The Best 50 Dollar A Pair Speakers Ever ??
- Thread starter ka7niq
- Start date
YamahaFreak
Super Member
:lmao::lmao::lmao:streckfu said:I think you can find Sonic Socks at speciality audophile stores. Usually they sell for $2500/pr.
YamahaFreak
Super Member
I use wool; it seems to work better because it's a denser material, therefore it absorbs more unwanted sound.Dusty Chalk said:
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
That's good, because I don't really wear my wool socks all that often.YamahaFreak said:
It doesn't make the sound scratchy? Or does the scratchiness of the socks counter ("catch") any scratchiness of the speakers?
Actually, I've found some really good deals at the local army surplus store, and they deliver 99% of the audiophool socks' performance at a fraction of a percent of the price!
YamahaFreak
Super Member
Irony of ironiespmsummer said:
That's what I use!
YamahaFreak
Super Member
Wait.Dusty Chalk said:
Are you saying they ACTUALLY make socks for this? :headscrat
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
Uh, no, I was just "going with it".YamahaFreak said:
I actually learned this little tweak from Dynaudio. There speakers are front ported and can get a little bass heavy when close to a rear wall. They included a foam cylinder to stuff the ports with and taper the bass performance.
I used socks because they were handy. Not sure what there made of!
Dan
I used socks because they were handy. Not sure what there made of!
Dan
My son started with socks in his Forturas, then ran out of clean socks one day so he plugged his ports with Coke cans. I've also used plastic yogurt cups.
It's always good to try a given speaker sealed and ported. You never know how cynical the designers were until you do.
It's always good to try a given speaker sealed and ported. You never know how cynical the designers were until you do.
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
You're supposed to take them off your feet. LOL...
johnda
Addicted Member
I got mine today!
I have been reading all the comments about the Insignia speakers, model NS-B2111, on sale at Best Buy, and frankly I was really interested. I was scoping out speakers for my living room system where the cabinet size is limited to about 17 inches in height. I read about, and was contemplating choosing a pair from the following speakers:
Klipsch,Kef,JBL,Radiient
All of them were models that would fit that dang opening where I was using AR 215ps loudspeakers. I also own other speakers that I have used for over 30 years in other locations of my home. AR4x in the study (Sony STR 6055 Receiver) Dynaco A-25 and KLH 6 in the basement (Pioneer SX-780 Receiver). I once owned the deluxe Advents also, but no longer have them. My love of audio goes back to the late 1950's.
My living room system has been been improved recently with the addition of a Kenwood KA6100 amplifier (50 watts/channel into 8 ohms 20-20K), but I wanted a sound that was a bit better than with the AR 215ps speakers, basically I was missing bass response that the other systems had, although the tonal balance was not bad.
When I started reading the threads about the Insignia speakers, I REALLY was interested. Could I really find a $50 dollar pair of speakers that could give me the sound I was looking for? I want to thank the person who described where to find the speakers on the floor of Best Buy, because they sure try to hide them! There were only three boxes of them and they were stored way above the floor where you needed that giant step ladder to reach them. When I got the young guy to get them for me, he kept asking "Are you sure that you want THEM???" I said "Yep!" carried them to checkout, (man, they are heavy!) and paid $54 dollars with tax.
After getting them home, I opened up the box and unpacked the speakers. To my eyes and hands the fit and finish was really nice, with that beautiful polished front. The speakers are coaxial design with the tweeter mounted in the center of the woofer similar to earlier Tannoy speakers. This is supposed to improve the imaging over a system where the tweeter is separated from the woofer. I replaced the AR's and since it was late in the evening by that time, I only had time to play one album on my Dual 505-1 turntable with Otrofon cartridge.
Even though the speakers have not been broken in yet, they sounded just great to my ears when I played a Chopin piano concerto. Very british, smooth not harsh, but great soundstage. I actually heard the wood on the keys on a high note ripple. The bass was quite good and I don't need a subwoofer. The speakers are designed to be mounted vertically and the base of the cabinet where they were placed is about two inches above the floor. Each speaker stands on four rubber feet about a half inch high that you attach to premarked points on the base. The coaxial design allows the woofer to be mounted higher in the cabinet which helps the speaker when it is mounted near the floor.
These speakers are my birthday gift which is in December, but who's counting! I really feel that they have helped me to complete the upgrade of my living room system, and I am quite happy. I know that they still need to be broken in, but I felt I should let you folks know how I did.
Here are the specs from the included manual, which tells you how to wire them up, but little else about placement, etc.
Type 2 way
Tweeter 4/5" Co-axis
Woofer 6.5"
Impedence 8 Ohm
Max. Power 120W
Sensitivity 90DB
Frequency response 50-20K Hz
Dimensions (HxWxL) 13x8x12" (340x220x310mm)
Weight 12 Lbs (5.6 Kg)
Price at Best Buy (on sale) $49.99 per pair
I'll probably pop back in later on, after I've had a chance to burn them in and play more music. Basically I'm a classical music listener who enjoys piano and guitar, new age, and popular vocals. I am not a rock hound, so playing at extremely high volumes is not my thing. Some people mentioned resonances being heard, but so far I have not, probably because of the way I listen to music.
I hope this short review helps you make a decision. I certainly think they are worth consideration! Good luck,
I have been reading all the comments about the Insignia speakers, model NS-B2111, on sale at Best Buy, and frankly I was really interested. I was scoping out speakers for my living room system where the cabinet size is limited to about 17 inches in height. I read about, and was contemplating choosing a pair from the following speakers:
Klipsch,Kef,JBL,Radiient
All of them were models that would fit that dang opening where I was using AR 215ps loudspeakers. I also own other speakers that I have used for over 30 years in other locations of my home. AR4x in the study (Sony STR 6055 Receiver) Dynaco A-25 and KLH 6 in the basement (Pioneer SX-780 Receiver). I once owned the deluxe Advents also, but no longer have them. My love of audio goes back to the late 1950's.
My living room system has been been improved recently with the addition of a Kenwood KA6100 amplifier (50 watts/channel into 8 ohms 20-20K), but I wanted a sound that was a bit better than with the AR 215ps speakers, basically I was missing bass response that the other systems had, although the tonal balance was not bad.
When I started reading the threads about the Insignia speakers, I REALLY was interested. Could I really find a $50 dollar pair of speakers that could give me the sound I was looking for? I want to thank the person who described where to find the speakers on the floor of Best Buy, because they sure try to hide them! There were only three boxes of them and they were stored way above the floor where you needed that giant step ladder to reach them. When I got the young guy to get them for me, he kept asking "Are you sure that you want THEM???" I said "Yep!" carried them to checkout, (man, they are heavy!) and paid $54 dollars with tax.
After getting them home, I opened up the box and unpacked the speakers. To my eyes and hands the fit and finish was really nice, with that beautiful polished front. The speakers are coaxial design with the tweeter mounted in the center of the woofer similar to earlier Tannoy speakers. This is supposed to improve the imaging over a system where the tweeter is separated from the woofer. I replaced the AR's and since it was late in the evening by that time, I only had time to play one album on my Dual 505-1 turntable with Otrofon cartridge.
Even though the speakers have not been broken in yet, they sounded just great to my ears when I played a Chopin piano concerto. Very british, smooth not harsh, but great soundstage. I actually heard the wood on the keys on a high note ripple. The bass was quite good and I don't need a subwoofer. The speakers are designed to be mounted vertically and the base of the cabinet where they were placed is about two inches above the floor. Each speaker stands on four rubber feet about a half inch high that you attach to premarked points on the base. The coaxial design allows the woofer to be mounted higher in the cabinet which helps the speaker when it is mounted near the floor.
These speakers are my birthday gift which is in December, but who's counting! I really feel that they have helped me to complete the upgrade of my living room system, and I am quite happy. I know that they still need to be broken in, but I felt I should let you folks know how I did.
Here are the specs from the included manual, which tells you how to wire them up, but little else about placement, etc.
Type 2 way
Tweeter 4/5" Co-axis
Woofer 6.5"
Impedence 8 Ohm
Max. Power 120W
Sensitivity 90DB
Frequency response 50-20K Hz
Dimensions (HxWxL) 13x8x12" (340x220x310mm)
Weight 12 Lbs (5.6 Kg)
Price at Best Buy (on sale) $49.99 per pair
I'll probably pop back in later on, after I've had a chance to burn them in and play more music. Basically I'm a classical music listener who enjoys piano and guitar, new age, and popular vocals. I am not a rock hound, so playing at extremely high volumes is not my thing. Some people mentioned resonances being heard, but so far I have not, probably because of the way I listen to music.
I hope this short review helps you make a decision. I certainly think they are worth consideration! Good luck,
namahealani
Active Member
If you call their 800# you can get these for $80 a pair (usually $99):
http://www.radiient.com/s.nl;jsessi...6jAmljGr5XDqQLvpAe?sc=2&category=32&it=A&id=5
Or take your $80 to Best Buy and get 2 pair
http://www.radiient.com/s.nl;jsessi...6jAmljGr5XDqQLvpAe?sc=2&category=32&it=A&id=5
Or take your $80 to Best Buy and get 2 pair
My Insignias have just over 50 hours on them. To my ears, they became smoother but with even more bass as they burned-in. For ease of set-up, I put them on stands at in the middle of the room at least 4-5 feet from all walls and they do have lots of bass but with lots of detail. Obstructing the port with a rolled pair of socks does reduce bass but I have yet to hear what other changes the socks make (a man's work is never done) but I have only heard them with a T-Amp and Super T. They image fairly well on stands with no obstruction between them.
All in all, they are far better than the $40/pair I paid for them during an on-line sale. While hard to measure, I would say the level of quality and materials is at least 6-8 times what I paid. My only complaint is the sidewalls of the cabinets could be much more rigid. Others have mentioned mods to beef the cabinets up with resulting sonic benefit.
Enjoy them.
Has anyone reported on the Radiients?
All in all, they are far better than the $40/pair I paid for them during an on-line sale. While hard to measure, I would say the level of quality and materials is at least 6-8 times what I paid. My only complaint is the sidewalls of the cabinets could be much more rigid. Others have mentioned mods to beef the cabinets up with resulting sonic benefit.
Enjoy them.
Has anyone reported on the Radiients?
Brudha
Shania before Mark Twain
johnda said:
I also own other speakers that I have used for over 30 years in other locations of my home. AR4x in the study (Sony STR 6055 Receiver) Dynaco A-25 and KLH 6 in the basement (Pioneer SX-780 Receiver). I once owned the deluxe Advents also, but no longer have them. My love of audio goes back to the late 1950's.
Great, detailed review! So, how do you think they compare overall to the AR4x and A-25's? Do you think there really is any need to be thinking vintage at this $50 price point?
I don't think anything can compare new at $100 or even $150..........
andy
Super Member
I had a pair of these for about a week and I had a chance to do some comparisons. I found that they were very good for the price.
Compared to my Polk monitor 5s they had less bass and sounded a little congested, sort of like the sound was coming through a long pipe. Things that sounded open on the Polks sounded kind of mashed together on the Insignias, but it was only noticeable on certain recordings and only when doing a side by side comparison. Since the Polks are a lot bigger, it's not really afair comparison.
Compared to a similar size speaker (Bose 201-II), they were more or less even. I could be happy with either one for the price and size.
The next weekend I picked up a pair of Boston HD-40's and original Bose 301's for the grand total of $5, so the Insignias had to go back. If not for the new speakers, I would still be using the Insignias.
My final conclusion is that they are good if you need a cheap set of new speakers, but not something I would buy unless I needed them. You can do as well, or better with any one of a large number of used speakers. I also sleep a little better at night knowing I didn't buy another piece of slave labor produced Chinese electronics.
Compared to my Polk monitor 5s they had less bass and sounded a little congested, sort of like the sound was coming through a long pipe. Things that sounded open on the Polks sounded kind of mashed together on the Insignias, but it was only noticeable on certain recordings and only when doing a side by side comparison. Since the Polks are a lot bigger, it's not really afair comparison.
Compared to a similar size speaker (Bose 201-II), they were more or less even. I could be happy with either one for the price and size.
The next weekend I picked up a pair of Boston HD-40's and original Bose 301's for the grand total of $5, so the Insignias had to go back. If not for the new speakers, I would still be using the Insignias.
My final conclusion is that they are good if you need a cheap set of new speakers, but not something I would buy unless I needed them. You can do as well, or better with any one of a large number of used speakers. I also sleep a little better at night knowing I didn't buy another piece of slave labor produced Chinese electronics.
johnda
Addicted Member
Brudha said:
Frankly, I don't have an answer yet. I think the Insignias compare very well with the Ar4x's and Dynaco A-25's, but those guys have been with me well over 30 years. I don't think I'll be around to see how well the Insignias stand up!
I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger lately, but I did get a chance to listen again tonight, and the Insignias are amazingly good. To be fair, I would have to place the ArR4x's and Dynaco A-25's in my living room and use the same amp, and doing this will NOT pass the wife test! My new avitar shows the Insignia speaker in our entertainment cabinet and I am very happy to have found speakers that fit the cabinet spaces and also sound great.
Update: While I was waiting for the fireplace tech (we have a gas fireplace) to set up the unit for this winter, I had the chance to spend a few hours listening to opera and pop vocals with the still burning in Insignias. No fatigue, solid bass, full open sound.
Tonight my wife and I turned on the fireplace and I put on a CD of classical Spanish guitar music. I felt like I was in old San Antone sitting in a hacienda as the fireplace flickered and the music played. I think that was the icing on the cake. These speakers are good, the wine wasn't bad either!