Speakers for 95% A/V

[CJ]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on new speakers for the new house. A few factors if you have recommendations...

• Budget is ideally $3000 for 5.0 (subs are factors separate).
• Slim-ish towers is ideal but nothing overly crazy skinny is required
• Decent center by which I mean a CC that isn't just an afterthought to a stereo music focused L/R
• Surround speakers MUST MUST MUST natively wall mount. No standard, rear ported bookshelf speakers, shoehorned into side gripping wall mounts that stick out a foot need apply.

Reference system to compete against is SVS Prime Pinnacle Towers, Prime CC and Prime Elevation Surrounds. The CC is pretty beefy and a 3 way model and the surrounds are wall huggers with built in mounting solutions.

The other intriguing option might be HTD (Home Theater Direct) Level 3, which meets all the criteria above as well.

To be honest I may have simply zeroed in on the best solution already. Budget isn't infinite, SO MANY manufacturers either make wimpy CCs or don't make dedicated on-wall surrounds, or both.

[Dustin]

[*]Surround speakers MUST MUST MUST natively wall mount. No standard, rear ported bookshelf speakers, shoehorned into side gripping wall mounts that stick out a foot need apply.

Don't have any better advice for you but this made me LOL. I've never understood why manufacturers do this. How many people have a room that will work in? And for the portion that do, how many of those really want to dedicate 18" of wall space around 3 sides of the room, all the while just waiting for those bad boys to come toppling down? It's so bad. Still love my Dynaudio SRs.

[CJ]

[*]Surround speakers MUST MUST MUST natively wall mount. No standard, rear ported bookshelf speakers, shoehorned into side gripping wall mounts that stick out a foot need apply.

Don't have any better advice for you but this made me LOL. I've never understood why manufacturers do this. How many people have a room that will work in? And for the portion that do, how many of those really want to dedicate 18" of wall space around 3 sides of the room, all the while just waiting for those bad boys to come toppling down? It's so bad. Still love my Dynaudio SRs.

Some of it MUST be due to sales numbers. A couple years ago I considered moving to a Revel system. First, their Concerta2 system has a really weak CC. Its a sealed dual 5.25" speaker. But at the time they had a slim, on-wall sealed surround speaker called the S16. As I went to evaluate them for the new house, they've discontinued their S16 wall mount speakers. I'm confident Revel makes great speakers but the wimpy CC lack of actual surround speakers is disqualifying unless you live in a 1200 sq/ft apartment. That's just one example. Many manufacturers have followed suit.

[DYohn]

I recently was able to hear the SVS Prime Ultra system. Nice, but very bass-heavy. I have not heard the Pinnacle system. Do they offer in-home audition with free returns?

[DYohn]

Speaking of speakers, has anyone heard offerings from Arendal?

[CJ]

I recently was able to hear the SVS Prime Ultra system. Nice, but very bass-heavy. I have not heard the Pinnacle system. Do they offer in-home audition with free returns?

Yes they do offer returns, also, SVS is a full retail brand now. I just ordered everything from Nebraska Furniture Mart. If they're awful, I'll return them. But for 95% home theater/gaming/TV I'm guessing a little bass heavy isn't going to bother me. I'm kind of doing the whole "do a complete 180" thing. I have Klipsch today and my family can barely stand to listen above even a modest volume because of the treble. I know the Prime series has a reputation for being pretty warm and rolled off a bit on the top so hopefully its easier on the daughters' ears in particular. I know women have better hearing than men and younger people better than old, so young women are extremely sensitive to loud higher frequencies.

Speaking of speakers, has anyone heard offerings from Arendal?

I've heard nothing but good things, but haven't had a chance to hear them in person.

[Dustin]

I have Klipsch today and my family can barely stand to listen above even a modest volume because of the treble.

This was the problem with my Pinnacle Studio 40s. Wore me down soon enough and I had to get rid of them. Got my Dynaudios and it was like immediate relief. I fear the day I ever have to get rid of them.

[CJ]

On a side note, rather than a soundbar I hooked up a WiiM Amp via HDMI ARC to my great room TV and hooked up a pair of Dali Oberon bookshelf speakers. For the price and poor acoustic environment they sound quite pleasant.