Very small speakers for kitchen tv

since there is no receiver involved in this setup sounds like you need some powered speakers. Basically you're looking for computer speakers or something similar.

Maybe one of these Swan speakers will meet your needs?
http://www.theaudioinsider.com/produ...5bd9657fc30581

http://www.theaudioinsider.com/produ...5bd9657fc30581

The H2 Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.75 x 4.6in

I'd rather have the set with the subwoofer though.

They want $749 for the H6 sub? A 30lb unit with a 6.5" driver? :O

I doubt anyone would buy that H6 sub unless they like throwing away money.

The following active speakers fit this requirement, and at least according to the specs (65Hz-22kHz +/-2.0dB), may go deep enough to satisfy without a separate "sub":

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-2

I saw the AE-2 but the price is $199 which is double what he was willing to spend.

You're right, I don't know how I missed that because I usually look at the budget first! On the other hand, it's useful for comparison, anyway, or in case the OP happens to be that flexible.

I looked around some more, and the options sure seem to be limited. The only alternative I've been able to find so far is the JBL Jembe ($60), which measures 5.3" x 4.2" x 4.2". It probably has better bass than the Swan H2, but my concern is that they both appear to have a single full-range driver. While they probably sound better than a small flat-panel TV's speakers, I'm not sure by how much. I seriously doubt that either would compare to the Audioengine 2, which of course costs $199, but seems to be a pair of full-fledged hi-fi speakers as opposed to computer speakers.

Why not the PSB Image B4? It's hella small. Pair that with a micro Amphony M200 amp (50W@8ohm per ch):

http://www.amphony.com/images/main/a100size.jpg

I've never heard either of them, so I wouldn't know. Some similar products I've heard and used can sound surprisingly decent, but hi-fi they are not. Maybe the Swan H2 is an exception to the rule, but I'd have to audition it myself. Hopefully somebody here who owns or has heard it will compare it to quality compact two-way monitors.


I looked at the MS16, but rejected it because it's over 9" tall and over 5" wide. If that would be OK with you, then the MS16 will do, but then again I rejected every other speaker, both active and passive, that I looked at due to size, as well. Passive speakers--in combination with an inexpensive miniature stereo amplifier that you could probably tuck away--would give you a lot more options, I believe (I'd have to look again to see what's available).


I don't like the look of those negative reviews, not just for durability/reliability concerns but in regard to audio quality. It's larger than 6" x 4" anyway, and you might be able to find a good deal on the slightly larger but far superior M-Audio AV40 (may actually sound better than the Audioengine 2 for less money...if you can accommodate its size).


I rejected this one, too, for being significantly larger than your specs. It's a passive monitor, so you'll need an amplifier to go along with it (such as this one).

So what are your real maximum dimensional specs?

Now this is a nice setup (I want this for my computer now...thanks a lot ), but I think that the NHT SuperZero 2.0 (suggested by the OP himself) at less than 2/3 the price should suffice for this purpose while keeping closer to the original budget (unless you've found a fantastic deal on the Image B4, as even used they'd go for more, I'd think). I like NHTs anyway, and being sealed should, if anything, help ameliorate some of the potential placement issues.

I'll look for additional options as soon as the OP tells us exactly what the absolute maximum dimensions are, as every additional fraction of an inch would potentially give him more options.

There are nice little amps you could use passive speakers with, though. The example I gave earlier, the Lepai TA2020A+, is only $30.24 (including shipping)--that's more than nothing, but it should give you more quality options, which I'll get back to you on. My main concern is that whatever you end up purchasing will be worth what you paid for it, and even with "computer speakers" that cost $100, I'm not convinced that you'll get enough of an improvement over your TV's built-in speakers.


Yes, but they would be a big improvement. Unfortunately, regarding audio quality, size and money both matter, especially at this end of the size range. You don't need to spend that much to get a worthwhile improvement, though.


OK, I'll compile a list based (loosely) on this.


...but it's...Bose! I've actually listened to these out of curiosity, and I thought they sounded terrible (makes the reviled Acoustimass systems sound great in comparison). I'm trying not to be biased, but I doubt that the slurred sibilance and general lack of definition that I heard was imagined. Even my sad little $12 Altec Lansing BX1120 computer speakers sound better than the Companion 2--they may be dull but at least they're reasonably accurate and resolving for cheap speakers, unlike the "staticky" Bose speakers (no better than Cyber Acoustics). Go and listen to them for yourself wherever they're sold (I forget, maybe Target?)--they're better than the built-in speakers of small flat-panel TVs in some ways (louder, less hollow), but worse in others. Even for $99 or less, total, you should be able to do better.

One thing to consider is that if you want to control the volume with the TV's remote you'll need a variable line out signal going to the power speakers. Most TVs don't have that option. The Sonys do. A headphone output may work OK.

I'm not done searching yet, but so far I've found this:

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-AMERICA-DV...2458463&sr=8-1

It's inexpensive, very small (7" H x 4 7/8" W x 4 1/8" D), and cheesy spring clips aside, seems to be of decent quality. It should sound much better than "computer speakers" of similar size, I'd expect--"real" speakers for a total system price of about $80 (with a separate stereo amplifier).

Mull over that while I continue to look around--or better yet, help me look around.


That's a good point. Vizio TVs all seem to come with at least headphone outputs these days, which will work if nothing better is available, but I don't know about variable line outputs, and I don't know about older models, either. jaz50y, does your TV have either type of output or both?

Well, I took a second look, and unfortunately had to reject every single one of them again--except for the aforementioned BIC DV32B/DV32W--due to either excessive cost (the vast majority) or inadequate quality. I guess there's not much of a market for tiny speakers (less than 8" tall or so) that are affordable but don't suck.

I also took a second look at active pro monitors, and came up with the Alesis M1Active 320 USB (7.375" H x 5" W x 6.5" D):
http://www.alesis.com/m1active320usb
http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-M1Activ...2465009&sr=8-1

It seems to be heavily discounted at $83.61 (see link above), at least for now, and looks like a great deal.

About the only other alternatives I've managed to find are along these lines:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Speak...463659&sr=8-36

Not too promising, I suspect, although I could be wrong.

I'd like to think that winky means you know you're being unreasonable and unrealistic. Yeah, wouldn't adding a flux capacitor or two let them defy the laws of physics and economics?

$50 for these Pioneers

Small, cheap, good sounding - pick any two

And the description of the manufacturer. I've always heard good things about it, though. Good luck!


I think the one that I listened to was actually the older (non-Series II) version, which sounds a bit different from your description in that they had a more prominent but distorted treble.


Good, I always like to hear about results (doesn't always happen, leaving everybody hanging ).


Well, sort of in that the OP was asking for a lot, and therefore shouldn't be too surprised to find that the number of options was limited. On the other hand, what I was looking for were tiny speakers that "don't suck"--nothing fancy or of super high quality, but something clearly better than typical computer speakers at around the same size and at not too high of a price. This is neither unreasonable nor unrealistic, and as proof I even found one such example in the BIC DV32 (and another active speaker, although it was on sale). I did initially expect to find at least a few more examples among passive speakers, but instead what I found were either extremely cheap and awful, or rather expensive and of exquisite quality, with very little in between--just the BIC DV32, really, and a Dayton satellite speaker that seemed like a clearly inferior value, so I didn't even bother mentioning it.


WAY too big for the requirements.


Point taken, albeit I was in fact successful in finding a few acceptable options, so it seems that physics and economics both got pwned, big-time.

I'm one of the few people here who regularly mentions that the point of declining returns for speakers starts at about $40. So I'm all for cheap speakers, the enjoyment and value is tremendous.

But you're just showing how little you know to suggest that BIC speaker doesn't kinda suck. All little speakers kinda suck, they simply can't deliver enough mid bass to deliver a natural tone. They can't reach down far enough to cross with a sub. And now you're saying that all you're looking for is "acceptable." OK.

Most people eventually realize that it's worth finding the space for a speaker that's a little bigger than that one. (The ones with a clue will laugh at how they thought they actually knew something about speakers when they started out.) The laws of physics haven't been repealed.

The Audioengines and some other little speakers tweak that a little, but at a price. There's those laws of physics and economics again.

As far as price, many people will spend $100-200 a pair, plus the cost of an amp - or get powered speakers in that range - and get substantial improvement, that's closer to the sweet spot, where almost anyone can hear the differences if they listen.

But cheap can be very good, especially on sale or used. Small always kinda sucks, though sometimes it's a tradeoff people find worth making.

The point was - small, cheap, good, pick any two. The Pioneers are an example of cheap and good. The Bics are small and cheap. The Audioengines are small and good.

But as many here often mention, going used can be a good way to improve on the tradeoffs. As can waiting for a sale, there's always something on sale, being phased out for newer models, etc.

Sure, attack the poster instead of what he says.


I shouldn't even have to mention this to somebody as sage as you, but sure it kind of sucks--the point, however, was to improve upon the sound quality of even punier flat panel TV speakers without being significantly larger than the requirements, or too expensive. Sound quality is relative, correct? So is the definition of "sucks," which in this case means flat panel TV and most small computer/multimedia speakers. My point was to give the OP as many options as possible--more expensive for higher quality or less expensive for lower quality, but it has to be rather small.


That's right--they ALL do in some ways just because they're small, even more expensive ones that try to work miracles through DSP or other technologies. That's the trade-off for small size--who doesn't know that?


Not acceptable for a home theater front channel, but more acceptable than a couple of Bose computer speakers, yeah. Much depends on expectation, as well, and the OP wasn't expecting miracles--just something noticeably better that was very small.


We already went over the size issue earlier--the OP doesn't want anything larger than about 8" tall or so. He isn't building a home theater or music system for critical listening--just watching TV in the kitchen.


That was a joke.... That's what "" often means.


I totally agree (strange, huh?), but standards and requirements are absolute, not relative, right? (the rolling eyes icon is often used to indicate sarcasm or exasperation)

why not the ZVOX speakers?
http://www.zvoxaudio.com/cgi-bin/item/4002201