Please recommend a 7.1 amp and slim cube speakers

[omi heer]

Hello everyone,
Preferably second-hand...

I am looking for decent 7.1 amp (Pioneer AX3/4 or a Yamaha) and a set of slim or cube 'like' speakers for all channels (except the sub). Can some one steer me in the right direction. Please, don't recommend the Bose Acoustimass cubes as I have auditioned these and they are not as good as JBL, Monitor Audio, Quad, etc.

I have a pair of Quad 22L running off my Pioneer Audio system ( classic silver set-up/open reels). The physical location of the Sony 40" LCD (in a corner) does not allow me to use the Quads as the front Left/Rights. To ensure I do not lose the sonic music quality I have decided to purchase a new/second hand 7.1 speaker arrangement. Her in-doors has stipulated that the room decor must not be compromised by huge boxed enclosures. She likes the Bose Idea but they are C#$P and I will not entertain them.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Regards

Omi (UK-London)

[Justen]

Fear not, no one here will recommend Bose...

[theodoric]

Please, don't recommend the Bose Acoustimass cubes as I have auditioned these and they are not as good as JBL, Monitor Audio, Quad, etc.They're not? :scratch2:

I would personally piece together a set of NHT (http://www.nhthifi.com/) SuperZeroes and an NHT SW1 sub (it's not really a sub in the strictest sense of the term) if required by law to have the smallest listenable multichannel rig available to me for a low price. If I were buying new, it would be the SB1/SC1/SW10ii (http://www.nhthifi.com/p-ht-superaudio.html) combo.

Second up the price ladder would be the Usher S-520 (http://www.usheraudio.com/speaker-S-520.html)/S-525 (http://www.usheraudio.com/speaker-S-525.html)/SW-103 (http://www.usheraudio.com/speaker-SW-103.html) combo.

I don't know anything about receivers. IMHO, they're all the same. Buy a Rotel or something.

[ProAc_Fan]

For the receivers the only brands I'd recommend would be Rotel, Denon, Yamaha and more off the beaten path Outlaw Audio. Outlaw makes some very highly regarded well priced units. Might be tough to find one used though.

Mike

[ProAc_Fan]

Hunted down a link for ya.. Outlaw Audio 1070 receiver (http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/1070.html)

Mike

[aiconn]

I'm fond of Harmon Kardan (http://www.harmankardon.com/Default.aspx) high current receivers. They can really help so-so to good speakers with transient response and can handle low impedance loads without a hitch.

As for speakers, I like the Definitive Technology ProCinema (http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/procinema/procinema.html) series. The ProCinema 80 or 100 with a ProCenter 100 and ProSub 100TL sound incredible. You might also consider the Polk Audio RM20 (http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/rm20) HT package.

[Crotalus]

Well you're going to get about a dozen different answers. But I recommend the newer Marantz HT receivers. They are very competitive and NOTHING like what they built in the 80's and 90's. The new ownership has done wonders. Check 'em out:

http://us.marantz.com/Products/172.asp