Need smaller speakers with big sound for large room

Also look at EMP
http://www.emptek.com/ew30.php

I use my B&W CM5s in a large room with good results.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/CM_Series/CM5.html

the definitive technology sound pretty good even the smaller ones for bass. i heard some bookshelf b&w speakers that sounded pretty amazing also so eecle is right about them.

murph do you want a speaker with a lot of bass?

The CM5s run $1500/pair new. They are not really designed to be wall mounted (rear-ported) but they could be with the right mounts and distance from the wall. The B&W 685s can be wall-mounted and are cheaper at $650/pair. Those KEFs you are considering are definitely worth the auditioning time.

I highly recommend the Klipsch Reference series.

I'd go with two pairs of RB-51 ii bookshelves, about $350 for one pair, which is a FANTASTIC price for what they can do.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040LG96O/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000NGYLVA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0QFWSZBT552JSHZ4E0NH

Then, I'd go with the Klipsch RC-52 ii center channel, about $370. Easily one of the best center channels on the market.

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Series-Channel-Loudspeaker/dp/B0040QW7KQ/ref=pd_sim_e_1

I'd be weary about Epik subs, as they have had very poor communication and availability lately. I would go with two Klipsch Reference rw12ds when on sale for $300, personally. Another great option is the Lava LSP12 subs for around $300 shipped with the avsforum 15% discount.

If you are wanting something slightly bigger and more powerful, I'd go with the Klipsch Reference RB-61 ii bookshelves, and the Reference RC-62 ii center channel. You'd be hard pressed to find anything better for price/performance ratio.
Edited by blake18 - 12/23/12 at 8:52pm

murph if you are near nyc i know of a dealer who has paradigm psb martin logan and monitor audio and other things. if you are near nyc let me know if you want his address and number. i went over 3 hours to hear his monitor audio speakers.

the guy in nyc is in manhattan

Look at Focal 705V - special price.
http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/34398

sorry for the confusion murph. I don't know why I thought you were in New York. I think that Mordaunt Short sounds good, but the bass isn't as big. I think that mission speakers have good bass for bookshelf size. I have a pair that I got used at a thrift store and like them. If you want a lot of bass I guess Definitive technology. People say that NHT sounds good for the money. Anyone that is nearbye where you can hear NHT? were you impressed with the kef and definitive technology speakers or not really? I hear that Focal is good. Any focal dealers near you?

I never heard Focal, but many people in the past that I read reviews about them on were impressed with them. I would suggest Dali, but they don't sound good with everything. I like them with certain amps. They can get pricey also. sometimes newegg.com has good deals on definitive technology speakers. some b&w stuff I like and other models I don't. I called b&w once and emailed them once before. Both times they were a little snobby. I hear that some higher end Boston Accoustics speakers sound pretty good. Do you like that brand? Have you got to hear PSB speakers? I thought that they sounded nice. the problem that I have with very expensive speaker brands is that a lot of times I find the tweeters to be to bright and high pitched. the epos speakers that I heard before for 1500 a pair sounded good, but lacked the better bass of my energy veritas 6.2. I would recommend the energy veritas but they are discontinued. some places online still have them.

are you looking for a certain size woofer driver size in the bookshelf speaker?

I don't like the by appointment only places either. if they are there anyway at the store doing stuff why can't they wait on you if you walk in. it would make the stores more money by waiting on more walk in customers. not everyone has flexible hours to do appointment only times. they may work a lot

You could still use a rear-ported book shelf speaker if you utilized port plugs and an 80 Hz or higher crossover. The Monitor Audio RX-1 or RX-2 come to mind as well as the PSB Imagine B.

Some front ported bookshelves I can think of are the Kef Q100/Q300. NHT classic 2 are sealed acoustic suspension with no ports so those would work too. That focal set someone posted in this thread also look good

+1 Those Q300s would be very nice and more appropriate since they're front-ported.

In your situation (bookshelf speaker in a cabinet shelf) I would +1 the KEF Q300 and the NHT classic 2. I've heard both. I've not heard the Focal, but they get universally good reviews and that is a good price. For that space and price point I would also recommend looking at the (sealed) Ascend CMT-340 SE speakers.

Both the NHT and Ascend speakers let you audition in home for 30 days - only cost is return shipping if you don't keep them (NHT has free "to" shipping at the moment and holiday discount pricing). The KEF Q300 (through accessories4less) has a 30 day trial also but with a 15% restock fee. The Focal dealer has a 20% restock fee (though 30 day trial may not be available on special pricing purchases, you'd have to check.)

Trying out speakers in your home, particularly in your situation, is often a very good idea.

BTW, good news I think that you're able to get away from only flat/wall-mounted speakers ; )

would the kef or nht be better for him sdg

Between his having a somewhat unique situation - i.e. the speaker being inside a cabinet shelf - and not knowing more about the room or his music-vs-HT listening habits I couldn't recommend just one speaker. Here are my thoughts on the three I've heard - the KEF, the NHT and Ascend ...

All three could easily fill the room with good sound.

If the room is wider than it is deep I would probably lean toward the KEF Q300. The UniQ drivers have exceptionally wide/even imaging.

If the cabinet is susceptible to resonance vibrations I would lean toward the Ascends first, the NHT's second and the KEF's third. The Ascends are not only sealed but remarkably vibration free.

If he prefers a brighter sound I'd lean towards the NHTs.

If he prefers a warmer sound I'd lean toward the Ascends.

If his listening is primarily music I'd probably lean towards the KEF's.

Once again, for the record ; )
- I haven't heard the Focals.
- At his price point I'd recommend picking two and auditioning them in home.

i heard golden ear with arcam once, but did not like the sound. the salesguy blamed a worker for not hooking it up right. he said i don't know who hooked this up, but it sounds like crap. maybe goldenear sounds good. i don't know if it really was poorly set up or really sounded that bad.

The magnepan speakers are amazing. Glad that you liked the golden ear technology speakers. I heads that the guy who started Polk audio and definitive technology started golden ear technology. People say that golden ear technology resembles definitive speakers a lot.

Speaking of emotive they were having a big holiday sale. I think that they still might be.