A buddy is looking for bose-sized speakers...any ideas?

maxwalrath · « **on:** 22 Jan 2009, 06:32 am »

A friend of mine wants some very small speakers to go in a smaller room. I'm guessing that he wants speakers so small that a sub might be needed. I would guess he's looking for about an 8" tall model at the largest. These will primarily be used for streaming music from a laptop, but will also have a tv hooked up to them, and an i-pod from time to time. I need to recommend an amp too, but I want to wait and see if he'll need an amp w/ a sub output first, and see what kind of power he'll need.

low.pfile · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 06:54 am »

max,
likely to get more input if you answer this:

2 speakers and a sub or surround sound set up? the amp would be different for each as well.
and budget of course? $500 or $2k?

cheers,
ed

planet10 · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 07:17 am »

Are you willing to diy them?

dave

Tyson · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 07:38 am »

Gallo is a good choice for super small speakers.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 07:56 am »

for super small and desk top - I'd be looking at these Qinpu:
http://tinyurl.com/cqxzwx

cryoparts · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 08:31 am »

Check out these from Whiplash Audio:

http://whiplashaudio.com/speakers/desktop-speaker-ion.html

I have Whiplash working on a few new desktop speakers for me and the prototypes they have sent me thus far are very nice.

Peace,

Lee

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 08:43 am »

Quote from: cryoparts on 22 Jan 2009, 08:31 am

Check out these from Whiplash Audio:

That's a great name for an audio company!

PhilNYC · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 12:45 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 22 Jan 2009, 07:38 am

Gallo is a good choice for super small speakers.

Those were the first that came to my mind:

http://www.roundsound.com

jaywills · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 02:03 pm »

I'll second the Gallo rec. Use five Micro Ti's in my smallish HT and two in the kitchen (w/ sub) for cooking tunes for my wife. Very high WAF (they come in colors). Might check eBay, I think there is a pair of A'diva TI's for ~ 200 bucks (no affiliation). I'd try to find the "Ti" version of either, if you decide to get a pair. The NuForce small speakers seem to get a bit of love also (no experience with them). Good luck. Cordially,

JeffBrown · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 02:07 pm »

Mirage Nanosat and Omnisat speaker sets are comparable in size with much more frequency range then the Bose. They take a long time to break in, but once they do it's not bad. Crutchfield usually has the 5.1 Nanosat set with a small sub for around $500.

kgturner · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 03:20 pm »

how about orb audio?

they offer a 30 day no hassle home trial. a pair of their speakers runs $239. add a 8" subwoofer and a 2.1 setup is $549

kevin t

IronLion · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 04:11 pm »

Audioengine A5's?

ted_b · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 04:47 pm »

Quote from: IronLion on 22 Jan 2009, 04:11 pm

Audioengine A5's?

+1 (powered, no amp needed; includes sub out)

Or take the next step and go SP Tech Mini's!

woodsyi · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 04:49 pm »

Quad 11L or 12L. Great with iPod.

Cacophonix · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 04:53 pm »

energy take classic
deftech 600s (i own these, and heartily recommend them)

low.pfile · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 04:58 pm »

I have been helping 2 friends get sound systems who were also leaning toward bose. I will go listen to (and look at) components with my local friend. I've started to compile a list for them, but have not completed it yet. They have low budgets and obviously are not into absolute sound, but size is a major criteria. For my local friend I am thinking a Harmon Kardon 3390/3490 for a 2 channel receiver (starting at $200)

Here is my current list

Quote

Satellite Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Orb Classic One Stereo Speaker System
2-Mod1 4 3/16" W x 5" H x 4 7/8" D (on included stand)
Super Eight Subwoofer 12" x 12" x 12"
$550 total

Orb Classic One Stereo Speaker System
2-Mod2 4 3/16″ W x 9 1/2″ H x 4 7/8″ D (on included stand)
Super Eight Subwoofer 12" x 12" x 12"
$700 total

Energy Take Classic 5.1 Home Theater System
Sat: 6 7/8 x 4 1/8 x 4 1/8;
Center: 4 1/8 x 10 1/4 x 4 1/8
Subwoofer: 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8
$600

Definitive Technology ProCinema 60.6
ProMonitor 60: 3.88"W x 6.44"H x 4.25"D
ProCenter 60: 10.50"W x 4.00"H x 4.25"D
ProSub 60: 9.25"W x 12.50"H x 13.25"D
$700msrp/$500ret

Definitive Technology ProCinema 600 Black
Sats: 4" H x 10.5" W x 4.25" D
Sub: 13" H x 10.38" W x 13" D
$800

Satellite or micro speakers
Sats = under 8in x 8in

Orb Mod1 4 3/16" W x 5" H x 4 7/8" D (on included stand) = $250/pr
Orb Mod2 4 3/16″ W x 9 1/2″ H x 4 7/8″ D (on included stand) = $450/pr
Anthony gallo micro - 4"dia - $400/pr + stands: $165/pr = $465/pr msrp
Anthony gallo adiva - 5"dia - $500/pr + stands: $165/pr = $565/pr msrp
KEF 3000 series - 9.6"H x 4.9" W x 5.9"D = $500/pr(ret)
KEF 2000 series - 7.8"H x 5.1" W x 5.9"D = $400/pr(ret)

Mini bookshelves or monitors
up to 12"H

B&W LM1 - 11"H x 5.5"W x 7.5"D on stand - $350/PR MSRP
NHT absolute zero - 9.75"H x 5.625"W x 7.25"D - $460/pr ret
NHT Verve V Small - 11.75H x 6W x 7D - $400/pr ret
AV123 ELT525M - 11.25"H x 6.12"W x 9.81"D - $300/pr drct
ACI Emerald XL - 10"H x 5 7/8"W x 8 1/4" D - $700/pr drct
Paradigm Atom - 11"H x 6.5"W x 10"D - $250/pr msrp
Energy CB-5 : 8.7H x 5.7W x 7.9D = $180 Pr.
Energy C-50 : 8.8H x 5.8W x 8D = $200 Pr.
Epos - ELS3 - 10.6"H, 6.85"W, 7.7D = $400/PR

Compact Sub

HSU STF-1 Subwoofer (8") 19H x 11W x 16D =$300 drct

HSU STF-2 Subwoofer (10") 19H x 14W x 18D =$350 drct

ORB Super Eight Subwoofer (8") 12" x 12" x 12" =$400 drct

SVS Sound PB-10 Size (10") 19" H x 15" W x 21" D =$430 drct

Martin Logan Dynamo (10") 14H x 11.7W x 12.6D =$650 msrp

velodyne minivee subwoofer (8") 10h x 10.4w x 12.8d =$700 msrp

There are a few Bose Systems. Funny I have not heard this in ages- we do have an older Bose system in a presentation room at work, but it is never on. Current Examples are here:

Quote

Bose Acoustimass 6 speaker system

Five single cube 3"H x 3"W x 4"D
Acoustimass bass module 16.33"H x 8.13"W x 22.33"D
$700msrp

or

Bose Acoustimass 10 speaker system
Five double cube 6.25"H x 3"W x 4"D
Acoustimass bass module: 16.33"H x 8.13"W x 25.33"D
$1000msrp

or

Bose 3-2-1 GS system ( DVD player/Tuner + 2.1 speakers )
2 Gemstone speakers 2.5"H x 5.5"W x 4.13"D
Acoustimass bass module: 14.5"H x 8.75"W x 19.13"D
$1000msrp

Your buddy needs to switch between sources so powered speakers would make for trickier set up.

Good luck.

JLM · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 05:00 pm »

TBI Majestic Diamond speakers, http://www.tbisound.com/index.asp

The MD 1 starts at $300/pair, 4.6" x 5.5" x 5.1", 2 lbs, threaded insert, rated 70 - 20,000 Hz, 87 dB/w/m, 20 watts RMS

The MDIR are $600/pair, same size/weight, threaded insert, rated 40 - 20,000 Hz, 86 dB/w/m, 25 watts RMS

Both are reported to be very placement friendly. (TBI is the very small/fast subwoofer folks.)

low.pfile · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 06:49 pm »

Max,

About needing a sub with the sats....

Another friend of mine has a pair of wall-mounted KEF 2000 series (small eggs with 4" driver) as his main speakers in the LR without a sub...having heard them many times, it definitely needs a sub. I, myself, have 4" driver sphere speakers (Morel SA2) very similar to the ORB and Gallo sphere's which I use as AV surrounds - I've listened to them as main stereo speakers and they need a sub as well.

ed

cryoparts · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Jan 2009, 07:33 pm »

Quote from: IronLion on 22 Jan 2009, 04:11 pm

Audioengine A5's?

X3! The Audioengine A2 or A5 would be a good choice for a self contained PC speaker solution. As a bonus, almost everyone who sells them offers free shipping as well.

Disclaimer-I sell Audioengine speakers.

Peace,

Lee

maxwalrath · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Jan 2009, 05:12 am »

Thanks everyone for all the replies! Got some figuring out to do once my buddy gets back in touch with me...