Speakers to mount in corners of room

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Hi all,


I'm looking to buy a brand new hi-fi setup from scratch – I’m not upgrading from anything, so I need both speakers and an amp. My priorities and setup are a bit specific, so I’d love some advice!

What I'm after:

• Mainly for streaming music (most important), but also for TV sound (we just bought a new TV)
• I need HDMI ARC support on the amp
• Budget is around £400 for speakers and £400 for the amp, though I can stretch a bit for the right gear
• Not interested in CD players, record decks, etc. – just streaming + TV

Room setup:

• The speakers will be mounted in the top corners of the room, about 3m apart and 3m from the listening position
• The left speaker will be above a door, and I only have 36.5cm between the ceiling and the top of the door, so compact size is key
• They'll need to be angled down toward the sofa, which has proven tricky so far

What I’ve tried so far (with Richer Sounds):

1. Argon Fenris A4 + Wiim Mini – active setup, but the supplied speaker cable wasn’t long enough to reach between corners. Was instead recommended...
2. Dali Oberon 1 + Wiim Amp Pro – sounded promising, but the installer couldn’t angle them down enough to point at the sofa
3. Now they’re recommending Monitor Audio Radius 90 + Wiim Amp Pro

At this point I’m getting a bit suspicious – I’m on the third speaker recommendation, and they’re still pushing the same amp. Is it normal for the Wiim Amp Pro to be equally suited to something like the Oberon 1s and Radius 90s, given they’re quite different speakers?


I’d love to hear your thoughts:

• Are there better compact passive speakers in this price range that would suit corner mounting (ideally with good vertical angling brackets)?
• Any other amps with HDMI ARC and a built-in streamer I should consider?
• Would a subwoofer be worth planning for down the line, and if so, any recommendations that would complement this kind of setup?

Really appreciate any advice – thank you!

(I've attached a picture of the room - obviously TV will go in the middle on the wall)

 

[RTHerringbone]

If the TV is mounted on the wall, is it viable to have the speakers at a more conventional height underneath it?

Obviously it depends on what your plans were for the space under the TV, but the right sized unit there could neatly accommodate the amp, the speakers and any other electronics, the wiring would be less conspicuous and the speakers would be at a decent height.

I'd say it could be preferable to have bookshelf speakers not on stands but at a "normal" height, than having them offset and in unconventional positions.

 

[Messiah]

I’ve not used the WiiM amp myself but it seems to fit the bill for what you need and it gets a lot of praise.

If the speakers have to go where you say then I would certainly recommend the Monitor Audio Radius 90. I use them in my home cinema set up and in the kitchen with a Denon DM-41DAB. Whilst you can buy them brand new, there are always lots available on eBay. Owning both the latest version and the prior version (Radius 90 HD), there is very little between them. Can typically pick up a decent pair for £150-£200. (Brackets may or may not be included - if you have to get them separately just make sure you get the right ones).

This would then leave money for a sub which I would say is almost essential for the MA speakers. Whilst their bass is adequate, the small drivers certainly need help.

Plenty of sub options for £200 2nd hand.

 

[daytona600]

Elipson Planet wall / Corner /Ceiling mounting brackets
Add extra speakers if required in the future 5.1.4 Atmos below

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