Surround satellite speaker suggestion?

That's an awfully good budget, considering--not that I'm complaining. These should be very good for the price (only $77/pair, shipped) if they would be small enough for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Nxg-Pro-4-1-Satellite-Speaker/dp/B0044UHVOK

Or these for $100/pair (may need to be crossed over higher, though):
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107OWM3B/Polk-Audio-OWM3-Black.html?tp=191&kw=&org=pla&nw=g&crv=15802862185#details-tab
Edited by Robert Cook - 3/8/13 at 12:56pm

Might be worth checking out the Acoustic Energy Aego-T satellites at Accessories4Less. A pair is well within your budget.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/ACENAEGOTSAT/ACOUSTIC-ENERGY-AEGO-AE12-10-T-Series-4in-Satellite-Speaker-Black-Each/1.html

Check these out. http://www.kefdirect.com/hts-2001-3-black-satellite-speakers.html. Sound fantastic and look great!

Well, you can't always trust specifications, but in theory you could marginally cross the OWM3 over at 100 Hz because it's an acoustic suspension design, and the fact that the surround role is usually less demanding also helps.

As for your Energy Take satellites, they are a bass reflex design, and therefore need to be crossed over well above their -3 dB frequency of 115 Hz. 120 Hz was probably too low, especially for the front speakers, and a gap in your system's frequency response might have opened up.

If you'd prefer to legitimately cross over to the sub at 80 Hz (as I do) with a small speaker, then your options would be extremely limited, and if you'd also want them to be white and under $200/pair, then they'd be virtually non-existent. About the only examples I can think of that come close are: the Polk OWM5, but it's 16" tall; the Cambridge Audio S20, but it doesn't come in white; and the Audioengine P4, but it's over your budget by $49. None of these are tiny satellites either (size matters), just fairly compact.

Remember that although many people (especially lately for some reason) view the surrounds in a 5.1 system as "rear" speakers, they are actually side surround speakers that should be placed at the sides of the viewers, both facing inward toward the viewers. The only speakers that belong at the rear are the "rear" or "back" surrounds of a standard 7.1 system, in which these are in addition to the side surrounds (or just plain "surrounds"). Many people recommend placing the surrounds a bit higher than ear level (maybe a foot or two or more, depending on the layout of the home theater) and/or very slightly behind the viewers (usually a matter of inches) in order to get a better sense of spaciousness and envelopment. You may want to experiment to find out what sounds best to you. I've stuck speakers on ladders and poles, and have even hung them from curtain rods in order to get them to where I want them on a temporary basis.

As for the best orientation for the OWM5 with respect to sound quality, it depends on where you wish to mount them or are limited to mounting them, as the case may be. If they're to be mounted at a greater vertical angle than rearward angle, for example, then ideally they would be oriented horizontally. If this would look ugly to you, then you could orient them vertically and tilt them downward toward the audience, which would help. In general, the OWM5 has much wider dispersion along its short axis, just like the vast majority of speakers. If you want more specific advice, then you'll need to describe the layout of your home theater room (photos would be most helpful).

Yes, this sort of positioning definitely trades sound quality off for discreetness, although it does show off the versatility of the OWM series.

You might try the HTM-200 SE - they are relatively small and they are sealed so they can be wall mounted. If you call Ascend they often have B-stock so the price might fit your budget.

I only mention it because of the speakers listed so far I think they would be a step up.

My second choice (again based on the current thread suggestions) would be the KEF's. They have exceptional imaging which is nice for surrounds.
Edited by sdg4vfx - 3/12/13 at 11:54am