What speakers for HT setup with proj. and fixed screen?

[Gatcod]

Hello all,
I'm a noob here looking for some speaker advice. I'm setting up a home theater in my basement, with a projector and a fixed 100" diagonal screen. I'll be sitting about 13-14' from the screen.

I can't use flush mount (in wall) speakers due to room layout constraints. So my options are floor standing or small, slim wall mount speakers. I'm not too keen on small satellite speakers and floor mount is not ideal due to kids maybe knocking them over (plus I'd like to keep it rather sleek with everything off the floor).

Here's one final constraint: Cost. I'd like to stay around $500 for all three speakers (Right, Left and Center). Are there any good sounding speakers in a nice form factor (non-floor standing, non-satellite) for a fixed screen setup in that price range?

Thanks

 

[FirstReflection]

How would you feel about standard bookshelf speakers that are simply mounted to the wall with a bracket?

What are the dimensions of your room? And how much space to you have around your screen?

 

[jostenmeat]

How would you feel about standard bookshelf speakers that are simply mounted to the wall with a bracket?

What are the dimensions of your room? And how much space to you have around your screen?

+1. "Slim wall mount speakers" at this price point would be disappointing, to well um, many of us members. Some Ascend 170se that FR just recommended elsewhere, 3 of em, would break budget just barely and I give them the props. Very easy to wall mount. Not sexy, vinyl type finish IIRC, bit boxy looking, but excellent value, and you won't be disappointed for the money spent.

 

[Gatcod]

room size

My room is 15' wide by 21' deep. I can fit a 100 diagonal screen on my wall, with about 8" of space between the edge of the screen and the edge of the wall. If I need to, I can always get a smaller screen to accommodate wider speakers.

Bookshelf speakers are OK, but I was hoping someone made decent "slim wall mount" (usually intended for plasma TVs) speakers in a budget price range. I assumed there would be lots of options because many people now have big plasma's or projector screens and want to mount good looking speakers next to it. Seems like it would be a pretty big area of the market these days. I know in-wall speakers are popular, but I can't do them because of room constraints (too detailed to get into here).

Thanks

 

[fredk]

There are probably a number of options in the category you are looking at, but they are not often discussed around here. We tend to be a little more hardcore on the audio side of things I guess.

Something like this Axiom M0 onwall would give you decent sound quality, but limited bandwidth and probably also volume. A sub would be mandatory for movies and music.

You have two big constraints, size and price, that together may make it difficult to get good sound. I would agree with others here, look at wall mounting a decent bookshelf in your budget range.

I guess it depends on how good you want the sound to be.

 

[gmichael]

It's going to be tough with that budget. A good sub is a must for HT. That alone could be over $500.

You may be able to find a good deal on the Infinity Primus bookshelf speakers if you dig. Maybe check Ebay for a used set of Primus 150's. I did find a great deal a couple years back on the JBL E20's ($40 a pair). Not sure if they are still available though.

 

[gmichael]

Maybe a pair of these (JBL Venue Series Stage 6-Inch 3-Way Speaker) http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Venue-Stage-6-Inch-Speaker/dp/B000FBPHA2/ref=pd_sim_e_1

And one of these (JBL Venue Series Voice Center Channel 5-Inch 2-Way Dual Speaker) http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Center-Channel-5-Inch-Speaker/dp/B000EZ764E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255468774&sr=1-1

IMO, you'll still want a sub.

 

[Gatcod]

I forgot to mention I already have a decent Paradigm subwoofer (powered). So all I need is the right, left, and center speakers.

What do most people do with fixed screens?

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Highbar]

There are a few choices in the form factor you are looking at but everything that I can think of right now is out of your price range. I see a lot of acoustically transparent screens being used now so the speakers can be mounted behind them. That way there are no size restrictions or locations problems.

Could you take a picture of the wall so we could see what you are working with? My other concern would be that placing the speakers that close to the wall you are going to need some room treatments. I would look into mounting the speakers under the screen and angled slightly upwards at the listener. If you have multiple rows of seating then maybe above the screen?

Axiom also makes the W series which are an on wall/in wall combination. The Ascend 170's are a nice option and in you price range but pushing the width limits. The 340's are out of your price range just for a pair but are only 7.5" wide. SVS has their SCS speakers on sale right now you. Could the front 3 for less than $500 and they would be nice but again not a slim speaker.

Good luck in your hunt and pics always help

 

[shadyJ]

I would look into some Hsu Research HB-1s or some Elemental Design A6 6T6 MTM speakers. I might also look into some Infinity Primus 162s with the Primus center.

 

[FirstReflection]

Gatcod,

on-wall speakers are definitely a hot market item right now. You're correct that many people are looking for slim, wall-mounted speakers to go along with their wall-mounted flat panel displays.

The problem, though, is that an on-wall speaker is more or less always a compromised design. There's just no getting around physics, I'm afraid

There are some fairly decent sounding on-wall speakers out there, but, unfortunately, most of them are above your budget.

Having the speakers so close to the side wall is also going to be problematic for performance. You asked what most people do with a fixed projection screen. Personally, when I was running a front projector, I used tower speakers and a centre speaker on a stand. A lot of folks either do that, or they use a cabinet system to hide the speakers and either use in-cabinet speakers or just bookshelf speakers behind an acoustically transparent door in the cabinet system.

If you're determined to have the speakers up, off the ground and you're also intent on having them look good and you also want three front speakers for a low price, I would have to recommend that the best course of action is actually to spend as little as possible whilst still getting at least semi-decent performing speakers.

I say that because I basically look at it this way - either you forego the desire for good-looking on-wall speakers and simply opt for towers or bookshelves, or else you pay quite a high price for on-walls that look good, sound good, but cost a lot and are compromised by the placement anyway.

To me, it makes more sense - if you want to stick with on-walls - to just go for the lowest budget so that upgrading in the future will be easier, come sooner and you'll be out of pocket as little as possible for right now.

To that end, I would definitely point you towards tSc and their good-looking and pretty darn decent TSAT-2000SB speakers.

Three of those will only run you $300 and I think they will fit your need nicely. They defnitely need the help of a subwoofer. But for on-wall speakers, they perform pretty darn well. Better than a lot of other on-wall speakers - and that's without considering the price.

I would say, that the TSAT-2000 are probably your best option overall. If I were to recommend based on what I think would actually sound the best, I would recommend the SVSound SBS-01 and SCS-01 bookshelf speakers mounted to the wall, but the SVSound speakers certainly won't look as nice.

So to me, it's a choice between good looks with decent sound or slightly ugly looks with better (but still compromised) sound To be honest, I think the tSc TSAT speakers are a lot closer to what you had envisioned when you first asked here

 

[Gatcod]

Thanks for the replies; Here's more info and pics

I really appreciate the replies, thanks for the help!

I attached a few pics of my intended HT room. That wall I intend to hang a screen on is 6'-6" tall and 9' wide (from door edge to door edge). The reason I can't get behind the wall is the door on the left side is a sliding door that slides into the wall.

So after reading the replies, maybe I should use what I already have. Back in 1999 I spent $550 for a pair of Energy mini-tower speaker (Model XL-25). I also bought a matching Energy center channel for $180 (Model XL-C). They've been decent speakers, but on one of the towers, the tweeter is blown. They also seem "quieter" and less crisp than when I first bought them. However, it could be my 10 year old Yamaha receiver (originally paid $250) that is very quiet lately (even at three-quarters volume, it's not that loud). So I think the real reason is my receiver is half-broken.

Are those Energy speakers decent speakers? I attached a few pictures.

I was originally against the idea of tower speakers for a projector home theater, but maybe it won't be so bad. Even mounting the center channel on a simple stand isn't a bad idea.

Well, scratch the pictures idea, I can't seem to figure out how to attach them. How do you attach pics?

Thanks again for the help

 

[lsiberian]

If you are good with wood you could build your own front speakers.

 

[FirstReflection]

I can't remember, but I think you need a minimum of 5 posts before you can attach pics.

What you described about the wall behind the screen containing a sliding door makes sense. I can envision what you are talking about.

Energy speakers are, in general, pretty good speakers. But if you have a blown tweeter, it's time to either get it repaired or get new speakers!

Have a good look at the SVSound SBS-01 speakers because they might actually suit your needs. They are just very plain-looking black boxes, but there's no real need to draw visual attention to your speakers when they're flanking a nice, big projection screen

If you go with the most simple wall-mount of just using the included keyhole mount to hand the SBS-01 speakers on a wall-anchored screw, they'll only be sticking out about 10" from the wall. This would actually help - sonically - because it would get the front baffle of the speaker out in front of the frame of your projection screen.

Paradigm's Cinema Series speakers - the 110, 220 or 330 in particular - would also be candidates. But to be honest, the tSc TSAT2000 speakers are just as good and cost a fair bit less, so if slim wall-mount is what you're after, I'd still go for the tSc TSATs.

If you can spring for 3 of the SVSound SCS-01, you'd have plenty of output for your room, an easily mountable set of speakers and pretty darn good sound. Maybe make a quick cardboard replica so that you can really get an idea of their physical size. See just how much the SCS-01 would really stick out if you mounted them on the wall and how 3 plain, black boxes would look surrounding your projection screen. Personally, I think they would look just fine. And sonically, they'd be a top choice for your budget for sure

 

[Gatcod]

I'll look into the speakers you recommended. Maybe it won't look so bad having bookshelf style sticking out of the wall (and a cardboard mockup is a good idea).

Thanks!

 

[SN95GT50]

Are the TST-2000SB still available? I can't seam to find them on their website. The TSAT-1000SB look a little small for the fronts (aestetically speaking). I love the low depth of the 1000, how would it work with a pair of 1000 in the back and a pair of 2000 in the front. What center channel would you recommend with that set up?

SN95

 

[mjg100]

How would you feel about standard bookshelf speakers that are simply mounted to the wall with a bracket?

What are the dimensions of your room? And how much space to you have around your screen?

The baffle step compensation will be wrong if you use a speaker that was not designed for wall mounting.

 

[mjg100]

+1. "Slim wall mount speakers" at this price point would be disappointing, to well um, many of us members. Some Ascend 170se that FR just recommended elsewhere, 3 of em, would break budget just barely and I give them the props. Very easy to wall mount. Not sexy, vinyl type finish IIRC, bit boxy looking, but excellent value, and you won't be disappointed for the money spent.

There are some current deals on ebay for slim on-wall speakers. cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140365767035&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT Also you can get good performance using slim on wall speakers if set up so that the speakers are not trying to reproduce the low frequencies. Set them up so that the AVR crosses over to multiple subs at 100Hz. Locate a sub by each main. This way you are using the slim on-wall speakers as mid/high units which do not require a large volume to do a good job. This method will give the on-wall speakers increased headroom and dynamics. Great way to have an AT screen in a small room since the AT screen will not have to be spaced out 18" to 24" into the room and yet with the higher crossover you are not making a huge sacrifice on SPL.

I do this in my room and people are shocked at the SPL and dynamics that I get out of a small speaker system. My system will hit reference levels 105db from the speakers and 115db from the subs at listening position. There are a lot of ways to make a good HT and you do not have to spend a fortune nor do you have to use giant speakers. The main thing for good sound is to work on the room with sound treatments. A good room and speaker placement can make a crappy speaker sound okay, while a crappy room and poor speaker placement can make a good speaker sound bad.

 

[jostenmeat]

Cheers mjg. I believe you. That seems like a great deal, even if I have never heard RBH. At that price point, you could indeed, well almost, fit in a couple of subs at the $500 budget.

btw, I don't spend nearly as much time in the screens subforum at AVS, as I do here, but I've noticed your posts are very helpful!

I recently, if only at a glance thus far, checked out your DIY masking system! I would be apprehensive about trying something like that, but kudos to you! What is the bare minimum space required between screen and wall to pull that off?

Oh, btw, maybe you can befriend one of our moderators here, jinjiku, as he's looking to buy his first PJ, and IIRC lives in the same state as you. I'm sure he could use your expertise.