[elmalloc]

So I sold most of my equipment to do some other projects, I've ended up selling one of my cars (hah, I say that like I'm a millionaire) and will shortly have some cash that I can't help but spend.

I'm looking for some decent on-wall speaker system (5 speakers) for my living room (vaulted 19x17).  Mainly for video games and TV.  I know of Axiom, not sure of any other speaker systems that concentrate on on-wall.  I want a clean look.

Would love to find something used.

Thanks,
ELmO

[joeyd]

I have a 5.0 set of 4 JBL L820 and a JBL LC2 center that is for sale. My ad is at http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=emporium&thread=17709&page=1#278074

[poseidonsvoice]

I would seriously look into Hsu Research, specifically the HIW-1. Excellent price, high efficiency and good sonics. It's sibling, the HB-1 Mk 2 got a great review at Stereo Mojo, and is essentially the same design. The horn and some degree of controlled directivity considerably improves the performance of the loudspeaker.

HIW details

HB-1 Mk 2 review

This was my contender until it was determined that there was really no wall in our family room to implement the HIW's properly, so I got panel speakers instead, specifically Magnepan MMGW's.

Best,
Anand.

[elmalloc]

Anand,

Thanks.  Wha tmakes you think the HIW are better than the maggies?  Why couldn't you use HSU?

My room is fairly large, I'm wondering if either is suitable.  The maggies you mentioned are very affordable (as is the HSU), but the maggie is missing the ribbon tweeter which the reviewers say can be noticed.

I guess we can't be too picky at such affordable prices.

Thanks,
ELmO

[hayden]

If you can find some NHT L5 speakers, I think that you will like them.  I've used them for HT surround duties and I'm sure I would be happy with a set of five of them for movies in a smaller system.

[elmalloc]

The room is large though (18ft high x 19ft depth x 17ft wide x open wall).  It seems like HSUs can work with this size room although it doesn't have an indicator for the in walls.

[poseidonsvoice]

Anand,

Thanks.  Wha tmakes you think the HIW are better than the maggies?  Why couldn't you use HSU?

My room is fairly large, I'm wondering if either is suitable.  The maggies you mentioned are very affordable (as is the HSU), but the maggie is missing the ribbon tweeter which the reviewers say can be noticed.

I guess we can't be too picky at such affordable prices.

Thanks,
ELmO

The Maggies are for a complete secondary system - i.e. the family room, so there is some diminished importance in fidelity. That being said, the Hsu's will not work in my system, because I have NO free wall space on the front wall (they are bookshelves from bottom to top). With the Maggies, you must have a minimum of 100 watts available at 4-6 ohms. The Hsu's requires far less, like 25 watts at 8 ohms by comparison. But it also depends on how *loud* you listen and how far away you are from the speakers.

I would surmise that the Hsu's in many aspects will be better, primarily, indynamics, extended HF response and efficiency. However, the Maggies *may* have an edge in 'soundstaging' due to their dipolar nature (they also have a null at 90 degrees off axis which helps). I say, *may* because properly designed narrow controlled directivity loudspeakers will minimize this difference to such an extent (since 1st order reflections are nearly thwarted). The Hsu's are not narrow controlled directivity designs, but do have a horn with some degree of controlled directivity thrown in.

Discussion regarding controlled directivity is beyond the scope of this thread, so if you want to know more, pm me off line. As it is, I've stepped out of my boundaries.

Anand.

[Phil A]

Vienna Acoustics makes some nice ones too (sumikoaudio.net).  Best Buy actually closed out their line about 6 months back.  I found out a hair late and missed out.  Was considering a pair of their on-walls for the office system if I found a good deal.

[saisunil]

For TV and Games - you can't beat ZVOX
http://www.zvoxaudio.com/cgi-bin/item/400430x
 
My brother in law got one a couple of years ago and I goe their 575 (under the TV) model - quite impressive for the price and simple ...
 
I heard it at THE HE Show in NY a few years ago - I was super impressed - sounded better than some rooms with expensive equipment ...
 
They have some B-Stocks on ebay ... I got a B-Stock and it looks as new to me - I saved additional $100 or so ...
 
I would not recommend their lower models though - they are just ok - like most sound bars ...
They have good customer service too - give them a call - they have good warrenty and return policy as well ...
 
Good Luck

[elmalloc]

I'm looking at the HSU in-walls for their price, I won't feel bad if they don't work perfectly to my liking for under 1K.  It's a secondary system for me and at the minimum it won't look bad on white walls!

Although I'm curious because they appear to be really almost "too" inexpensive (?).  I am surprised nobody has suggested something that was well out of my budget (which I never supplied in my original post).  I haven't read anything bad about the HSUs...I can write a review if I indeed go with them.

[elmalloc]

I don't appreciate HSU having a moderated forum for approving posted messages.  Only reason to do that is to control perception.   

I don't see many HIW1 reviews but everyone seems to say nice things about HSU so I'll keep my mouth shut for now but I don't like this business practice because new buyers like myself can lose trust...

[Russell Dawkins]

I used a set of Hsu subs for 16 years and got a lot of compliments on the bass in my set up, which included 1977 Tannoy Ardens running full range (down to 40Hz). The subs were flat to around 18Hz.

Hsu has always favored function over cosmetics - the subs were cardboard sonotubes covered with fabric and capped with wood discs on the ends. This suited my values exactly. The result was a speaker that sounded extraordinary for the price.

I sense this is still the way at Hsu. His speakers are anything but pretty - no thick piano finish sides or leather baffles - but Poh Her Hsu is apparently still making unbeatable bang-for-buck package deals like his "Enthusiast 2" - ±2dB 18 - 20kHz, 5.1, $1249:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/enthusiast2.html

Here's an interview with the man. He's a hi-fi enthusiast, just like us, and started making subs while at MIT in Boston in the early 90s:  http://tinyurl.com/3drb8uq

[kenreau]

Check out the Definitive Technology line.  You should be able to find a model, preowned, that will fit your budget.  Great sounding, sleek looks, flexible on-wall mountings.  I use the GEM series for all my surround speakers.

Kenreau