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new 3.1 under $800 for odd shaped room (w/ PICS)

post #1 of 14
1/20/11 at 4:07pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to get my parents some new speakers to go along with the TV they recently purchased. Their room is very oddly shaped and has the TV located in a corner. Ignore the current locations of the speakers. There was a top section of the corner stand which was removed to accommodate the new TV. The current amp is a Yamaha Natural Sound HTR-5560.

PICTURES:








I was originally looking at the BIC Acoustech PL-76 tower speakers (LINK) and PL-26 center (LINK). The sub would be a BIC PL-200 (LINK). I can get all this for $750 shipped.

The stand for TV was going to sit on top of the center speaker (it is close to the same size) and the towers would be on the floor at the sides. The top of the towers would be at just about the bottom of the TV once it is elevated on top of the center speaker. The sub would probably go in front of or behind the couch against the wall.

I was able to get some pictures of the room in hopes to see what opinions anyone here has as far as speaker locations or types. I know this is about as far from ideal as it gets in terms of layout, but any help is appreciated. I would like to stay under $800
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post #2 of 14
1/21/11 at 3:35pm
You might consider Boston Acoustics VR1/VRC:
http://www.onecall.com/product/Bosto...tem/_/R-104909

The VRC isn't quite as tall as the BIC center but the VR1 towers are also a bit shorter than the BIC towers so it should fit. I am using BA CR95/CRC speakers in a similar corner configuration and the result is quite nice. The VR1 is a better speaker than the CR95.

You would still have $250 for a sub, although I have found that the BA towers have plenty of bass so I don't bother with a sub.
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post #3 of 14
1/21/11 at 9:48pm
IMO, tower speakers sitting in front of the cabinet and blocking your path at the front door would be a minus in that space. Consider two systems. One for music, and one for movies. I would spend all I could on a powered sound bar, positioned as close to the TV screen as possible. Then start building a music system in an area where it will blend in and fit in with your current decor.
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post #4 of 14
1/22/11 at 12:20am
Honestly I don't know of any great solutions for a space like that but I know that the you're going to want front ported or sealed speakers in that space. A rear ported speaker needs 18-24" behind it and that just won't work there. Infinity's P252 tower is front ported and cheap. The PC250 is the correct center but as close together as those towers are going to be I'd just go with a phantom center for now and put the extra money into a lot more sub.

Along the same lines you could go with Infinity P162 bookshelves in Pinpoint AM40 wall mounts and put the extra money into a still better sub. Review

http://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/primus.html
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post #5 of 14
1/22/11 at 12:44am
Forget floor-standing towers in that position. I'd look at building some kind of shelf above the TV to set the L/C/R bookshelves on and aim them down.

If you want a smaller option and have your speakers to the left and right of the TV, you should be able to get three Orb speakers to fit.

Polk has their Blackstone series that has been getting good initial reviews.
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post #6 of 14
1/22/11 at 6:24am
Been looking at the pictures a few times - looks like the best you can
do, would be a sub/sat system. Towers will be out of place and will not
balance well.
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post #7 of 14
1/22/11 at 6:37am
If you still want floor standing speakers, you need ver narrow ones. Here is one example: http://www.definitivetech.com/produc...=Mythos%20Five

I do not think that center speaker will be useful here (left and right speakers are too close to each other). Take away stand, and use its place for a sub.
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post #8 of 14
1/22/11 at 12:05pm
Since you already were looking at the Bic Acoutech's, here's an idea:
The Bic Formula series uses the same drivers as the Acoustech, but without the glossy end caps on the cabinets. Also, the Formula line has a sealed bookshelf version with wall mounts included. Why not just get two Bic FH-65B and the matching FH6-LCR center (or you can just get 3 FH6-LCR's). You can do this for as low as $280 and as I said, wall mounts are included with all of these and then just get the Bic subwoofer as you planned.
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post #9 of 14
1/22/11 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the replies. I am hesitant to go to satellite speakers since the ones we have now don't have "big" sound. I know they are not audiophile quality, but it makes me think any satellites I get will have the same type of sound.

The Orb speakers look decent... I'll look into those some more. The specs say it has a 3" driver and goes down to 80Hz. The Polk Blackstone satellites only goes down to 135Hz (-3 dB)

I still want to go use towers because I feel like only speakers with larger drivers will have the full sound I'm looking for. The Boston Acoustics VR1 tower is shorter, but deeper than the BIC towers, so those won't fit as well.

There isn't much room to put bookshelf speakers anywhere. I would have to either raise the TV considerably or wall mount them next to or above the TV. Wall mounted bookshelf speakers might be the best overall compromise, but large wall-mounted speakers seem tacky to me.
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post #10 of 14
1/22/11 at 4:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lathrash View Post

Thanks for all the replies. I am hesitant to go to satellite speakers since the ones we have now don't have "big" sound. I know they are not audiophile quality, but it makes me think any satellites I get will have the same type of sound.

The Orb speakers look decent... I'll look into those some more. The specs say it has a 3" driver and goes down to 80Hz. The Polk Blackstone satellites only goes down to 135Hz (-3)

They are small speakers.
The ORB is more than 3db down at 80hz - you need to crossover
around 120 hz.

Frequency Response 80Hz - 20,000Hz
(120Hz-18,000Hz optimal)
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post #11 of 14
1/22/11 at 5:41pm
Go back and look at my suggestion for P162s. They have a decent sound for the price and you could mount them right at the top corners of the TV.
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post #12 of 14
1/22/11 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sholling View Post

Go back and look at my suggestion for P162s. They have a decent sound for the price and you could mount them right at the top corners of the TV.

ok, i'll look into those. thanks.
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post #13 of 14
1/22/11 at 5:55pm
And look at these - much better than the Yamaha sats.
They can be used as left, center and right. Then get a
Bic sub if you want.
http://www.emptek.com/ew25.php
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post #14 of 14
1/22/11 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01 View Post

And look at these - much better than the Yamaha sats.
They can be used as left, center and right. Then get a
Bic sub if you want.
http://www.emptek.com/ew25.php

hmm... those would be much more aesthetically pleasing too... i'll check those out.
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