Surround bookshelf choice

[ivseenbetter]

I have been reading some of the threads you guys have been posting in regarding bookshelf speakers. I don't want to hijack somebodies thread so I started my own.

I have a 30'x17'x8.5' room for my equipment and I decided to move from 5.2 to a 7.2 now instead of waiting. I keep finding info that points to using bookshelf speakers for my rear surround. With that in mind is there any major advantages to one over the other from the below three?

AV123 ELT 525 minis
Energy C200
Behringer B2030P

There will be about 10' of empty space from the back wall to where the first listener will be if that matters. Everybody seems to say good things about all three so I imagine I can't go wrong. I may just choose based on looks then.

 

[j_garcia]

Will you be doing any kind of multichannel music listening or movies only? If you intend to listen to a fair amount of m/c music (SACD, DVD-A, DTS), I'd consider bookshelves that match the mains well timbre wise. If mostly movies, I'd just go with the ELTs since you should get "family" pricing.

 

[ivseenbetter]

Will you be doing any kind of multichannel music listening or movies only? If you intend to listen to a fair amount of m/c music (SACD, DVD-A, DTS), I'd consider bookshelves that match the mains well timbre wise. If mostly movies, I'd just go with the ELTs since you should get "family" pricing.

Mostly movies...probably none-to-little multi channel music. I am looking at a used pair of ELTs for 200.

So no real advantage of one over the other?

 

[j_garcia]

For primarily movies, I would say little difference between them. Do you have the ability to set different crossover points on your receiver for different speaker types? (surrounds). What crossover point are you using for the mains?

 

[ivseenbetter]

yes i do have that ability. for now i am using 80hz.

 

[j_garcia]

The reason why I ask is because if you go with really small bookshelves and didn't have the ability to set different x-over for the surrounds, you could end up sending them bass that they can't handle and that can cause them to sound bad. You should be OK then.

 

[ivseenbetter]

Thanks for the peace of mind. I talked it over with the wife and she thinks we would be better served with black speakers in the back...which opens the door for the cheaper Behringers.

 

[jcPanny]

ELT525s

I am using the ELT525's for my surrounds with Ref 1's and Ref 100 up front. They are very nice, compact bookshelf speakers and are more than adequate for surround duty. They are also much smaller than the bookshelf speakers in the Rocket and X-series lines. Give them a try.

Since you already have some speakercrafts, you could also do another pair of in-ceilings for the surrounds or surround backs.