I am shopping for small rear speakers for my new 5.1 HT system. I am posting in speakers instead of HT because all I need to finish is a pair of very small rear to go with the Quad11L front and center. I got a new demo model Rotel 1056 avr and subwoofer, so am almost set up.
My front Quad 11L pair are gloss black with black sub, but the Quad L center is gloss maple. The rear could be either wood or black finish. Because of the room layout they do need to be as small as possible.
I am mostly concerned with the sound integration because I think that it is best to match the speakers, if not the same, at least same type or characteristics.
My dealer where I bought the avr, has some B&W M1 satelites which are perfect size and good quality and look, but are expensive at about $450. I have seen the small gloss black NHT which could be a cheaper substitute at half the price.
The original plan was to get 2 more Quads, but floor space is a problem because of the room layout. I see a pair of Quad Lite HT speakers online for $275 + shipping. I wonder if they would best integrate with the Quad 11L vs the NHT or the B&W. While there are many small satelites I could get online, my dealer has only the B&W and small, gloss black Yamaha satelites at $250, but I suspect that the NHT are better. Same price and finish look Yamaha vs NHT.
Starting list: B&W = smallest, locally available, and most expensive (only about $150 more than the Quad-lite) NHT = 2nd cheapest and matching finish Yamaha = same price, size, and finish as NHT and locally available Quad lite= 3d smallest but maybe the best sonic match
On wall won't work in this room. My dealer has in-ceiling speakers but I am not enthused about that idea for several reasons, mainly because you cant experiment and move them around. Also there is the whole issue of enclosures etc. I read a bunch of threads here on all that. He also has some surface mount ceiling speakers that would be easier but similar objections. http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speake...eatre/M-1.html __________________ Int amps: Mira3, OnixOA21S, HK6950, Rotel 1070, RSX 1056 RegaP3 table Pioneer CDR Oppo980H CDP: 2 Apollos, Rotel1072, NAD C515BEE; Spkr Quad11L +cntr, Castle Severn, RogersL3/5a DynA25, Sub HSU, NHT, Velo tuner Rotel RT990BX, RT1080, Sansui TUD99X, Lux 5T50, HK TU9200
Thanks Jan. This is the same HT that I was shopping for when we had the discussion about an avr with heft to it. I certainly got that with the big Rotel 1056. I got the last one to be sold in this town/state, the dealer floor demo. They now only have Yamaha and Sony and B&W.