Small home theatre. 2.0 to 2.1. Very small compact speakers. Price range sub $800

I've never heard the Emotiva Airmotiv's but they seem to get very good reviews. I own other Emotiva speakers and have found them to be a very good bargain.

With a ribbon tweeter the Airmotiv's should be better than the average small speaker. The 5" model is right in your budget at $399 shipped - and may need a sub since they play down to 52hz according to the specs. Quite decent for music and normal TV watching but not for movies with low freq effects. Normal price is $599 - their specials usually run to the end of the year. Connecting a sub would only be a matter of splitting the RCA cable from each speaker and route both to the sub in the L/R jacks. Since the Airmotiv's and most subs are self powered a receiver won't be needed.

The Airmotiv 6 plays down to 43hz and for music and tv would not need a sub - at $579 and not needing a sub may be something to look at. They won't give you home-shaking bass but no bookshelf speaker will.

The emotiva's seem very interesting. Emotiva's xref subs won't do however, as they only take a reciever's line level input. They have not settings for crossover, phase or volume. Their subs assume you have a reciever that is doing all that.

In that large a volume. I'd tend to go a little larger if you could. I might be inclined to give the airmotiv 6 a whirl. It gets down to 42 hz and for about all music but pipe organ would suffice. Add a sub later if desired. But I'd give it a shot without. With the large volume and being open to other rooms any small sub is going to struggle so maybe you just do without.

I also wouldn't rule out a reciever and conventional speaker, albiet small. We've had a few threads in this forum for people looking for a 2 or 2.1 on a budget. The nice thing about the reciever route is you can always add on easily and have audyssey or room correction to level everything out.

this thread was almost identical:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1433473/new-system

Polk RTi bookshelves, Paradigm Montior (which uses trickle down tech from the Studio line, Energy RC-10s, and there are other reasonable bookshelves on a budget.
Edited by glangford - 11/22/12 at 3:31am

That would be a consequence of defining your requirements so tightly that there isn't very much room to recommend in.

I suggest that you consider the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers, which Music Direct has for $349/pair. IMO you can't beat them for under $500.

Check out the review article on them at Stereophile.com.

When you say no receiver will be present, do you mean you want self-powered speakers, with an amplifier built in?? (that is what the Audioengine 5+ is)

That is not clear.
Edited by commsysman - 11/22/12 at 9:55am

+1

I keep hearing good things about these, too, and the Airmotiv 6 sounds like a good choice for parents at that price

Nice panda noob november avatar, Bowie

The 6s are 220 off at 579 regular 799.