I am looking for a reasonably priced LCR speaker to add into my system. I am looking for a single piece unit as that would pass the WAF test. Anyone using something like this?
LCR Speaker Options
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I agree with Harshness. A soundbar has inherent compromises. It will never provide the separation and good soundstage that comes from three real speakers. It is best to think of them as better TV speakers. And forget the claims that some give surround sound. The effect is poor at best.
I have seen sound bars ranging in price from $100 to $2000. Where is your price point? You can get reasonable soundbars that improve the TV sound starting around $150-200. The pricer ones tend to mimic reasonable 3.1 systems, but without enough separation IMO.
I have seen sound bars ranging in price from $100 to $2000. Where is your price point? You can get reasonable soundbars that improve the TV sound starting around $150-200. The pricer ones tend to mimic reasonable 3.1 systems, but without enough separation IMO.
I have a 7.1 capable receiver. I am currently using it as a 5.1. The current LF and RF speakers are at the ceiling. The center is in front of and below the screen. I was hoping to replace the center with the LCR. My current budget is right at $300 and a compact solution is needed to achieve the WAF. I can hide wires pretty well.
I can't, in good conscience, recommend a 3-in-one sound module as part of a larger surround sound system. $300 puts you squarely in the middle of sound bar territory but perhaps not the kind of sound bar that you could have any hope of calibrating with existing surround speakers or effectively using your AVR with.
Be aware that most speakers claiming to be LCR are called that because they can be used with two other identical speakers to form a front speaker array (at triple the money). Two and three channel boxes are certainly available but they are insanely expensive. For just under $1,000, Paradigm offers a three way front speaker in the form of the Millenia 20 Trio.
I highly recommend you look at a more conventional approach using some sort of visual screening. It won't be easy finding three matched speakers and have any left over to buy grill cloth to hide them.
Be aware that most speakers claiming to be LCR are called that because they can be used with two other identical speakers to form a front speaker array (at triple the money). Two and three channel boxes are certainly available but they are insanely expensive. For just under $1,000, Paradigm offers a three way front speaker in the form of the Millenia 20 Trio.
I highly recommend you look at a more conventional approach using some sort of visual screening. It won't be easy finding three matched speakers and have any left over to buy grill cloth to hide them.
Also note that soundbar setups do not allow adjustment of individual elements. I guess I shouldn't say 'all' because I haven't researched every one out there, but in general, soundbars are meant to be simple plug and play devices.
I agree again. go with micro cubes for LCR and hide a sub in some out of the way place.
I agree again. go with micro cubes for LCR and hide a sub in some out of the way place.
Have you contemplated in-wall speakers?
Speakers tend to have three constraints: performance, size and cost. Pick two and forget about getting any of the third.
I have no personal experience with these exact speakers, but I have several Polk Audio products and they have (IMO) delivered great sound for the money. The Polk Audio Blackstone TL150 speakers' MSRP is $299 and include four satellite speakers and one center channel speaker to go with your surround receiver. You'd want a subwoofer to fill out the bottom as these are rated to 125 Hz.
Define "tiny". Are you thinking bookshelf or the old Bose satellite cubes?
To get three matched, relatively broad range speakers at the price, I'm thinking your looking at something that has 6" drivers in it so the package per speaker is going to be around 60 square inches each.
Bongu, if you can swing the extra $100, the Polk Audio Blackstone TL1600 is the TL150 system with the matched subwoofer, MSRP $399. Oh, but right now, it's only $299 on Amazon!
Amazon product ASIN B0043M666SGranted, at 50W continuous and 100W peak, the subwoofer won't wake the neighbors, but maybe that's okay for your application.
I have 4 Bose 161 speakers for the 4 corners, an onkyo powered sub, and a samsung center speaker currently. I want to go to a dimensional setup by replacing the center, using the 2 high front Bose speakers as height, and adding different Left and Right front speakers. I will probably end up using the old samsung front speakers with the samsung center for now. The only positive Wife Approval Factor will be it cost no additional $$.
A lesson to be learned here: It is much better to tell us what you're starting with and where you want to go rather than starting in the middle without any context and shooting down suggestions as they interfere/conflict with what you didn't tell us you had.
You could have asked in the beginning instead of offering advice without knowing all the facts.
I think you will have trouble timbre matching the different brands of speakers, especially the Bose. They have a sound all their own.
If you read my posts, you'll find they are mostly requests for clarification and general cautions.
IOW, your posts were vague and at no point did you ask Bongu what equipment he had. When he did say what his setup entailed, you chastised him for not being more forthcoming.
This the reason you've never seen Bose advertising speaker performance curves and using their famous red and blue line drawings instead. Now they only offer performance numbers (as opposed to performance curves) on their top-of-the-line F1s.
In looking at their current speaker lineup, it appears that Bose now only offers bookshelf, outdoor and in-wall loudspeakers and the rest of their loudspeakers are self-powered "systems". I used to jones for a set of 501s.
In other words, the problem wasn't specified other than the desired envelope of the left, center and right front speakers. Subsequently some information about a budget number and speaker location followed. In post #12, details finally emerged.
Through all of this, your contribution was calling me out for trying to reach the starting point for a thoughtful discussion.
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