Need 5.2 - Bookshelf/Monitor - Wall Mounted/Close to Wall - $4000 to $5000

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for a 5.2 system. I do not have a receiver yet but plan to pick one up that has good room correction. I don't know a lot about speakers. Kind of like wine. I know a good wine from a bad one by taste, but I don't really know why. Same way with speakers. I do about 40/40/20 PC gaming/movies/music. I'm looking for all around performers.

I have a sketch of my proposed room layout. The surrounds have been placed at 110 degrees and then toed in to the center on either side of the sweet spot. The fronts have been placed at 30 degrees and also toed in to center on either side of the sweet spot. I used the dark lines to place the speakers. The dotted line represents the angle used to toe in the speaker.

The couch will probably need to be moved a little closer to the tv but this is generally the idea. As you can see the speakers are very close to the walls. I would like to mount these speakers on the walls if possible. That would allow me to place the subs wider, under the speakers, which would also help the layout.

Here's the url and image from the last forum:
5.1 vs 7.1 for This Room


My mind is boggled by the number of speaker choices from Ascend (Sierra-1 Series), Salk (HTS Series), Klipsch (RB-81 II), Polk (LSim Series), etc. I know there are a ton of other options. What would you guys recommend I pursue?

Thanks for the help everyone!

One thing I forgot to mention. I could set a custom speaker stand on top of the sub and get the bookshelves away from the walls a bit. Is this the more advisable way to go? I don't fully understand the Allison Effect but it seems to indicate that if I cross at 80 Hz I need the fronts 4 feet off the wall. That's just not possible.

Do the closed speakers have crossovers which are designed to minimize the Allison Effect when close to a wall? It doesn't seem like they can eliminate the phenomenon by being closed. A little confused on this.

Thanks guys.

Thanks Class A, I'll take a look at those

Thanks Rick,

Those Song Series speakers really look great. How would you, or anyone reading this, view the following comparison in terms of quality, value, and performance?

Salk:
2 Song Towers - $1,999 ($500 less if going with Song Surround II's as fronts)
Song Center - $795
2 Song Surround I's - $895
2 Rythmic 12" Subs - $2,590
TOTAL - $6,279 ($500 less if going with Song Surround II's as fronts)

Ascend Acoustics
Sierra-1 LRC & Surrounds - $1,958
3 NRT Upgrades (LRC) - $900
2 F12SE Subs - $1,998
TOTAL - $4,856

That's a $1,423 difference using list prices, $923 if going with Song Surround II's as fronts. I've read glowing reviews of both of these speakers and manufacturers. Both have been very responsive to my questions via email so I can vouch for their customer service orientation.

The Salks can be front ported (a few more dollars I believe). The Sierra-1's are supposedly good, even if are only a few inches from the walls. I'd like some opinions in this area. I don't know if the Sierra's can be front ported. The Sierra-1's are also beefy for surrounds, maybe that isn't what I would actually do. Not sure about what's best. Those are good questions to consider.

What would you do in my position?

Thanks for all the help.

Very true. I am comparing apples to oranges if I don't take that into account. A fairer comparison would be:

Salk:
2 Song Towers - $1,999
1 Song Center - $795
2 Song Surround I's - $895
2 F12SE Subs $1,998
TOTAL - $5,687

Ascend Acoustics:
2 Sierra Towers - $1,898 (NRT standard)
1 Sierra Horizon Center $998 (NRT standard)
2 Sierra-1 Surrounds $798
2 F12SE Subs $1,998
TOTAL - $5,692

That's about as close as it gets... One benefit for me in going with Ascend is that its a 5 hour drive from me but one that I periodically do on business anyway. That makes them essentially local for me in that communicating with them face to face is definitely possible as well as carting my precious speakers myself rather than trusting a shipper. Given the quality and price similarities its hard to make a decision any other way...

Does anyone have experience with the Gallo Reference Stradas? I'll look into them as well, thanks OldMovieNut!

After quite a bit of searching I've decided on the Ascend speakers:

2 Sierra Towers - $1,898 (NRT standard)
1 Sierra Horizon Center $998 (NRT standard)
2 Sierra-1 Surrounds $798
2 F12SE Subs $1,998
TOTAL - $5,692

I wont be buying for a while but I'll let you all know how it goes when I do. My main reason for choosing ascend is their clos(er) locality to me and aesthetics. I honestly think both are great setups.

These speakers appear to still be okay relatively close to walls. Not quite in line with the title of this thread, but I think this is the best setup for my application nonetheless.

I'm in Fresno, CA