Title: Best speaker option ~$300? 2.1 (Energy RC10 vs Arx A1b) vs 3.1 (3 x Energy Veritas V-Mini-C) vs Other?
(edit: title too long, looks like it got cut off)
Hey-
Audioholics noobie here (long-time reader, first-time poster
) and looking for some help (or maybe just some confirmation I'm on the right path)... My long title kind of sums up what I'm looking for help with, but basically I'm trying to find out what my best option is (in terms of value and quality) for some replacement speakers in the $300 range (willing to go a little higher if there's a big value difference).
Anyway, here's some background information...
Objective:
Replace my trusty, but underwhelming Logitech surround setup with a high quality (budget-friendly) sound system. The new set up will be multi-purposed, but heavily weighed for listening to music. I'd also like to have the option of upgrading to 3.1 or 5.1 in the future without having to replace whatever I buy now.
Intended Usage:
- 75% music while working (in "room"... more on that below)
- 10% music while upstairs (...)
- 15% movies/TV/youtube/etc (already have a HT set up downstairs though, but would watch
occasionally).
Room/Area configuration:
I have an office/nook area upstairs in my house. One wall is open (above about 4') and there's no door, so it's an open area to the upstairs (2 full walls, .5 wall horizontally open, .7 wall vertically open). I have an extended desk that goes wall to wall (current subwoofer is under desk, near corner).
Other equipment:
Denon AVR 1613 (purchased)
SB-1000 (open to other suggestions, but I'm leaning towards the SB-1000 (and that's my price ceiling)).
Leading Candidates:
Arx A1b- If I go 2.0, as of now, I'd probably go with the Arx A1bs. Looks like they are well reviewed pretty much everywhere and a strong option for music.
Energy RC 10- I've been seeing good things about the RC 10s in terms of value and quality for listening to music. It looks like they might have been discontinued so not sure if tracking down a pair would be an issue.
I was thinking about getting a 2.1 set up now and potentially adding a center/surround at some later point... but I saw a deal for
Energy Veritas V-Mini-C for a little over $90 each (+free shipping). That seems like a pretty awesome deal, which threw a wrench into my plan... It looks like they are also good for music and a 'shorter' center channel would work well for me (the way my monitors are set up, a sub 5" center would be ideal).
Follow up questions:
Does anyone have any experience using 3 of these (V-Mini-C) in a 3.1 or 5.1 setup?
(Main concern) Would they might be too 'bright' for music?
How much of a drop off would these be from the Arx A1b
for music if I have a decent sub like the SB-1000 to go along with them?
I'd be fine with open box or manufacturer refurbished items too (under the right circumstances).
Phwew, well, if anyone makes it through all that... Thanks
and let me know what you think and if you have any questions.
