Advice for bookshelf speakers


It is time for me to consider getting some new speakers and I'd like some advice.  This is a secondary system where I watch movies the majority of the time but I still like the speakers to sound good on those occasions when I listen to music. I need to replace my left, center and right.  The speakers I am replacing are KEF XQ1s and an XQ2C.  I can live with just a left and right if the manufacturer does not make a center channel.  These will be driven by an AVR, not separates and will have a sub to pick up the lower frequencies.  I have some WAF dimensions that need to be adhered to: 9"-10" from the back wall, no taller than 17" and the left and right tweeters will be 55" apart.  I would prefer there not to be a precise sweet spot since we sit in various areas on the oversize couch facing the speakers.  I'm not really too hung up on budget.  Somewhere between $2-4K total would be where I would like to be.

 

Given the above, I was thinking about sealed or front vented.  I don't think rear vented would be good for this situation but I could be wrong.  I have only done internet viewing and no listening.  I have looked at Salk's website and have also thought about ATC and ProAc.  I've also looked at Ascend (too narrow of a sweet spot?), Fritz (rear vent), Watkins Generation 4 (are these vented?) and others and just wanted to bounce it off this group. Thanks in advance.

dlm110

Focal kanta 1 and the Kanta center channel would be worth an audition. Good luck !

@dayglow yes I heard the PS10 mofi speaker at capital audiofest. You can beat them but you need over 10k to do that for a YG Acoustics bookshelf. They are a solid 8/10 for any price range. You need deep pockets to beat them.

Consider Elac. I'm quite happy with them in my home theater setting. The money saved will go towards the monitors in my quality-listening room (Sonus Faber Electa Amator, 🤞).

Gotta go with @soix with the Usher Mini-X Diamond speakers. I think they'd be superb if just using two.

I'd consider higher end Elac monitors if doing three across. For the money they are nice. I use the basic Debut 2.0 five-way system in a TV room and enjoy them, and they were cheap ones....