Review of Speaker Packages for Surround Sound

Price Range $1500 to $2500

By Nick Townsend

You only have to venture into a hi-fi and home theatre store to realise that the range of speaker packages available today is huge, and quite often overwhelming. Satellite speakers, bookshelf speakers, wall-mount speakers, floorstanding speakers, in-ceiling speakers…how the hell do you choose what is right for you and your home? How do you sort out the performers from the pretenders?

These are important questions, because speakers, in conjunction with room acoustics, make up the most critical part of a stereo or home theatre system. Why? Because they have by far the largest effect on the overall sound of the system, compared to the other system components.

To assist you in choosing the correct speaker package for your needs, we have put together what we believe to be some of the best performing packages available at the moment. The packages have been grouped into various price brackets to suit a range of budgets, and an overview of each speaker package is also provided.

Our goal here is to give you a good idea of the quality speaker packages currently available, and we will endeavor to update these package suggestions as new and improved solutions are released. Keep in mind that these speaker packages serve as a guide only, and may not necessarily suit your particular application. Some suggestions have been made at the end of several individual package reviews, outlining alternatives to the set package that may be more suitable to your individual situation.

In light of what has been written above, we always suggest that you come into our store if possible so we can discuss with you what you require in a speaker package. For those of you who cannot make it into our store, the packages listed below can function as a reference point – you can then ring or email us and we will be more than happy to discuss and suggest a solution for you.

This article focuses on speaker packages and the various options available. We have intentionally not included any A/V Receiver or amplifier suggestions in this article, as there are many factors to consider, besides the speakers you are powering, when deciding on an amplifier. Sometime in the near future we’ll compile an article on selecting the right amplifier.

The prices quoted for the speaker packages are $RRP, however packages that are on sale will often fall into a lower price bracket.

The following reviews often refer to room sizes, so below is an indication of the room size we are referring to:

Small room: up to ~ 16m²

Large room: ~ 35m² +

Package includes:

This is a big speaker package with a big sound. The large, traditional-looking floorstanding speakers each contain twin 8" bass drivers, single 5" mid-bass and a Mylar tweeter. The centre and rear speakers employ the same tweeter and mid-bass drivers as the front mains, ensuring a good tonal match. In sonic terms this means that the movement of sound from one speaker to the other will be coherent and convincing. The medium size, forward-firing subwoofer contains a 120 Watt amplifier that drives a 10" forward-firing woofer.

This is an excellent rig for movie watching, and the weight and scale of large movie productions sounds thrilling. The front floorstanding speakers are responsible for much of this in-you-face sound, although the robust centre speaker handles dialogue and effects very well, and is much better built than other centre speakers at this price point. The rear speakers are also up to the task, handling varying surround effects with ease. The front speakers would be best described as forward-sounding, so if you prefer your music loud and bassy, this is the package for you. The subwoofer complements the front speakers’ ample bass output, and rumbles out the lower frequencies of a modern movie soundtrack, digging surprisingly deep at times. The cannon fire in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World sounds and feels impressively realistic.

This package needs a bit of space to sound its best, so placement in a medium to large size room is preferable. This speaker package may not be the most attractive or space efficient that you can buy, but for movies it provides the best ‘bang for your buck’ that we have heard. If you have the space and want true cinema performance at a bargain price, look no further.

→ RRP: $1,699

5 x satellite speakers with desk stand/wall bracket

1 x 250 Watt subwoofer

 

 

The KEF KHT2005.2 is the second incarnation of the original 2005, hence the .2 moniker. Improvements over the previous model include a new tweeter and a totally redesigned subwoofer, with the latter being about the only thing that let the original package down. The new subwoofer is a compact, sealed, high power design (250 Watts) that pushes a 10" high excursion driver, while the five ‘egg’ speakers utilise KEF’s uni-Q technology, whereby the tweeter is situated in the centre of the midrange driver. According to KEF this arrangement "disperses a seemless sonic image evenly throughout the listening area." The satellites are well constructed and weighty with magnetic shielding and a sleek aluminium finish, while the compact but hefty 14.5kg subwoofer features a glass top for that extra bit of class.

Besides the great sonic performance (which I’ll get to in a minute), the 2005.2 satellites are the most flexible speaker that we have seen when it comes to positioning. Straight out of the box the satellites are attached to a stable desk/pedestal stand that allows for movement in all directions. If you wish to wall mount the satellites, the desk stand is simply removed and then reattached to the rear of the speaker, effectively becoming a wall bracket. Once attached to the wall, you still have the provision to swivel the speakers for optimal positioning. Optional stands (1000mm in height) are also available, and can be used to raise the height of the front, center or rear speakers.

For movies, these speakers give a strong performance. Every small detail is heard in the incredibly rich and complex soundtrack of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and subtle and atmospheric flick Signs. Like the smaller Gale HT405.1, the 2005.2s handle high volumes without sounding harsh or bright, and the accompanying subwoofer provides plenty of low level rumble. What really sets these speakers apart from the competition, however, is their stereo music performance. The level of detail is amazing considering their size, and mid-range performance is commendable, although they do lack the mid-range snap that you associate with a decent bookshelf or floorstanding speaker. If you are more critical in your stereo music listening, and don’t mind a more-traditional-looking speaker, it would be worthwhile considering the Paradigm system reviewed below (System 3).

There have been many imitators that have tried to emulate the same performance from similar looking designs, but so far all have failed to match the 2005.2. The Mordaunt Short Genie speaker package comes close in terms of movie performance, but sounds slightly muffled, lacking the extra high frequency refinement of the 2005.2s when it comes to stereo music (and yes, we have listened to these two packages side by side!).

We’ve never been huge fans of satellite/subwoofer packages, but the KEF 2005.2 is one of the few compact setups that we would happily have in our own homes. It provides an alternative for those of you who desire the performance of a larger speaker, but require a package that is more space efficient and aesthetically appealing. Their combination of good looks and build quality, great performance, positioning flexibility, and competitive price consistently make the KEF 2005.2 one of our best sellers.

Tip: You can purchase single 2005.2 satellite speakers if you wish to expand your system to 6.1 or 7.1.

→ Options: ◦ Single 2005.2 satellite speaker – $299 each

Package consists of:

If you are more serious when it comes to music listening but don’t want to compromise when it comes to movie performance, this Paradigm/Yamaha system is definitely worth an audition. Physically it is quite a bit larger than the KEF KHT2005.2 system reviewed above, but would still be considered a reasonably compact home theatre speaker package. Paradigm is a Canadian loudspeaker manufacturer that you may not be too familiar with, but they are one of the largest speaker manufacturers in North America. If you’re a regular visitor to our website, you’re sure to know that we are big fans of Paradigm, therefore it’s probably no great surprise to learn that they make several appearances later on in this review series.

The Paradigm speakers reviewed here are all from their Performance Series range, so drivers and other internal components are well matched in a tonal sense. The front Focus bookshelf speakers are medium-sized, the rear Atoms look like a smaller version of the Focus and are wall-mountable, and on initial viewing the CC-170 centre speaker is impressive in terms of its size and weight. This system is suitable for small and medium sized rooms.

While the other speaker packages in this price bracket are reasonable music performers, it’s fair to say they are most at home belting out a movie soundtrack. And this is what separates the Paradigm/Yamaha setup from the others, as it is just as capable of accurately reproducing stereo and multichannel music as it is with movie soundtracks. The Focus put in an all-round good performance, but what catches the ear early on is the greater midrange presence that they exhibit in comparison with smaller satellite speakers. Bass is also controlled and substantial for a speaker this size, and combined with crisp and detailed highs, the Focus are a pleasure to listen to, whatever the musical genre.

The CC-170 centre speaker is another highlight of this system, with its wide soundstage

and accurate recreation of both male and female voices, making it a noticeably better unit than the other packaged centre speakers reviewed thus far. The Atom rears integrate seamlessly with the front three speakers for both subtle and aggressive surround movie effects, as well as multichannel music such as Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio (DVD-A). The little Yamaha YST-SW225 subwoofer surprises with its bass depth for movies, and it can play a tune or two when it comes to music.

The downside to this package is its relatively subdued and traditional styling, as well as its relative bulk in comparison to more compact satellite systems. It also does not have the outright slam of the Welling GA-8283 package (System 1), but the finer details in music and movies are better relayed through the Paradigm/Yamaha system in a no less immersive manner.

This type of package will appeal to those who enjoy listening to their music just as much their movies. They are not the prettiest looking package here, but their solid construction and quality sound more than compensate for this.

Options: If you’re going to install the system in a larger room or watch a lot of movies, consider upgrading the CC-170 to the larger CC-270 (RRP $599). It brings a worthwhile improvement for a relatively small additional outlay, and it will result in an even better tonal match across the front soundstage, as all the drivers in the front three speakers will be of the same construction and size. Also consider the larger Yamaha YST-SW515 subwoofer (RRP $899) if you have a medium to large size room to fill, or require more bass depth.

→ RRP: $2,296