Small speakers for dinner party listening

thetawave2

I've been working on my parents to replace the Bose speakers in our family room ever since I got into this hobby, and I think they're finally starting to cave! The system worked fine for TV and movies, but ever since we put a home theater in the basement their usage has shifted very heavily towards music.

I'm looking for a fairly warm sound that will project nicely throughout the room and into the adjoining kitchen. When we have dinner parties, it's nice to have some music in the background, and Bose just isn't giving us the musical sound we're looking for. These speakers are wall mounted pretty high up, and are quite small. My parents don't want anything very large. I'm thinking along the lines of satellite or even a very small bookshelf speaker at the largest. Some support from a small subwoofer would be nice too, to replace the passive Bose sub we have now.

Any ideas? I'm pretty open-minded at this point. My search is including, but is certainly not limited to, Polk Blackstones and a Polk sub.

Lietuvis91

Blackstones with a micropro 1000 or 2000 sound like a good plan for what you're doing. I personally would move up to lsi7s for a REALLY sweet musical experience (they have mounting holes), but that is probably a bigger bookshelf than you want.

dkg999

Polk Blackstone TL-3's with a MicroPro 1000 sub would be a good system.

nhhiep

Get TL-3 or Lsi7/9. With Lsi9, you may not need a sub.

cnh

Have to go with the flow here. Blackstones and the Polk sub: a winner! That Polk MicroPro is one first rate little sub--a perfect match for Blackstones and Lsi bookies except in larger rooms!

Another speaker I own which I think would be good with a small sub is the Energy RC-10. Fairly musical and laid back for a metal dome tweeter two way (and the best thing is that you can get them for half-price if you can find them on close-out). Also easier to power than LSis).

And one of my favorite blasts from the past updated for the present (I own a pair) the Cambridge SoundWorks Henry Kloss Model 6s. A bit boxy, but can be placed pretty close to a wall with no real loss of sound. These gems will surprise you. And I hear through the grapevine that a small crossover tweak takes them to yet another level! (Full disclosure-I love the classic Kloss speakers).

And on that note. Why not a Polk Monitor 5? (yeah they're big, but oh the music!).



cnh

cfrizz

dkg999 wrote: »

Polk Blackstone TL-3's with a MicroPro 1000 sub would be a good system.

+10 on this suggestion!

thetawave2

Sounds pretty unanimous! My mom likes the look of the TL-3's, especially with the white finish. This won't be happening for another couple months or so probably, but I'll let you guys know how it all turns out.

ravaneli

do you parents care about looks? I don't think they are gona fall for the blackstore or the micropro..

Budget?

I think your parents would easier fall for some chery, like A1s.

tonyb

I guess Mom likes the TL3's, besides, the A1's might be a tad bright for them old ears. I do like cherry though, too bad the TL's don't have a cherry option.

dkg999

I like spelling, phrasing, and clarity of thought.

thetawave2

ravaneli wrote: »

do you parents care about looks? I don't think they are gona fall for the blackstore or the micropro..

Budget?

These speakers are kind of going to be kind of out of the way up in the corners of the room. I think they like the simple aesthetic of the Blackstones.

I'm not sure what the budget would be exactly, but they had no qualms about dropping $800 the first time around back in the '90s for the Bose. They had no problem with a pair of TL3s and a sub. The budget may need to include a new receiver, if the current one poops out soon.

thetawave2

tonyb wrote: »

I guess Mom likes the TL3's, besides, the A1's might be a tad bright for them old ears. I do like cherry though, too bad the TL's don't have a cherry option.

Bright is definitely not what I'm going for here. Some clarity is always nice, but I want these to be a little more on the relaxed side, since they'll be primarily for background music rather than serious listening.

I generally like the look of wood (or faux-wood) cabinets, but white TL3s will probably blend in with the room nicely. Unlike children of generations past, these speakers are intended to be heard and not seen

gdb

Sub ? Dinner music? Do you really need/want to rattle the forks ? :cheesygrin:

deronb1

Buy 2 Def Tech Pro Cinema 1000s, a decent sub and call it a day.

teekay0007

How about budget? I would think the MicroPro subs might be overkill for a parents' dinner party listening sort of set up. Have you looked at the PSW111 8" sub? Mine gives a great presence while being almost invisible in any room - measures about 12 x 11 x 13. Also, have you considered the VM10 bookshelf speakers? These are also tiny - about 11 x 4 x 5 - are really sharp looking, come with a really nice and sturdy smoked glass tabletop stand (as well as a wall mount) and sound great! The VM10s also have optional floor stands that are perfectly matched to the speakers, are compact, sleek and sturdy and are a nice fit with pretty much any decor.

I had this exact setup (a pair of VM10s and the PSW111 driven by an old Onkyo receiver) in our spare bedroom and got compliments from nearly everyone who heard it. Yes, with the VM10s a sub is a MUST, just like it would be with the Blackstones TLs.

NEW VM10s are now listed (including shipping) on ebay for $119 apiece - original MSRP thru Polk was $330.
PSW111s in great condition pop up on CL all the time for under $100.
Someone has a pair of new VM10 floorstands - Polk sells these for $350/pr - now on ebay (including shipping) for $115 OBO.

So, there ya go....whole setup - New pair of VM10s (with or without floorstands) and a nice PSW111 for less than the cheapest MicroPro sub out there. Now, wasn't that easy?! :cheesygrin:

tonyb

thetawave2 wrote: »

Bright is definitely not what I'm going for here. Some clarity is always nice, but I want these to be a little more on the relaxed side, since they'll be primarily for background music rather than serious listening.

I generally like the look of wood (or faux-wood) cabinets, but white TL3s will probably blend in with the room nicely. Unlike children of generations past, these speakers are intended to be heard and not seen

Yeah man, I hear ya. Was just a general comment on the cherry. Sounds like you have a plan, stick with it. Hope the 'rents are happy campers.

Doug- LOL....Zing....ouch.

codyc1ark

How about the Emo sub10, from what I understand they are very musical, and are small. Just a thought...

thetawave2

gdb wrote: »

Sub ? Dinner music? Do you really need/want to rattle the forks ? :cheesygrin:

Haha I'm a big fan of a sub at a tastefully low volume, just to give the bottom end a little support

thetawave2

teekay0007 wrote: »

I would think the MicroPro subs might be overkill for a parents' dinner party listening sort of set up.

You're totally right. I was looking at the prices and I definitely think the MicroPro subs are a bit expensive haha. I'm sure they're very nice, but the sub just isn't that crucial in that application. I'll give the VM10s a look too, thanks

thetawave2

DSkip wrote: »

If I'm picturing a dinner with background music, I don't see a sub as critical. I think the tl3 would do well enough alone to do that job. They could probably get away with a smallish and not too expensive 8" sub for when the music becomes center stage and not feel to cheated on the reproduction. I just don't see a need to drop a lot of dough on a "solid" sub in this scenario.

I totally agree. The MicroPro line would be way overkill here.

Lietuvis91

Well... if you were asking for REAL speaker recommendation for easy listening , no one here would be suggesting a sub. However, you are asking about satellites that are made to function above 90hz, which is not exactly a musical range, although i suppose that depends on the music you listen to. For most of us 90hz and above is not the range that will be adequate.

I say, do what makes sense and learn from it, you can always add a sub later. My vote would be a REAL speaker(not satellites) for a real sweet sound and no sub, but if you're hell bent on satellites, then I hope 90hz and up is really all you need. Good luck.

Montoya

Usher audio S-520 with no sub piano white or piano black very classy and sound awesome.

thetawave2

DSkip wrote: »

To provide some input, at last year's LSAF we had the opportunity to hear the TL3 paired with a DSW Pro 440wi and it was a nice combination. The nice thing about the sub is the wireless feature so placement is as versatile as it can get, something that would seem ideal in this scenario. Might be a good thing to look at.

Wires aren't really an issue here, as the setup already accommodates for the Bose passive sub.
Thanks for weighing in on this though I'm sure the sub sounds great and the wireless feature is really convenient.

thetawave2

Lietuvis91 wrote: »

Well... if you were asking for REAL speaker recommendation for easy listening , no one here would be suggesting a sub.

We would consider very small bookshelf speakers, but it does seem like a sub supporting the bottom end a little will be needed one way or another.

When I settle down and have a family room of my own, there will be proper speakers in it! But for now, I've got to go with what my parents want :P

gdb

Put some Polks in the wall or ceiling. I bought these and they sound Grrrrrreat !

http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/rci/index.php?s=rc65i

thetawave2

gdb wrote: »

Put some Polks in the wall or ceiling. I bought these and they sound Grrrrrreat !

http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/rci/index.php?s=rc65i

That wouldn't really make sense in this room, but thanks for the suggestion

cfrizz

I have the TL 3s and as much as I like them, they do require a sub to help out with the bass. They can only go so low and if the music has some deep low notes, the little drivers in the TL3s just can't handle it. But the tweeter is fantastic in these speakers. I think your parents will not only like the looks, they will love the sound.

tonyb

Well now, there you have it. If they please Cathy, who is not easily pleased, thats the best endorsement you can get. I mean, we are talking about a woman who would go on Celebrity Apprentice and fire Donald Trump. I'd say your golden with that endorsement.

J/K Cath....don't hit me, the bruises haven't healed yet from last time.

Lietuvis91

thetawave2 wrote: »

... it does seem like a sub supporting the bottom end a little will be needed one way or another.

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. Not if you take the time to find a nice small high quality bookshelf.