[Exapno]

Due to the awful acoustics of my living room, I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d be listening to music through headphones for the rest of my natural. I missed my budget separates system but it was a fair trade considering I had become a house owner (as long as I paid the mortgage) in a committed relationship as opposed to a single room renter (I was single, not the room) with a decent hi fi and barely enough room to swing a mouse. Time marches on and things have changed. An extension has been built and a new sound system is required. As I haven’t the space for a full separates system, I’ll be going for a mini version. My options depend on my budget, which depends on my tax bill...

Either I buy a new mini system and speakers or I use the Denon DM30 that I already own and just get the speakers (I can always get a new mini/micro system later). The DM30 has served me well although it has developed a fault where the the volume jumps massively if you use the dial but works ok if you use the remote (I’m sure I found a thread about it on here and that there was an inexpensive fix, if anyone can point me in the right direction I’d be most grateful).

As my first child will be arriving next year I’d like a system that is discreet and relatively child proof. I’m looking for wall mountable bookshelf speakers and I’ll site the mini/micro on some kind of floating shelf out of range of small fingers. I’d prefer a speaker that has a wall bracket specifically designed for it, like the Q Acoustic 1020i or similar. The speaker cable is already plastered into the wall and a power socket and coax for the radio aerial are at the right height for the floating shelf (if I ever find one... they all seem to be 25cm maximum depth and look incapable of supporting anything heavier than a photo frame).

It’s a medium to large room and the stereo will go on the west wall. I’ve a suspicion that the room might be a tad hard as it will have a lino foor, painted walls, nine feet of patio door/windows on the south wall and four feet six of interior glazed doors and an archway to the kitchen on the north wall. There’ll be a dining table and chairs at the eastern end of the room and a small sofa and armchair in front of the hifi. I’d want speakers that were controlled enough to cope with that kind of room without sounding snappy and hard.

I’d be listening to radio (DAB eventually) and anything from Ben Folds to Beethoven and in the fullness of time, nursery rhymes and children’s stories...

My total budget is about £150 to £300 for speakers and brackets if I make do with the DM30 for the moment. If not, £400 max for the mini/micro and speaker combo. This is probably the last chance I’ll get to buy audio equipment before I retire so I’d like to get it right...

[Exapno]

A truly underwhelming response...

It seems to me that there would be more response if I had a four figure sum to spend on a 5.1 surround speakers and a surround amp. Perhaps I should have a look around for a more hi fi/music related forum.

[looney12345]

Jamo A102 HCS5 or Tannoy SFX 5.1 seem to be the popular options, particuarly the Jamo's. However i am only going by what other people on this forum have said. I am personally looking for some speakers as well at around that budget and like i said, these two seem to be the most popular optios, with the Jamo's coming out on top. Both are available for £180 and i know that the Jamo's come with wall brackets.

Hope this helps, looney

[shared4]

Perhaps the delay in getting a response is partly due to the season

Anyway, here's what might be a solution to the floating shelf problem...

Concealed Shelf Support, Architectural Ironmongery


Can't comment on speaker choices as I dont have the experience, I do know that richersounds sell some nice looking Denon mini systems sans speakers for about £150, with DAB, and though the depth is listed as 328mm and the shelf brackets I linked to state 300mm max, I would think an extra 40mm or so wouldn't break them, given that they support 25Kg's.

[Exapno]

Many thanks Looney and shared4... although I'm looking for a stereo pair, not 5.1