• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

New Here, Need some speaker recs

Yeeterkeeter

Yeeterkeeter

Kermit the Frog
Hi! This is my first post here! The reason I'm on here is because I kept getting search results that led here when I searched up speaker specs I found on eBay, so I figured that the people here are pretty knowledgeable about various speakers that are out there. I'm looking for some mid to high quality speakers that are under 100 dollars, and aren't too large. My setup is a Harman Kardon AVR 235 and a Sony 5 disc CD player. What would be some good speaker options for me?
 
Register to hide this ad
1. What kind of music do you listen to?
2. What would be the largest acceptable size in inches, Height, Width, Depth?
 
1. Well, I listen to everything from Pearl Jam to Oscar Peterson, but you could say that my tastes are generally centralized around classic rock and some forms of metal. As for dimensions my only main concern is height, nothing over 14 inches will do since it will block a very nice painting that is hung behind the cabinet that my Stereo is located.
 
Welcome! I tend to favor smaller speakers myself. But I'm also a vintage guy. Lot of KEF, B&W, Canton, ADS on the used market in that size range. Most Infinity, Paradigm, Boston A series and EPIs are very good but some will need a refoam. Any of them may need capacitors, new ferrofluid or membranes for the tweeters. If you're a handy person they make for fun projects. Just dig into the speakers forum and see what people like!
 
Last edited:
Welcome! OK, here’s what I would suggest. With your budget you are going to be limited. Hit the Thrift Stores, and local Goodwills as often as you can. Be patient. What you will look for are heavy, solid built speakers. Make sure the woofer goes in and out smoothly. If you can, test them and listen to the tweeters to make sure they have sound. If you are handy, then don’t worry about deteriorated surrounds on the woofer because you can fix them fairly cheaply.
Brands I like and look for: Advent, Snell, AR ( in you dreams, most of the time), Epicure, Boston Acoustics, ADS, Polk Audio, JSE, Infinity, Mirage,and if even more lucky, Altec.
I found some rather unknown brands a few times that are quite good. Role Audio, and one other I can’t remember at the time. I decided on them because they were heavy, well built, and had quality terminals to hook up the speaker wire.
I wish you well.
 
The following manufacturers make very good small speakers, in no particular order:
KEF, B&W, ADS, Polk, Optimus Linaeum models, Celestion, AR4a, JBL, Signet SL280.
Look used to hit your price point. You might get lucky at a thrift store but those speakers are more likely to be in poor condition. Take the grilles off and look at the woofer surrounds and look for pushed in domes on the tweeters. Craigslist is best.
 
"High quality speakers" under $100 is a bit of a paradox, as "quality" oft demands more cost than this limit.

As shared, you might hit it lucky at a GW store, but anything of merit is quickly scooped up and re-sold.


You might want to check out some estate sales/auctions online/local sales, but have to move quickly if a "cherry" is offered.

Check out the "Speaker" forum, using "search" (upper right corner of the PC screen) for some of the traits/brands that suit your requirements.


Q
 
Last edited:
Quadman2 said:
As shared, you might hit it lucky at a GW story, but anything of merit is quickly scooped up and re-sold.


You might want to check out some estate sales/auctions online/local sales, but have to move quickly if a "cherry" is offered.

Check out the "Speaker" forum, using "search" (upper right corner of the PC screen) for some of the traits/brands that suit your requirements.


Q
Click to expand...
alright, I will make sure to look around there for good recommendations.
 
dr*audio said:
The following manufacturers make very good small speakers, in no particular order:
KEF, B&W, ADS, Polk, Optimus Linaeum models, Celestion, AR4a, JBL, Signet SL280.
Look used to hit your price point. You might get lucky at a thrift store but those speakers are more likely to be in poor condition. Take the grilles off and look at the woofer surrounds and look for pushed in domes on the tweeters. Craigslist is best.
Click to expand...
thanks for the tips man, I'm relatively new to the audio system scene so I don't have any sense on which brands are good and which ones I want to avoid
 
Welcome to THE SOURCE of all universal audiologic! GW used to be a reliable source for our cheap scores, but with very few exceptions, no more. Craigslist, fb marketplace, etc along with private sales will more likely pay off. Anything with the dreaded junk foam surrounds on woofters will come cheap, & relatively cheap to overhaul. Several on- line sources for the shiite to fix 'em.
Hard to advise which to seek & which to avoid, your ears work differently from those of others.
I will say though, that a rummage-sale pair of chinese- made Klipsch Synergy B-3'S I found a few years ago with a Fisher ca-880 amp for $30 flat-out floored me when connected to a stock Fisher tube receiver. Them things for their size blew my addled mind right quick.
Goes to show that ya don't know until you try yerself. Ymmv, of course.
 
Yeeterkeeter, post your location as some folks will browse CL or FBMP for you and clue you up to some nicer small speakers

UncleAng said:
14" in height? That ain't very big. Good luck and welcome.
Click to expand...
That is true but there are a big pile of short speakers that will fit the bill Not the vintage gear but many of the brands mentioned made smaller speakers in the last 30 years that are very good. Speakers have been able to be smaller with performance for the last couple decades.

I have a pair of NHT SB-3 bought cheap from CL that can easily replace my main speakers and don't need a sub. They are that good. Were 6 new and I got em for less than budget a few years ago after prices had gone up so the OP may trip over a great deal for some nice speakers that work for the application.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom