Good looking small 5 or 5.1 set

[skinny]

What are the best options for small modern / cool looking speakers for a home AV set?
Mrs skinny doesn't like my tannoy F4 / F1 as they are too big and square - also my speaker stands for the rears are not very aesthetic - and my Epos M8 centre is quite big.

Should i just stick to KEF eggs?

Would be up for just a speaker set (i have a little Epos ELS sub which i can hide away) or a 5.1 set. Not looking for the last word in quality, just something (up to around £500 or so) to give a bit more experience to films etc.

[clockworks]

Secondhand Quad L-ite 5.1 set?

[skinny]

Thanks for the suggestion, Perhaps a little traditional tho they have a few different colours / finishes which look nice.
But in reviewing those i also came across a q acoustics Q7000i set and B&W MT50 which are a good few years old now and i might be able to pick up 2nd hand.

Edited by skinny on Monday 19th August 09:08

[Murph7355]

clockworks said:

Secondhand Quad L-ite 5.1 set?

I've had a quite similar looking Energy Take 5 for a long time now and they work really nicely as well as being unobtrusive. (https://www.energy-speakers.com/products/take-classic/?sku=TK-CLASSI-5-1).

If I ever replace them, I'd get something like the MT50s.

I was always quite tempted to try Scandya Minipods/Micropods too - I think they used to use B&W drivers, not sure if they still do.(https://www.podspeakers.com/product/micropod-se-mkii/)

[archie456]

The B&W M1 are very good and fairly discreet like these

They are a change from the usual square box and were made in several colours.

[Sporky]

Shallow rather than small, but have a look at some of the slim on-wall options:

Monitor Audio SF1 and SF2
KEF 105, 205 or 305
Price no object; PMC Wafers

Or, while it's not quite the same thing, an Atmos soundbar - the Sennheiser is very, very good.

[banjowilly]

I picked up a set of Tannoy HTS101 a while back & while they're far from the last word in design, I'm pleased with them. Pretty good all round all the way up until I turn the front room into a disco.

[aquarianone]

https://galloacoustics.com/

Don't get more Wife friendly than these

I use a pair for Stereo duties with a small Rel sub, they sound decent enough and go loud and clear.

Managed to pick up a set from Ebay for a decent enough price, and they sell directly via their website as well as having a discount section.

https://galloacoustics.com/product-category/certif...

There's also the Orb speakers that are similar and slightly cheaper.

[skinny]

Thanks all, some interesting options in those replies

[Sporky]

I forgot one that I considered for the new house's living room (getting for the home office instead) - Cornered Audio. Discreet and they sound decent.

https://www.cornered.dk/

C5s for front left and right, C4s or C3s for the rest. I prefer the C8 sub to the C15 for music, but the latter has more grunt for fillums with explodings.

[bazza.]

I just sold my KEF Eggs which I used for my rear channel and replaced them with some Roth RA1
The difference is night and day they sound 10x better

[Dr G]

banjowilly said:

I picked up a set of Tannoy HTS101 a while back & while they're far from the last word in design, I'm pleased with them. Pretty good all round all the way up until I turn the front room into a disco.

I run the same and have been very pleased with them; they're very simple looking things and not at all intrusive.

Wife hated previous floorstanders with large surrounds etc. but doesn't mind these.

[hornmeister]

More budget than other suggestions here but I've been impressed with the Canton 75 set I picked up for my back room.
Whilst not as clinical and punchy as my floor standing Rogers surround set-up in the front room, they're more than adequate for general TV and sports viewing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canton-Movie-Surround-Sou...

Not necessarily funky looking but small and easy to hide.
Bigger/better sets available:

https://www.canton.de/en/home-cinema/5.1-movie/

[tomsugden]

Someone will be along shortly to tell me I'm wrong, but I bought a second hand Bose lifestyle 48, and to my ears it sounds amazing. The 5 double cube speakers are very discrete, and the sub is tucked away. Most people can't believe the sound quality.

[stevemcs]

Look at the monitor audio radius range and something like a bk electronics gemini sub.

[Deranged Rover]

Secondhand set of Mordaunt Short Genies.