I just installed a huge new entertainment cabinet for my mother-in-law last night. That was the price for her having my family over for Sunday evening dinner

She is using a crappy Bose Cinemate system which is (arguably) better than using the TV speakers. Under my gentle guidance we will be upgrading from the Bose system in the near future. So here I am for some advice. Floor standers are out of the question due to size limitations, so it must be bookshelf style speakers that will go into the cabinet. I know this is not ideal but is all I have to work with. M22's will not fit, but M2 or M3 will. So votes and opinions please on:

2 channel only with M2 or M3?
2.1 maybe? I'll need to twist her arm to add a sub however.
3 or 3.1? There is a spot to add maybe a VP100 or 150, but I am not sure if 3.1 is worth the upgrade over straight 2 or 2.1 for her environment.

Also, i am concerned about putting the M2 or M3 in a cabinet with their rear port. Are there in cabinet M2 or M3's coming? I don't see anything in the regular products page.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice.

Cheers,

Hey Dan, - For 2 channel only look to the M3v3, they will offer a fuller sound and is the best stand alone speaker. Of course, the addition of a subwoofer will provide a deeper bass presence and support the bass information provided by the M3.

Adding the center speaker will enhance vocal presence when watching movies or broadcast, if the viewing/listening is within 12 feet of the screen opt for the VP100, if further than 12 feet look to the VP150.

On placing the M3 to the cabinet you should have a least 2 inches of clearance for the rear port more is better and the speaker itself should be a 1/2 inch forward of the shelf it is sitting on for the speaker to disperse correctly.

The in-cabinet version would acctually be the M3 in-wall.

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m3-inwall-speakers.html

Call me on the toll free number at 1.866.244.8796 if you have any further questions.

Dan, I'd suggest the M2s plus a good sub. As Brent pointed out, there's no need for concern about the rear ports in the cabinet as long as a least 2" of "breathing room" is provided, but be sure not to recess the speakers farther back than the front edge of the cabinet.

If i were in your position, i would go with a 2 channel only system. Females do not have the same "requirements" that guys do... I do not know that she would notice the increase in value due to having a sub. It is quite possible she will be just as happy without. I would argue that the most important factor is whatever you get her will be able to play at a sound level that she can hear everything clearly.

Thanks for the suggestions all. Good to know about the breathing room for the ports, that was one of my main concerns.

Since this will not be a surround system, I think I'll start with 2 channel or maybe 2.1 and see how it goes. If we want better dialogue I can always add a center channel later.

Dakon - you make a fine point on her possibly not having the same requirements as guys do - but I'm happy to say my mother-in-law enjoys the SVS PC-Ultra 13 sub that she has in her dedicated HT in the basement (which she budgeted for in spite of her husband's objections)!

You want to swap mother-in-law? I give you mine, you give me yours

Update - When cleaning out the basement storage to get to our Christmas decorations, I 'refound' my old front LCR speakers from my original entry level HT. So the speaker problem should be solved as I know these small Polk bookshelf speakers will sound better than the Bose system currently in use at my in-laws. And they are $free.99! I use 2 of them as a stereo pair with one of my Sonos zones which is why I still have the LCR combo sitting in a box.

Now a question - what would you recommend for a simple 2.1 or 3.1 channel amp? I could use my old Kenwood VR-6070 but it's way too big. So I am looking for something that is very simple to use and diminutive in size so it will fit in their existing cabinet. OrbAudio Mini Amp is an example, but something that actually puts specs on line. Suggestions?

What are you using for a pre-amp? or do you want an integrated amp/pre-amp?

What are your size requirements? as exact as possible will enable better more relevant recommendations.

Good point.

Pre amp is the TV - basically we simply want better TV sound. So variable audio output from the TV via RCA cables to a small 2.1 capable amp to drive the Polk bookshelf speakers. I unfortunately do not have the exact max size measurements for the space where the amp can go. However a 'regular' size HT receiver like the Denon 3808 is probably a bit over the max - my in-laws would prefer to keep it small and fairly unobtrusive visually.

Dan, you realize small and amplifiers are an oxymoron right?

These are 2 channel amps that are small, to some what small.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-s...mplifier/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-s...25-Watts/1.html

I think finding a 3 channel amp is going to be rough.. My 3 channel amp is the same size as my 2 channel.. Both are about the size of a receiver...

On other thing that you did not mention, was budget...