guys, can you please suggest some good speakers below $500 (i have 5.1 setup) which can be easily wall mounted.
As this system exist in family room, i dont want to put tower speakers or big speakers.
I also have one year old so want to wall mount to avoid trip hazard. (All my wires are concealed inside the wall).
My current speakers are medium size but light weight, so are very easy to mount.

I already have subwoofer. (SVS PB12)

 

[agarwalro]

What speakers and electronics do you currently have?

 

[tanya2ky]

Below is my current setup: (Except speakers)

Receiver: Onkyo 605
Sony PS3
Wii
SVS PB12

 

[tanya2ky]

How is Energy TaKe classic 5.0 system ?

I have read some good reviews on this and other forums and i can get it for around $200, should i go for it or do you suggest something else.

 

[Smartass408]

Are you looking for just a pair of loudspeakers for $500 or fronts, center, and rears for $500?

If you're looking for just loudspeakers I'd suggest you check out Axiom Audio and look at their bookshelfs

 

[tanya2ky]

I am looking for front, center and rear speakers and i am in Canada.
I guess if i buy from Axiom i will have to buy custom duty and brokerage charges and it will be quite expensive.....

The brands which are easily available here are
Energy
Klipisch
Bose
Infinity
JBL
Polk

 

[AVRat]

If you are content with the JVCs, then I see no reason why you wouldn't be satisfied with the Take system.

 

[tanya2ky]

Thanks Avrat but i do hope to get better speakers then those JVC ones.
I was reading Frequency response for Energy Take system and its starts from 115 HZ and i have set my sub freq to 80 HZ, woudnt i loose the frequency between those ranges ?

I am not going to change these for next many years, so its long term investment...so even i have to spend some extra money i will but i want

Small speakers which can be wall mounted.
Has Impedance of 8 ohm
Frequency range starts from 80 HZ

Any recommendations

 

[jostenmeat]

Hi Guys, can you please suggest some good speakers below $500 (i have 5.1 setup) which can be easily wall mounted.
As this system exist in family room, i dont want to put tower speakers or big speakers.
I also have one year old so want to wall mount to avoid trip hazard. (All my wires are concealed inside the wall).
My current speakers are medium size but light weight, so are very easy to mount.

I already have subwoofer. (SVS PB12)

An option to consider is the PSB Alpha B1. It has keyholes, and they run about $100 each when new, and if used, you should be able to find better.

I cannot recommend the tiny LR1 as it's too tiny, and that's similar to my only fear regarding the Energy Takes.

At a significantly higher price point, the Ascend 170 SE is also easily wall mountable. IMO, the extra price is well worth it, and I'm pretty familiar with both speakers.

With a bit over $500, I'd try to get 3x 170SE for the front stage. Forget the rears for now until a later date. It's well worth the upgrade, IMO. I might not even have said anything, until I noticed you own the SVS PB12 . . .

 

[tanya2ky]

Its kind of frustrating to be a Canadian consumer....
Most of the recommendations i am getting for speakers are not available locally in Canada and if i buy them from USA i will have to pay duty and brokerage fee...

I was lucky to find SVS dealer here in Toronto, so just picked it from him.
I wish i could do the same for speakers....

 

[jostenmeat]

I am looking for front, center and rear speakers and i am in Canada.
I guess if i buy from Axiom i will have to buy custom duty and brokerage charges and it will be quite expensive.....

Its kind of frustrating to be a Canadian consumer....
Most of the recommendations i am getting for speakers are not available locally in Canada and if i buy them from USA i will have to pay duty and brokerage fee...

I was lucky to find SVS dealer here in Toronto, so just picked it from him.
I wish i could do the same for speakers....

I'm a bit confused here, but last I checked, Axiom, Energy, and PSB are all Canadian.

 

[tanya2ky]

You are correct about Axiom and PSB but both are not in my price range.

Axiom wall mounted speaker set starts at $1286 USD.

I was not able to find any PSB speakers which could be easily wall mounted.

Energy used to Canadian but was bought by Klipsch, there is only one Energy dealer in Toronto and GTA area and when i spoke to him he doesnt have any wall mounted speakers (like take classic), he also told me that Energy has discontinued take classic speaker.
I also checked with Local Best buy and Futureshop and they have Energy Micro system which is around $1000.

After that i called the Toll free number on Energy website and was told by order taking person that they doesnt ship to Canada.

I guess i am slowly running out of options....

 

[AVRat]

SVS SBS/SCS or Infinity P152/PC250 (Best Buy CA) might work for front three and use 2 of the JVCs for surrounds. The bookshelfs can be wall mounted. To reach down to 80Hz, the speaker should have at least a 5" woofer driver. With your current setup of an 80 Hz crossover, you definitely have a hole in the freq response. Try setting the receiver to 120 Hz crossover for all the speakers.

Can't reach Sonic Boom Audio's website today to check pricing on the SVS SBS-01s.

 

[tanya2ky]

Thanks Avrat, i will check that out.

Should i consider buying speakers in pieces instead of a package, like buy Center first and then front and at last the soround.

If i can do that then i might be able to afford more as i will have more time on hand.

To start with Center, how is Axiom VP100 for center, its around $275 and its big brother VP150 is around $450.

Will you recommend this as center

 

[Davemcc]

Seriously, I suggest that you contact Axiom by phone and arrange a short trip to their factory in Dwight, Ontario, just east of Huntsville, maybe a 3 hour drive into cottage country from Toronto. I've met the guys that run Axiom and I assure you that they are great people, easy to talk to and want to see you happy with your audio system. If you can make the trip, they will usually let you hear all the various speakers they have to choose from, show you their assembly process and give you a great deal all in the same day.

To me, it sounds like a perfect excuse for a drive into cottage country that's a lot more interesting than "antiquing". At least give them a call since you're practically local to them considering the nature of the internet.

 

[KEW]

Thanks Avrat but i do hope to get better speakers then those JVC ones.
I was reading Frequency response for Energy Take system and its starts from 115 HZ and i have set my sub freq to 80 HZ, woudnt i loose the frequency between those ranges ?

I am not going to change these for next many years, so its long term investment...so even i have to spend some extra money i will but i want

Small speakers which can be wall mounted.
Has Impedance of 8 ohm
Frequency range starts from 80 HZ

Any recommendations

Can you get Behringer in Canada (check stores which sell gear to musicians).
As long as you aren't looking for pretty, these are considered an outstanding value ($130/pair):
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/B2031P.aspx

 

[tanya2ky]

Base on reading reviews on this and other forum, i have shortlisted to 4 different systems. I am also going to write down the price next to each system.

I WILL BE WALL MOUNTING SPEAKERS, so please consider when recommending.
I need you expert advice on which system should buy.

For $750 Price range:

1. PSB Alpha speakers ($250 for center and $250 for pair of bookshelf)

2. Paradigm Atom: ($250 for center and $250 for bookshelf)

For $1200 price range
1. Energy speakers:
Center as CC10 for $369
Bookshelf CR10 for $429

2. Axiom Speaker:
Center as VP150 for $441
Bookshelf as M3 for $356

I think PSB and Paradigm are more of value of money and will also be closer to my $500 budget, so i am inclining towards them.
Energy and Axiom are comparatively expensive.

But if there is huge difference is audio quality then i can think of spending extra money for Axiom or Energy otherwise my preference will be to stay with PSB or Paradigm.

Can you please suggest which one is better in its price catgory and which speaker will you recommend..


Note: All these speakers i can easily get in Canada as they are local.

 

[Stereoguy]

Axiom all the way

Hi: IMO the Axiom's are much better and look at their Factory outlet as if you buy from there you will save 15%(10% + 5% if you buy any 5 items) off the price. Depending on the size of your room the VP-100 might be more than enough,go to their website and look up the 1-800 number and call them. I have the M-60's,VP-150 and think they are great sounding speakers!!!

 

[njedpx3]

Cambridge Audio S-30

Hi Guys, can you please suggest some good speakers below $500 (i have 5.1 setup) which can be easily wall mounted.
As this system exist in family room, i dont want to put tower speakers or big speakers.
I also have one year old so want to wall mount to avoid trip hazard. (All my wires are concealed inside the wall).
My current speakers are medium size but light weight, so are very easy to mount.

I already have subwoofer. (SVS PB12)

Cambridge Audio S-30 at $199 per pair with free shipping. Small, good looking, high quality, excellent sound.
http://www.digitalcraze.com/Details.asp?Source=Froogle&ProductID=3969

Two pair and S-50 for center.

Cambridge Audio S-50 center $199.
http://www.bizrate.com/stereospeakers_headphones/brand--cambridge-audio/products__att259--516609-.html
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=345

Total $597

 

[the grunt]

Since you plan on wall mounting these speakers I would scratch the Axiom M3s from your list as they are rear ported. Not that you can’t wall mount a rear ported speaker but it will effect it’s frequency response more than a non rear ported speaker. It’s always a good idea to leave a few inches behind a rear ported speaker to allow the port to do it’s job.

If by wall mounting you are actually using a shelf and will have a few inches behind the speakers and are still considering Axioms I would switch from the M3 to the M2. It costs less and it a more neutral sounding speaker. The M3 is made with a mid-bass hump to simulate more bass so it works best w/o a subwoofer. Since you already have a sub the M2 which has a more flat frequency response would be a better choice. However the M2 is also rear ported which would also take it out of the running IMO if you are directly wall mounting them.

Since you plan on having this system for some time I think in the long run you’ll do better to build it over time. Start with getting the best 3 front speakers your budget allows then upgrade your surrounds when you can.