Notes:

- the room is quite small and irregular in shape
- rarely to never listen at high volumes
- about equal time listening to music/movies/television
- not a lot of space, particularly for rears (will have to mount high on the rear wall, which isn't so much behind as above)
- currently have very old set of JVC mains and another set of low-end JBL bookshelf speakers, if you think these could be utilized in any way (okay to not use them at all as well)

These will be driven by a Yamaha RX-V3300 receiver.

Many thanks for your recommendations.

-Larry

I would say that you are at a good price point to get a complete HT speaker package from a reputable company. I haven't spent a whole lot of time listening to complete systems, but one of the better I've heard was by Velodyne.

http://www.velodyne.com/pages/productsp/Deco-pg.html

I heard these set up in a "high end" audio shop, run from decent equipment. They sounded better than any of the other "home theater in a box" systems I've heard before, but they were probably quite a bit more expensive than other stuff I've heard. I know the system can be had for under $1500, including the sub.

Jason

Your budget gives you a number of alternatives. There's Paradigm , Axiom , Definitive Technology , Boston Acoustics , or Klipsch -- all of them make systems that would fall within your price range. The new Rocket speakers will probably fall outside your budget if you also get a decent sub. I won't mention SVS subs, since you mention that space is at a premium.

Personally, I've been very happy with my Paradigms, although I do use the Reference line (which would probably not work with your budget). There are a number of other satisfied Paradigm users around here, as well as Boston Acoustics, Axiom, DefTech, and Klipsh users. Any of them would be worth a listen at a local shop (using some of your own music or movies as demo material).

Other suggestions...?

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

I’ll come at it from another angle, (and consider me OFF the deep end on this). Having recently completely replaced a 5.0 with a 6.1. If budget is such that it would allow to add-to over the next year or so. I would budget the majority of the amount towards 2 new mains or fronts and a center. Use your bookshelf in the meantime for the rear surrounds. (and live with an initial 4.0 or 5.0 setup).
My purchase of a 950 sent me (a little lulu) off shoehorning larger speakers into a very small space. (with wicked intents to shoehorn more).
The addition of such a capable prepro made me yearn for better speakers desperately, as the 950 whilst improving the clarity and performance of my original small satellite’s, also highlighted their inherent weaknesses glaringly.

My recent personal experiences are that when listening to 2-channel, - budgeting as much as possible on the mains is highly advantageous. And when I’m listening to HT. You really do still have the majority of the experience centered in that front area with the surrounds adding ambiance. Looking back over what I recently did myself and knowing what I know now about my journey, if I had to budget building a 7.1 up. I would focus on the expenditure across the fronts first. Using whatever hodgepodge fill-in’s for the surrounds I could come up with. If the goal is more enveloping HT I’d then prioritize adding the SW next, (a must for effective HT with smaller speakers and helps with the load many action DVD’s place on your speakers) then turn towards replacing the surrounds in pairs over the next year or so.

One current recommendation for demo for a pair of fronts would be the Vienna Acoustic Bach's. For all around musical satisfaction and excellent rendering of voices very fluid and musical. . I really currently love the sound of the entire line. These speakers (1500 pair at tweeters- and I would get them down 10%) are extremely compact for floorstanders with a very small footprint and narrow cabinet (for smaller rooms) but pack an amazing body of sound for their size. Mozart’s (larger brothers) I do not feel are worth the extra 1K(2500 pair). For the difference in total output to price ratio these are favorite picks of mine at the moment particularly if your listening is divided between categories as you state.

http://www.absolute-sound.com/bach.html

It is fun to come in the door with that new timber matched 5.1 / 6.1 etc. However you go enjoy the hunt!

Build your own. For $1500 you can get a lot more speaker if you DIY. This can be from a complete kit that includes cabinets and crossover all the way to building everything from scratch.

Also, follow Lena's advice and concentrate on the front first. I've built front and center, but am still using some dinky 15yo BA bookshelves that I'm in no rush to replace, not even with my old mains.

To find out more, do what everyone else does: www.google.com.

Also try www.madisound.com as they have lots of kits.

(BTW, my fronts are Proac Clones from scratch and center is the Audax design by Joe D'Appolito from a partial kit)

Lena:

Are you from that "other side of the pond"? I haven't heard anybody using "whilst" around these parts.

I would love to be so exotic as to live else that I was born, but Nope, I’m a Texan. Just (was) an avid reader and you never know what word will float out. (Including the current slang I hear around here or some of my words that I decide, - should be words.) It’s possible for me to slaughter English in any numbers of novel ways!
Alas, I have a poor memory. (Otherwise I might know something by now if I had been able to retain a 10th of what I’ve been through) I picked up Gonk's read today ‘Footfall’ and 20 pages in during the minute I had earlier tonight, I’m pretty sure I’ve already read it (frequent occurrence for me). Luckily my past trend of devouring books faster than capablity for retention, I do believe (right now) I’ve forgotten what comes next. Just vague premonitions of plot, left behind.
...I was at the local ‘best’ spot to pick up DVD’s the other night they had the empty slot for Superman with only SM III right next to it. I keep hunting!

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who reads without retention. Reading for me still ranks as my number one source of entertainment (but this HT stuff keeps rising). I can still remember turning the _last_ page of a Heinlein book and as I was turning it all fell into place and I knew I had read it a few years before. One of my all time DOH!!! moments.

This will tell you how varied my personal choices are.

If you're going for just 2 channel listening first, go listen to some Sonus Faber's Concertinos or Concertos. They really blew me away after listening to a bunch of speakers at around the same price point.

For a five channel system, my M&K K-5s still blow me away. I use them in the front three channels and you could add K-4s to fill in the surrounds. The only catch with these is that you would definately need a subwoofer.

To be fair, the best thing for you to do is to find your local hi-fi shops, take along a favorite cd or two, and have fun listening to as many different brands as possible.

Here's another option.
Mirage Omnisats 5x Sat + subwoofer system.
MSRP $1700.oo but can probably be found for less.

http://www.wegivesoundadvice.com/sndadvice/showdetl.cfm?&DID=8&Product_ID=653&CATID=15

A few comments from Home Theater Fourm web site.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=103327&highlight=omnisat

[This message has been edited by Steve_C (edited February 08, 2003).]

I've had a 1050 for two years now. My room sounds pretty similar, small and odd shaped, room size is approximately 11' by 20'. I am currently running 5 Anthony Gallo Acoustics Micro speakers along with a velodyne subwoofer and have had plenty of power for HT and great stereo sound. They are also well within your budget. I will probably be stepping up to the Due model released recently as I have recently finished my basement and will need a more powerful speaker. Check them out at roundsound.com. I have been very pleased with the sound.

yeh, i really really like any of the pardigm lines...they sound sorta like my Rodgers, but at at least half the price. i recommend em all the time. i do also like the mirages at that price point. i solved my rear sourround space problem with the 10.1 QR maggie. it's only 10 inches wide! and it has the quasi-ribbon, too. i have little 'wings' at the rear of the room. room is 16ft. wide and they come out about a foot and a half to separate that room from the one i'm in now...i get great sound back here, also...from the front 1.6's. am about seven more feet behind the 'listening' couch. so the sofa back is pretty much the wall that seperates the two rooms. now if i only had a ten foot screen!
am selling next month...after 12 years of getting the room 'just so'.
anyway...maggie now makes a wall mount system (cept for the center, i think) that is close to this budget...if not look at their $550pr. mini mags...with the ribbon now! (i think). the 10.1's were dicontinued a few years ago which is a shame. they were made to use as a 3 piece, sub/sat...they brick wall anything below 80 hz....which is purr-fect for rear surrounds!
you can sometimes find em used and maggie or a dealer can re-furb em. i talked a friend from england into a re-fabbed older pair at a dealers in iowa...without the ribbons...for 450; he still loves em. i sold maggies & others many years ago...sold a lotta that one...paired with a h-k reciever usually...and thorens table..koetsu cartridge...they all returned to thank me for what they were now hearing.
and now they got ribbons..there's a larger model for about $950...the magic number! and the wall hangin ones at ...i don't know what they're priced at.
that and a good servo controlled sub...and you can be in nirvana tonite!
and oh yeh...the velodyne is a good place to look. haven't got one..but they and M & K kinda pioneered that whole area! first velo we demoed...would squawk keeping up with the c-j valve pushing the maggies or time windows...the rep popped it open (outboard control/amp) and made an on board adjustment...problem solved...i think it was celestions SL-6's over the sota table. ...and the owner wouldn't stock em..cause??? i don't know why! (too many accoustat subs lying around nobody wanted,i think)
silly man. he went outa business, too! and we was the on-liest dealer of adcom for many states around. long live rock n roll...

[This message has been edited by thigg (edited February 23, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by thigg (edited February 23, 2003).]

but i just looked at the velodynes...to techy for me. i love the looks of the paradigm...they have several lines...u can get good deals on stands from audio advisor(.com). i have a whole garage full of them now. wharfedale now makes a really good and good looking system in that price point...AA again there. If you are good at DYI you can get unbelievable sound for that much moo-la. lotsa places on the net for that...their used to be a site for the 'diana' speaker...looked like the maggie but used conventional drivers...i almost bought a pair...why didn't i? they were very low cost and slim and attractive. maybe u could get a date with some...anybody remember them? they advrted in sterophile for like forever. Steroph. finally auditioned them...it was a luke warm review...but i think the reviewer was just embarrased at what you can get sound from...without mortgaging your house. i think that was so long ago cause it was in their little bitty mag days. still have a few.

have u seen the Anthena Point 5? 800 bucks and very well built. they're listed in the dec. 2002 sound & vision in the 'reviewer's choice' awards. the sats are fairly small with matching center & sub. sub is small but the reviewer liked it....athenaspeakers.com...
NHT is a company i really like. you can roll your own or get a all in one package from them.
and then there is Cambridge audio. great company...and the prices are like....outlaw's, cause they're 'net' only purchases.

Have you looked at Ascend Acoustics(ascendacoustics.com)? Read reviews at audioreview.com, cheaphometheater.com, in The $ensible Sound issue 92 and in issue 94's Annual Recommended Componets section, or at SoundStages ... http://soundstage.com/revequip/...tics_cmb170.htm

170s all away around with a HSU-VTF2 sub is well under $1500.

The suggested list you already have is good too. I'd add Totem Dreamcatchers to it.

[This message has been edited by Q-man (edited February 28, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Q-man (edited February 28, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Q-man (edited March 02, 2003).]

Paradigm speakers are terrific value for your money. You should also consider PSB and Energy, both of whom make excellent bang-for-the-buck speakers.

In addition, my friend Brian Bunge runs a small speaker-making business that offers outstanding values for a small price. I have one of his systems in my bedroom and love it. The URL for his site is http://www.rutledgeaudiodesign.com . Tell him Jeff sent ya!

Jeff

I'ld reccomend Paradigms Mini Monitors, the CC370, either the mini monitor or the adp170, and a svs sub. The ADP170, or the mini is up to your taste in surround sound. Some people prefer the "diffused" sound of a di-polar speaker, I myself still prefer the sound of a direct radiating speaker for my surrounds. I dont know why but something just sounded better with the direct radiating speakers vs. the di-poles when I was demoing my surrounds.

I'm currently running a Monitor 11/Monitor 3 setup for my HT, and I have to say I am absolutly blown away by the clarity. Recently I've been doing a ton of 2 channel listening and I have to say the 11's are DEAD SOLID in terms of immaging, clarity, and sound quality. Good quality recordings sound GREAT. (I just picked up Willy Nelson's Stardust and I have to say...well...I cant realy express myself properly. It is exceptional, truely a devine listening experiance.) I have a fairly good size move library (over 150 titles), and watch a film 3-5 times a week. But recently my cd's have been geeting more play in my system. I wasn't a huge 2 ch man before, but after a year and a half with the monitor 11's I've discovered a whole new world to the world of musical recordings.

Depending on how much you think you'll listen to music, you may want to check out the 11's and a CC370 (or another front/center combination), and move those JBL's to handle the surround channels. Like I said, I was one of the unconverted untill I had a chance to listen to music the way it should be heard. Now I'm totaly taken back and cant get enough of the 2ch stuff!

Jason

A lot of the dipole/direct-radiating debate depends on whether your priority is movie or music. Movies benefit from the diffuse soundfields of dipoles to help immerse you in the scenery, but dipoles make the imaging slightly weaker for music.

I believe the new THX Ultra 2 spec calls for a mixture of dipoles and direct radiating speakers in the rears and sides. I don't recall the exact specification.

Jeff

Another excellent speaker setup can be had here ...

www.aperionaudio.com

Definately worth considering. The 10" and 12" subs are two of the best kept secrets there are. All around great speakers.

Hey LMGotts, give kit speakers a serious consideration, especially for the budget you have. There's someone else besides myself who's gotten the taste of DIY quality. I'll back up zacster's words. My experience with Madisound's speaker kit was a pleasant surprise. I bought their Vifa A/V and Solo kit for my HT and it was money well spent (& saved). I hear more people commenting on how good these speakers sound. They compare to those costing $1000 or more per pair. Clarity and details are fantastic for speakers costing only $260 each. My friends are upset after listening to my speakers because they spent more on theirs than I did and yet don't sound as good as mine. Part of commercial brand's price comes from cosmetic design (not that Madisound's kit looks bad), advertising, middleman's fee and ... etc. What you end up getting after all that taken out isn't much. Or you'll have to pay a lot more to get the quality. Skip all the name brands and get the DIY kit. You won't be disappointed.

As for the sub, once again, DIY kit can't be beat for price vs. performance. I have Adire Audio's Shiva with homemade enclosure and I couldn't be happier for spending only $400 on it. Look up www.acoustic-visions.com/ for products and www.audioreview.com/pscSpeakers/Subwoofers for reviews on Shiva. The commercial brands at that price range? Forget it. Mine outperforms a $1000 sub by Klipsch. While typical subs from brands like Polk, Paradigm, Infinity, Velodine and JBL can bark like a German shepherd, Shiva roars like a lion. Again, skip all the name brands and get the DIY kit. You won't be disappointed.