Speakers needed for difficult home theater room

[nfurlong]

Back in college I was a bit of an audiophile. Not that I could afford the twin monoamps and Klipschorns that I coveted, but I knew my way around the hifi scene. Much has changed since then, including the fact that I can afford some decent mid-fi equipment and I come before you seeking advice.

I have:
* A new Denon AVR-3805, which I will configure to switch between a bi-amped 2 speaker setup and a 5.1 surround setup (I have no need for 7.1).

* A wife, with specific decor-related specifications. In particular, she frowns on large speakers. The caveat being that if they enhance the contemporary décor or are unobtrusive, they might work.

* A large room that is difficult for listening. It’s 21 x 18 great room (18’ front wall) open to a 9 x 4 breakfast nook in the left rear, an 11 x 9 kitchen instead of the rearmost 11’ of left side wall, a hallway at the left front and a fireplace midway along the right sidewall. The plasma TV will live in an entertainment center/bookshelf configuration which is yet to be purchased and can be custom-made.

Requirements:
• $2000 budget if possible, for all 5 speakers.
• 90% TV/movies, 10% music, though I hear that with good enough fronts, you start listening to more music because it sounds so much better than it used to.
• I really like bass, but don’t need a subwoofer if the fronts can handle the lows sufficiently.
• I love a clear, accurate soundstage – locating the various instruments and hearing the bite of the horsehair on the violin strings. I’d err on the bright side, but not sibilant.

I listened to several sets of micros and they all sounded like crap. However, I wouldn’t be averse to using a pair of good micros (Gallos?) for the two rears. If someone makes excellent affordable big-sounding bookshelf speakers, or ones that sound good with a subwoofer, I’ll use those for the fronts. Otherwise, I’d entertain floorstanding fronts and seek advice on unobtrusive placement.

What do you recommend? My apologies in advance to those who seem to be answering the same question every day. Thanks for helping me out.

 

[jcPanny]

Speakers setup.

In your large room you will need floorstanders or efficient bookshelf speakers to play at reasonable levels. For under $2k, you could get the Axiom Audio M60's mains, VP150 center, and QS8 surrounds. Let "the boss" pick the color. Their M22ti bookshelf speakers are also good if you don't mind moderate listening levels or sit closer to the front of the room.

For that huge room you will need a high end 12" sub from SVS, HSU, or the Axiom EP500. Think $1k budget. You might be able to get away with a smaller sub and buttkickers on the couch.

 

[jaxvon]

I think you should also plan on visiting some hi-fi shops in the area. There are many manufacturers that make excellent sounding bookshelves that can crank out big sound. You will need a subwoofer, so make sure to budget for that. I would suggest that you consider the offerings from Hsu and SVS, as they are (IMO), the value leaders in your budget class. What exactly are the constraints on appearance? Pretty looking? Specific color, wood style?

 

[zumbo]

Give Monitor Audio a listen. You should be able to get the S6AV1 system somewhere around 2k. I auditioned these. They are killer. Just add a SV sub as mentioned. Or, if a great deal is offered with a MA sub, I would say go for it.

http://www.monitoraudio.com/products/home_cinema/av/silver.htm#s6av1

Mordaunt Short gets alot of praise around here.

http://www.mordauntshort.com/products_by_range.php

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/mordauntshort.html