Bookshelf speakers, ≤ $200/pair
- Thread starter Fedallah
- Start date
I agree the A-25s are excellent.
Target sells a pair of $149 KEF speakers which are actually re-badged Celestion F15 speakers (link). Better than the Insignias, better than the new Paradigm Atom and Titan Monitor Series I auditioned with my system. If you can find a pair at your local target (they were on clearance last time I checked), you should definitely give them a listen.
Target sells a pair of $149 KEF speakers which are actually re-badged Celestion F15 speakers (link). Better than the Insignias, better than the new Paradigm Atom and Titan Monitor Series I auditioned with my system. If you can find a pair at your local target (they were on clearance last time I checked), you should definitely give them a listen.
reggaenaut
Addicted Member
I saw them and they were pretty looking furniture quality speakers. However I was hesistant to buy. I lift one up and it was very heavy for its size. At the price I should give it a try.aquajet said:
Fast_Eddie
Upper-middle fi
Another vote for Dynaco A25s. In that price range, they're hard to beat. If you want to trade some bass for high end extension and smaller size, Boston A40s are impressive and cheap.
reggaenaut said:
It's a shame that Target sells these speakers, sitting on the shelf and not actually attached to a system. I too wasn't expecting much, but these turned out to be one of the most enjoyable purchases ever, especially considering the price. The clearance price was down to $120-something. I bought them about two months ago and have been using them in place of my A-25s ever since.
I definitely recommend you give them a try. And if you don't like them or find something better, you can bring them back for a full refund. :thmbsp:
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
Actually, heavy is good -- less likely to resonate (although, not synonymous with non-resonant).reggaenaut said:
systemerror909
Active Member
Before buying anything else, check out these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005IA30...e=380333&creativeASIN=B00005IA30&linkCode=asn
I got a set two years ago and have been very impressed with the performance. The quality of the drivers used is really excellent, this same tweeter is used on +$1000 speakers in the higher end Diamond 9 line. The Kevlar woofer produces some really tight bass, which surprisingly runs very deep (45hz) for the speaker's small footprint. They are a bit insensitive at 86db/watt, but if you have the proper amplifier to drive them they really sound fantastic, for music ranging from shostakovich to Jefferson airplane to Miles Davis to Kanye West to Elton John.
These speakers are on sale at $199, with free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005IA30...e=380333&creativeASIN=B00005IA30&linkCode=asn
I got a set two years ago and have been very impressed with the performance. The quality of the drivers used is really excellent, this same tweeter is used on +$1000 speakers in the higher end Diamond 9 line. The Kevlar woofer produces some really tight bass, which surprisingly runs very deep (45hz) for the speaker's small footprint. They are a bit insensitive at 86db/watt, but if you have the proper amplifier to drive them they really sound fantastic, for music ranging from shostakovich to Jefferson airplane to Miles Davis to Kanye West to Elton John.
These speakers are on sale at $199, with free shipping.
Fedallah
Мне надо много кофе
The JVC I'm using is rated for 195W total output, so I think that should be enough for just about anything, if the ratings are not inflated. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.
The Wharfedales remind me a bit of some Sony bookshelfers I saw on Best Buy's website, but I think that's just the Kevlar woofer talking.
The Wharfedales remind me a bit of some Sony bookshelfers I saw on Best Buy's website, but I think that's just the Kevlar woofer talking.
systemerror909
Active Member
Yeah, the sonys look a bit different both physically and in terms of specs. You can learn more about the wharfedales here: http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/range.php?range_id=4
Your amp should work well with the wharfedales, I was using my 15 watt per channel marantz unit for a long time before I decided to build my own "class T" amp. While very pleased with the performance I got out of the marantz, the sound is very different with my new Amp 5, almost like I have an entirely new set of speakers! I really think this is a testament to the wharfedales, many other people who have reviewed them agree with me that they are very transparent, all the changes i've made to my system in terms of source units, amps, cables has been very audible. The tweeters again are a real gem in these speakers, provide exceptional imaging which makes listening more lifelike. My roommate this spring was so impressed with the envelope of sound he initially thought I had surround sound, until I pointed to the two speakers.
Your amp should work well with the wharfedales, I was using my 15 watt per channel marantz unit for a long time before I decided to build my own "class T" amp. While very pleased with the performance I got out of the marantz, the sound is very different with my new Amp 5, almost like I have an entirely new set of speakers! I really think this is a testament to the wharfedales, many other people who have reviewed them agree with me that they are very transparent, all the changes i've made to my system in terms of source units, amps, cables has been very audible. The tweeters again are a real gem in these speakers, provide exceptional imaging which makes listening more lifelike. My roommate this spring was so impressed with the envelope of sound he initially thought I had surround sound, until I pointed to the two speakers.
lord_athlon
Active Member
jbl 4401's if you can find them.
oilswell
New Member
....just a skosh over 2 bills, but you can frequently find B-stock that's indistinguishable from A-stock....
http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=82.1
http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=82.1
Fedallah
Мне надо много кофе
30-day demo, at zero expense - yeah, that's pretty nice. I've read reviews of those and such, a lot of people seem to enjoy them.
sla429, when you mention the Smaller Advent, are you referring to a specific line of speakers or just the smaller speakers that Advent happened to make?
sla429, when you mention the Smaller Advent, are you referring to a specific line of speakers or just the smaller speakers that Advent happened to make?
www.records
Quality over Quantity
Here is something else for you to consider. I had a pair and listened to them for several days and liked them, but they weren't going to replace my Altecs, so they left the building.
Here is a review comparing them with Insignias. They are B&W 601 S2 and can be bought within your budget. Made in England.
http://stereomojo.com/REVIEWS.htm#INSIGNIASHOOTOUT
Here is a review comparing them with Insignias. They are B&W 601 S2 and can be bought within your budget. Made in England.
http://stereomojo.com/REVIEWS.htm#INSIGNIASHOOTOUT
2DualsNotEnough
Addicted Member
For new,Id highly recommend the Athena AS-b1.2.I just got a pair of the as-b1,and for $120 at audioadvisor.com they are a heck of a deal.If you want to go vintage,Id say the EPI 100,which I also own,are a great speaker.Very good bass from an 8 inch woofer,and a wonderful midrange.
Jimmy
Jimmy
lukiedog
Super Member
If what you want is something small and "audiophile", then the following is a good list in the $100-$150 used range on eBay:
Paradigm Titan (the Atom is good too, but you say you want more bass)
PSB Alpha
NHT Superzero (these may be a bit bass shy, but otherwise "audiophile")
Smaller speakers compromise on bass, there is no way around it. All of these are true bookshelf and will be easy to move around as you jump from place to place in college. The Titan is a particularly good choice for low level listening, which is probably what most of your listening will (or should) be. They give excellent stereo seperation and imaging at low volumes, but don't have much "crankability", if that is being sought.
Paradigm Titan (the Atom is good too, but you say you want more bass)
PSB Alpha
NHT Superzero (these may be a bit bass shy, but otherwise "audiophile")
Smaller speakers compromise on bass, there is no way around it. All of these are true bookshelf and will be easy to move around as you jump from place to place in college. The Titan is a particularly good choice for low level listening, which is probably what most of your listening will (or should) be. They give excellent stereo seperation and imaging at low volumes, but don't have much "crankability", if that is being sought.
dividebytube
Well-Known Member
maybe you can get some used Adire HE10.1 speakers - I would sell you mine if I could ever get them back to the guy I loaned 'em to...
Another small speaker I enjoyed when I was in college was the old Wharfedale speakers... very british but great imaging.
for example : http://cgi.ebay.com/WHARFEDALE-DIAM...ryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or my friend had something like these B&Ws -
http://cgi.ebay.com/B-W-BRITISH-MAD...yZ116193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Another small speaker I enjoyed when I was in college was the old Wharfedale speakers... very british but great imaging.
for example : http://cgi.ebay.com/WHARFEDALE-DIAM...ryZ14991QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
or my friend had something like these B&Ws -
http://cgi.ebay.com/B-W-BRITISH-MAD...yZ116193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Toasted Almond
RIP 1952-2016
If I'm not mistaken, the JVC receiver that the gentleman owns is rated at 40wpc. This may or may not change some of the suggestions.
Fedallah
Мне надо много кофе
I don't have the original documentation at hand, but 40W is the maximum value marked on the JVC's meters - so that would make sense. The speaker outputs are rated from four to sixteen ohms, so unless I want to run a six-speaker stack that shouldn't be a problem.
Ar. In three weeks or so I'll have the time and the mobility to hit the thrifts and pawnshops and whatnot, but not now. The suggestions are a great help though guys. I'm probably going to see what can be had local and used before I drop a lot of coin on something new.
Ar. In three weeks or so I'll have the time and the mobility to hit the thrifts and pawnshops and whatnot, but not now. The suggestions are a great help though guys. I'm probably going to see what can be had local and used before I drop a lot of coin on something new.