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Compact Speakers for Small Room

2224 Views 39 Replies 11 Participants Last post by smithsabom, Nov 9, 2019

WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2019

Here's the story. The connection clips on my rear/satellite speakers (Polk RM7s) broke so I had to rig the speaker wire to get sound which is not reliable. I either need to replace them (Polk TL1's should match) or I COULD potentially upgrade.

The lay of the land:
Room: 10 L x 12 W x 8 H den that I use to watch TV (football and movies). It's partially open; one side has a pony wall on half of it.
Fronts: Polk Audio RM8's (sitting on floating shelves next to wall-mounted TV)
Center: Polk Audio RM8C (wall mounted below wall-mounted TV)
Rear/Satellite: Polk Audio RM7's (broken clips)
Subwoofer: Klipsch R-100SW
Receiver: Yamaha v373
Uses: family movie nights 2x/month, an occasional action flick since daddy is home alone, and occasionally for football.

My current setup is marginally satisfactory for the frequency of use; it's meh but gets the job done. However, I am getting older and vocals are getting a wee harder to understand.

Option 1: Replace just rears for $140 with Polk TL1's.
Option 2: Replace 5.0 for a little more, $270, and make a small upgrade to Polk TL2's. It just seems like a better value than option 1.
Option 3: Replace 5.0 or 5.1 with something that would improve vocals and richness, let's say $500 to $1000. I could go to $1500, but I'd rather not since that will cost some political capital (see constraints below).

Constraints: wife's opinion - she doesn't care for home theater and would get rid of it if she could. However, she tolerates speakers if they are small and cute. I take that to mean that 10" tall is ok if it's has a nice shape/aesthetics like a Focal Evo (i.e not just a box). She hates the sub, but oh well I can't change the laws of physics. The center channel needs to be wall mountable.

I need your help deciding between the options. If I end up leaning towards option 1, I'll just jump to option 2 since it's cheap. I doubt I would have regrets with choosing option 2 over 1. However, I could have regrets if I don't explore option 3 which is where I need your help. I've read all the posts on NHT SuperZeros, Polk S10s, larger driver is better, etc... However, I do have the constraint of small and cute unfortunately. What could I do for option 3?

Thanks in advance for the help!
Will

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zieglj01

· #2 · Oct 24, 2019

Good deal -- special price -- Focal Dome system
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-G52OE...NHfOsGvPEzj7r7HH-PAOO7_MAEVE6APhoCOmYQAvD_BwE

RayGuy

· #3 · Oct 24, 2019 (Edited)

Given that your sub's upper -3dB point is 120 Hz, the very highest you'd want to have your crossover is 100 Hz. So, you will need speakers that have response to 80 Hz or below (-3dB). That rules out a lot of the small cute speakers your wife would like, such as the Minx Min or Q Acoustics 7000i.

You could sell your sub and get one that has better upper-bass frequency response, giving you more small speaker options ... I suspect that sub is a bit boomy in the room, which is probably why the wife hates the HT.

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WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 24, 2019

zieglj01 said:
Good deal -- special price -- Focal Dome system

This looks like a great deal for a Focal setup. I showed it to the "chairman of the aesthetics committee" and she's now waffling on how stringent the look is. While annoying, that's a great thing. So I think it's really just about the size and ability to mount.

Is there any concern with a center channel speaker with only one driver? I also need to ask Crutchfield if that "proprietary wire" is required. I assume it's not like bose where you have to use their wires.

zieglj01

· #5 · Oct 24, 2019 (Edited)

WilliamCannon said:
This looks like a great deal for a Focal setup. I showed it to the "chairman of the aesthetics committee" and she's now waffling on how stringent the look is. While annoying, that's a great thing. So I think it's really just about the size and ability to mount.

Is there any concern with a center channel speaker with only one driver? I also need to ask Crutchfield if that "proprietary wire" is required. I assume it's not like bose where you have to use their wires.

You use your own wire -- and a center just like the front speakers is a good center for a system like the Domes -- way better than Bose ... and the Dome built in stand can be wall-mounted

gajCA

· #6 · Oct 24, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
This looks like a great deal for a Focal setup. I showed it to the "chairman of the aesthetics committee" and she's now waffling on how stringent the look is. While annoying, that's a great thing. So I think it's really just about the size and ability to mount.

Is there any concern with a center channel speaker with only one driver? I also need to ask Crutchfield if that "proprietary wire" is required. I assume it's not like bose where you have to use their wires.

The speaker wires are "normal" it is if you do not have an RCA sub out that you will need to use their proprietary cable with that sub using speaker level connections.

That is a fantastic deal for the Focal System IMHO.

Zorba922

· #7 · Oct 24, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
Uses: family movie nights 2x/month, an occasional action flick since daddy is home alone, and occasionally for football.

Option 3: Replace 5.0 or 5.1 with something that would improve vocals and richness, let's say $500 to $1000. I could go to $1500, but I'd rather not since that will cost some political capital (see constraints below).

Constraints: wife's opinion - she doesn't care for home theater and would get rid of it if she could. However, she tolerates speakers if they are small and cute. I take that to mean that 10" tall is ok if it's has a nice shape/aesthetics like a Focal Evo (i.e not just a box). She hates the sub, but oh well I can't change the laws of physics. The center channel needs to be wall mountable.

Is there any concern with a center channel speaker with only one driver?

With your usage, I would choose a mismatched dual-woofer center speaker that you CAN wall mount, and whose glossy finish would blend with the Focals:
https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg23-monitor-center-channel/

(Hell, if your wife can be convinced to go with 3 of them for the front stage that would be even better, but the center will be much more critical for your usage.)

The Focals are $800, the RSL center is $180 shipped, leaving you with $520 left in your $1500 max budget to get a real subwoofer that would make those action movies really kick butt...just hide the sub in a corner, with a lamp or plant on top to disguise it. If your wife enjoys action movies too she'll take a shine to it in no time.

Plus she'll be pleased that at least you did at least choose 4 of the speakers to be cute and small just for her.

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Rgarc

· #8 · Oct 24, 2019

The RSL CG3 5.1 special Edition package is $999 and looks very good in white.

https://rslspeakers.com/products/cg3-5-1-home-theater-system-special-edition/

Upgrading the center to a CG23 is $1079 total
and all CG 23 fronts will come in at $1239.

I would contact RSL and get their take. Their customer service is excellent with no pressure sales and a generous return policy if not happy.

WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 2, 2019

thanks for the suggestions. I thought she was going to like the focal dome but she pointed out that we can set stuff on the sub. I looked at the RSL and think the center may be too tall.

The Polk S10s and S35 are on sale through tomorrow. Would that be a good cheap option? 4 S10s and a S35 for $659. The center S35 is not too tall. It is 6” deep so that would force me to run my wires behind the wall. The current center is only 4 inches deep and with the mounting block I made and the speaker bracket, it sets flush with the TV. The front of the TV is 6” off the wall.

Here is a shot of the space I’m dealing with. The floating shelves are 82 inches apart (on center).

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Zorba922

· #10 · Nov 2, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
thanks for the suggestions. I thought she was going to like the focal dome but she pointed out that we can set stuff on the sub. I looked at the RSL and think the center may be too tall.
The Polk S10s and S35 are on sale through tomorrow. Would that be a good cheap option? 4 S10s and a S35 for $659. The center S35 is not too tall. It is 6” deep so that would force me to run my wires behind the wall.

From what I've read, the S35 has decent voice clarity but lacks tonal fullness, meaning that male voices will not sound very "male" but rather androgynous or chipmunk-like. Not surprising given that it has only 3" woofers...physics is physics.

If i were you I'd bend over backwards to accommodate a taller center---the center does 70-80% of the HT/TV output so this is where you least want to cut corners.

Zorba922

· #11 · Nov 2, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
The center channel needs to be wall mountable.

This is the root of all your problems. Why can't the center simply sit on top of that nice wooden cabinet? You could even find a center that has a similar finish/color as the cabinet. You will be astounded at the quantum leap in performance you'll get, compared to rinky-dink little satellite type speakers. I think even your wife might relent once she hears it for herself...night and day difference.

For example, this center comes in a Rosewood option:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/hc-1.html

smithsabom

· #12 · Nov 2, 2019

For a full 5.0 replacement, although it pushes the up against the budget, check out axiom audio in walls or on walls.

the M2 ( 548 /pr) and vp100 center( 384) might prove aesthetically more pleasing for the wife. it is the same price for on wall or in wall. then save up for a better sub.

The on walls have a unique hanger system that is secure. And they can come in a variety of colors.

other clean looking on walls to consider:

Golden Ear Super sat

Def tech Mythos 9 ( might be out of your budget)

good luck

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WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 3, 2019

Zorba922 said:
This is the root of all your problems. Why can't the center simply sit on top of that nice wooden cabinet?

For how little use it gets, I just didn’t want to pick that battle. However, you’re absolutely right. Maybe that’s the direction to go and I just cut budget to reduce the political expense. She just wouldn’t see the value if ascetics took a step backward. Could the S10s work for fronts and rears and do the s30 for the center instead? would that be a good value upgrade for under $700? Is there something else better for that price range?

Zorba922

· #14 · Nov 3, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
For how little use it gets, I just didn’t want to pick that battle. However, you’re absolutely right. Maybe that’s the direction to go and I just cut budget to reduce the political expense. She just wouldn’t see the value if ascetics took a step backward. Could the S10s work for fronts and rears and do the s30 for the center instead? would that be a good value upgrade for under $700? Is there something else better for that price range?

Yes, the S30 would be an improvement over the S35, and if it's not you can always return it to Best Buy.

But for $722 shipped, no tax, I'd just get 5 of these instead:
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/htm200/htm200.html
They're very plain, but also very small/compact due to the sealed cabinet design which means no rear port unlike the S10/S30 so you can easily wall mount them, and each speaker has dual 4" woofers instead of a single one like the S10 yet is barely larger than the S10.

There's also RSL: 4 x CG3 + 1 x CG23 would run you $740 shipped with free return shipping...the CG23 has dual 4" woofers but the CG3 are single 4" woofers. These are the highest WAF.

My personal choice would be Emotiva C1 center with 4 x B1 bookshelves for $700 shipped, but these would be a hard sell in the WAF arena.
https://emotiva.com/collections/loudspeakers

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gajCA

· #15 · Nov 3, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
thanks for the suggestions. I thought she was going to like the focal dome but she pointed out that we can set stuff on the sub. I looked at the RSL and think the center may be too tall.

The Polk S10s and S35 are on sale through tomorrow. Would that be a good cheap option? 4 S10s and a S35 for $659. The center S35 is not too tall. It is 6” deep so that would force me to run my wires behind the wall. The current center is only 4 inches deep and with the mounting block I made and the speaker bracket, it sets flush with the TV. The front of the TV is 6” off the wall.

Here is a shot of the space I’m dealing with. The floating shelves are 82 inches apart (on center).

That would work just fine crossed over to the sub.

Quite the upgrade compared to what you have now is my guess.

You are a bit high on pricing though.

$567 is what you would pay today, (but not tomorrow).

S35 is $209 for a very short time period at Best Buy.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/polk-a...d3NKDc462prdlazxAh4aAt6JEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Polk S10s are $179/pair but sale ends today.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-U6aXq...09l0f7QQcQ2OLr7DcZxeNe-xP6Fmuf-caApaHEALw_wcB

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WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 3, 2019

I like the idea of the ascend dual 4” driver. However the WAF factor is fairly low. Btw, I had to look up WAF and of course it points back to AVS. I busted out laughing and will be adding that to my vernacular.

How accurate are the frequencies listed? The Polk S10s say they go down to 67Hz while the RSL CG3s say 100 Hz. From what I read it seems I should try to cross over at 80Hz?

gajCA

· #17 · Nov 4, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
I like the idea of the ascend dual 4” driver. However the WAF factor is fairly low. Btw, I had to look up WAF and of course it points back to AVS. I busted out laughing and will be adding that to my vernacular.

How accurate are the frequencies listed? The Polk S10s say they go down to 67Hz while the RSL CG3s say 100 Hz. From what I read it seems I should try to cross over at 80Hz?

The CG3s you'd cross over around 120hz as their -3db point is 97hs, I'd cross the S10s over at 120hz as well because unlike RSL, Polk fibs on their bass extension by a ton.

Sound & Vision confirmed RSLs spec but, for example, Polk claim the S35 center played down to 53hz when in fact it was 99hz, and they claimed the S20 went down to 39hz when it went down to 52hz.

They didn't test the S10 but most, if not all, 4" bookshelves struggle to get much below 90hz.

WilliamCannon

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 4, 2019

gajCA said:
The CG3s you'd cross over around 120hz as their -3db point is 97hs, I'd cross the S10s over at 120hz as well because unlike RSL, Polk fibs on their bass extension by a ton.

Sound & Vision confirmed RSLs spec but, for example, Polk claim the S35 center played down to 53hz when in fact it was 99hz, and they claimed the S20 went down to 39hz when it went down to 52hz.

They didn't test the S10 but most, if not all, 4" bookshelves struggle to get much below 90hz.

Thanks fo confirming. That’s a bummer.

However, Amazon has the S10s for $129. So I could do an S10/S30 5.0 for $487. They offer free returns so I could try them out and see if it’s good enough for my needs. I have to imagine it’s going to be significantly better than my current setup which has 2.5” drivers.

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zieglj01

· #19 · Nov 4, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
I have to imagine it’s going to be significantly better than my current setup which has 2.5” drivers.

That part is true

gajCA

· #20 · Nov 4, 2019

WilliamCannon said:
Thanks fo confirming. That’s a bummer.

However, Amazon has the S10s for $129. So I could do an S10/S30 5.0 for $487. They offer free returns so I could try them out and see if it’s good enough for my needs. I have to imagine it’s going to be significantly better than my current setup which has 2.5” drivers.

Indeed.

Looking forward to your impressions.

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