[dayneger]

A friend of mine is trying to put a decent system together and is struggling to find speakers that will fit in his difficult room.

Basically he's looking for speakers with a footprint of around 6 x 6" and a maximum height of 48" that can play well close to the rear wall.  The room's overall dimensions are approximately 16' x 12', with one side wall mostly open to the adjoining room of similar dimension.  The speakers will be used for a mixture of home theater LR and 2-channel music of wide-ranging taste, sometimes pretty loud.  Anything under 50 Hz can be offloaded to the subwoofer, though.

New or used speakers are fine, with a price cap of around $1500.

Do you have any speaker suggestions for his situation?

Thanks! 

[groovybassist]

I'd suggest checking out the Totem Arro.  The footprint is 5.1" x 7.1" (not exact, but pretty close) and they can be used close to the wall behind them.  I think they're around $1200 new (or something like that).  Good luck!

-Mike

Update:  Role Audio's Windjammer is a possibility as well.

[Toka]

If he can put them into the corners, the Hornshoppe Horns should work quite well for what you describe.

[doug s.]

I'd suggest checking out the Totem Arro.  The footprint is 5.1" x 7.1" (not exact, but pretty close) and they can be used close to the wall behind them.  I think they're around $1200 new (or something like that).  Good luck!

-Mike

Update:  Role Audio's Windjammer is a possibility as well.

i thought of the arro's as well.  but they cannot do medium-to-large scale music, imo, in a decent sized room, if you want to get loud.  they completely lose their composure, from top to bottom, imo, even when actively crossed over to subs at 80hz - amhik!     these are otherwise really nice speakers. 

i don't think there's anything out there w/a footprint that small, that will do what's being asked here...  12x12 opens up a world of possibilities...  now, if you could go w/a stand-mount, and actively cross over at 80hz to subs, the tiny proac tablette 8 reference signatures  will get loud enough  in a big room.  while positively counter-intuitive, it's true.  again, amhik!     however, while these will sound ok close to a wall (they are rear-ported, so they cannot be tight to the wall), these do need to be pulled away from walls to sound their best.  but, that's true for most speakers not specifically designed to be against the wall, imo - even if the mfr says they can be placed against the wall.  and, you definitely need to cross over the ref 8 sigs to subs actively.  they won't go loud otherwise, w/bass-heavy tracks -the woofers will bottom out.  but, compared to the arro's, they won't completely lose their composure, either...

doug s.

[doug s.]

If he can put them into the corners, the Hornshoppe Horns should work quite well for what you describe.

are these 6x6?

doug s.

[TONEPUB]

I've been listening to the new Paradigm Signature S1's lately for
review.  Don't know if they are exactly 6x6, but they are pretty
small.

I'm letting them run full range and bringing up the bottom with
a MartinLogan Grotto and am very happy with the sound quality
as well as the dynamics.

Have also been having a ton of fun with the new Sterling Broadcast
LS3/5a's.  These are about 1800 a pair and a bit better tonally
(especially through the midrange) but do not have the dynamics
that the Paradigm's have.

That's my two cents worth...

[JLM]

Having your cake and eating it too?  This seems like more of a search for a "lifestyle solution" than an audiophile solution and that it may not be worth spending $1500 to solve.  You are really constrained to 6 inches by 6 inches?  Hard to find, harder to spend $1500 for that size of speakers.

Some suggestions that come to mind:

Bookshelf speakers that normally are used for wall mounted upscale rear HT solutions.  ACI Emeralds come to mind, but won't cost $1500.

Upscale desktop speakers like the JohnBlue JB3, but not in the league your specified price suggests.

GR Research's A/V-0 also come to mind as a small floorstander, but are kits, probably not capable of really high spls, but cost less.

The TBI Sounds Majestic Diamond IR is only $600/pair, but meets your size requirements and is rated down to a remarkable 35 Hz.  It is designed to use room reinforcement.  The $400/pair Majestic Diamond I is only rated down to 70 Hz, but also meets your size requirements.

[bushbison]

Hey All; We have recently tested and accordingly purchased speakers for a room (home office) just a "tad" smaller than this, and found the Ascend Sierra's awesome for this application, which  can be truly placed quite close to the wall/corner and still sound fantastic; at their price range, for this application, with this quality, hard to beat!
IMHO
-Jason Gower
IMHO Audio,
catawampus productions

[dayneger]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far.   

Yes, the requirements do sound a little "have your cake and eat it too", and they are.  The space constraints are there and will undoubtedly dictate a solution that is less audiophile than ideal. 

That said, you've given me some great ideas to explore!   

I went back over to remeasure the space and it looks like up to 8" wide and 12" deep would be possible, at which point the rear corners of the speakers would be touching the wall.  There's a room corner behind the speakers, so the speakers wouldn't actually be completely flat against the back wall.

Also, the financial goal would be speakers for under $1000.  $1500 was just listed as the maximum he could swing for the speakers! 

[S Clark]

GR Research's A/V-0 also come to mind as a small floorstander, but are kits, probably not capable of really high spls, but cost less.

Actually, I heard these played LOUD in Danny's living room.  You would be very surprised how much volume these will produce.  I thought about recommending them, but I don't know how well they will perform in the location that Dayneger described.

[timind]

How about Silverline Audio's Prelude. I haven't heard this particular model but have owned a couple other Silverline products.

http://silverlineaudio.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=77

[Zero]

You know, I'm currently reviewing a loudspeaker designed for this exact purpose; the Mark and Daniel Maximus-Mini.  It's an adorable little speaklet that measures roughly 9 inches tall, 5 and a half inches wide, and 6 and a half inches deep. It was designed as a solution that fits your friends criteria to the "T", and I must say, it's probably one of the only super small loudspeakers I've heard that can fit the bill. The retail on em' is $1200/pair. They are worth checkin' out;

http://www.mark-daniel.com/Pro_En.asp?ProID=47

[nodiak]

In a similar situation I hung small 2 ways from the ceiling. They were diy kit speakers, used a hook on top of them (bolt through), single cord, fishline off back to keep them from spinning. You could also use plant hanger. They were nicely finished, and looked fine in position. Could set them at any height you want. Used no floor space. Sub as end table.
Just another option.
Don

[Toka]

are these 6x6?

Whoops, missed that part.  I don't know the exact dimensions but I don't think so...

[mpaulsen]

The Definite Mythos One Tower is 6" by 6" by 47". According to the website they're $999. They are not rear ported so I would imagine that they would do OK next to a wall. I've never really liked the bass on Definite speakers but if your friend is using a sub he can probably get around that.

I was reminded of Definite by this months Stereophile which had the Definite Supertowers in it.