Question Which speakers to select for TV and music?

[SergSlim]

Hello, forum members!

I've been wanting to buy acoustics for my TV for a long time. Sometimes I look at various comparisons on different sites, but nothing catches my eye. One of the times I thought about it again - for some reason many articles wrote that the Klipsch system is good, and I thought about it. But their forum didn't help me much, so I think it's better to ask here.

- Room area - 16 m2
- Which acoustics/receiver do I already have - none
- Music/movie percentage ratio - 0/100 for now, but when I get normal acoustics, I think it will be 40/60.
- Total budget - mentally prepared for $5K, maybe more if has good explanation why it should be such expensive.
- Location - Ukraine

Regarding music - I would like to buy a vinyl player later and hook it up to this system. In the meantime, I'll listen to my collection in FLAC from the NAS.

Throughout the years I've heard numerous recommendations ranging from Klipsch Reference Premiere 8000F/8000F II, to Monitor Audio Bronze/Silver 200/300, to Polk Audio Reserve R600/R700, to Acoustic Energy AE300 for fronts.

I'm the type of person that can pick something for a very long time before I'm sure that I'm buying the best option for the money and my needs. But selecting acoustics for TV takes way too long. First real thoughts started around 2018, and it's 2025 and I'm still without any....

For the given budget, ideally I'd want to have 5.1.2 system with Atmos in ceiling + receiver.
However, I can start off with just the fronts + receiver and buy the rest gradually.

Any suggestions on how to finally pick something?

 

[ultraminiature]

total budget - mentally prepared for $5K,

I assume USD even though you are in Ukraine.

I also have my media on a computer in FLAC, WAVE and movies in several formats mostly .TS, .MKV or .MP4.
I have active analogue speakers using an HDMI debedder from my computer for 8 channel of audio output. My speakers however are old, need more frequent repairs and spend longer each time to get fixed. So I investigated replacing my surround system with current or at least recent speakers.

For 5.1 and 7.1 and Dolby the simplest and easiest to buy in stages is an AV receiver with passive speakers or analogue active speakers (if the AV has line level outputs). My CYP debedder has 8 channels of outputs for 7.1 from the graphics card and was around £200. AU-1H1DD-4K22 is £324, AU-11SA-4K22 is £192.

Adams Audio have low cost to expensive active speakers. Although designed for near field monitors are liked by audiophiles. They are not wireless but fully active speakers.

I now use a WiSA transmitter Axiim Link (£300) usb from Xbox or PC or LG TV, but a Soundsend would take the output of the graphics card or TV eARC HDMI . WiSA speakers include Klipsch, Monaco 5.1.2 Surround W/ WiSA SoundSend, Milan 5.1 Surround W/ WiSA SoundSend (under £1000) but you can also go for Buchardt A500 and A700 WiSA speakers or B&O Beolab 17, 18, 20, 8 and 28. You can start with a pair for stereo and add as budget allows. For example you can get two pairs of Beolab 17 across Europe using them as analogue active speakers or WiSA speakers for your budget. You may find you never need more but could find a Beolab 7.4 with Receiver 1 for centre and dialogue useful and cheap (around £400) and Beolab 19 for sub-woofer.

Wireless means not needing source signal cables around the walls of the room, just a power input. In your room the rear speakers or side speakers would be better placed on the wall, not stands. Another reason to pick B&O Beolab 17 (as well as the second hand price a real bargain now) as they are wall, ceiling or stand mounts.

Also consider that some sound bars will allow the use of a sub and rear speakers and although have a limited separation for a stereo source still offer a very good sound. Your ears, your budget, your choice.

PS: I have a turntable with pre-amp into a Motu M4 to transfer the vinyl to the NAS. You can plug the line level output of a phono stage pre-amp into analogue active speakers that if the speaker has it's own volume control otherwise you need a preamp (preamp with phono stage). I recently got a new cartridge and a few upgrades to my 1990 Linn Sondek for roughly the same as the original purchase cost.