The Best 50 Dollar A Pair Speakers Ever ??
- Thread starter ka7niq
- Start date
Texas42
Well-Known Member
hmmm, I suspect you are correct. That's why I can't quite get myself to pull the trigger on getting a pair. My BB has them in stock but I wonder really if they will be nice enough to 'dethrone' anything I have? (which I sincerely doubt). And, if they aren't, then why bother? It's like if the supermarket had an incredible sale on $100 worth of bubble gum for $5. It's a great deal alright, but I don't chew bubble gum.
Now, on the other hand, if you have a specific need for them like in a dorm room or in a secondary stereo setup I can get it. I will confess, however, I've bought a lot of other stereo stuff I didn't need but just trying to control my cravings. I hope some find these to really be great and get some good use out of them though...
Now, on the other hand, if you have a specific need for them like in a dorm room or in a secondary stereo setup I can get it. I will confess, however, I've bought a lot of other stereo stuff I didn't need but just trying to control my cravings. I hope some find these to really be great and get some good use out of them though...
Fast_Eddie
Upper-middle fi
Ohhhhh, get these, a T Amp and one of those Toshiba DVD players with the mods. The DVD players are on e bay for nothing. Put the whole thing together for less than $100.
Hooked them up to my old Marantz SR-82 and playing Steely Dan's Royal Scam and I'm slightly impressed. They are on the same level as my A40's so far with a tad better bass extension on these. Burn in should be complete by tonight. Certainly a value for $49. Fit and finish are very good. No buzzing, rattling or distortion here and I have got them up at 11 o'clock on the volume. 
:thmbsp:
:thmbsp:
Pickoid
Tired
I got mine yesterday at lunch and had limited time to listen to them yesterday afternoon. I have them hooked up to a Sansui 8080. They are very impressive for $50. They look great with the grilles off. I'd probably like the look of them better if they had a traditional box shape rather than the semi-parabolic cross-section.
I think they do a great job imaging. My listening to them has been quite near-field at low volumes, and that seems like what they might be good for. I just can't imagine playing these very loud. They are way more revealing than the tired old Polks I have in my office. They make a great addition to my office, though they take up more table space than I hoped.
I played them for some coworkers, and even spun a little vinyl (everyone thinks I'm crazy because I have a turntable in my office anyway) and three people said they were going to go buy a pair. For $50, or even $100, I give them two thumbs up. :thmbsp: :thmbsp:
I think they do a great job imaging. My listening to them has been quite near-field at low volumes, and that seems like what they might be good for. I just can't imagine playing these very loud. They are way more revealing than the tired old Polks I have in my office. They make a great addition to my office, though they take up more table space than I hoped.
I played them for some coworkers, and even spun a little vinyl (everyone thinks I'm crazy because I have a turntable in my office anyway) and three people said they were going to go buy a pair. For $50, or even $100, I give them two thumbs up. :thmbsp: :thmbsp:
pmsummer
simul justus et peccator
Brudha said:
I thought about getting a pair for just that reason. I picked up some Chinese Polk R15s last year at Frys (Outpost) for $40, and a pair of Cambridge SoundWorks Newton M-50s for $50 (also from Frys as the Deal of the Year for me).
The Polks are OK. I use them with my T-Amp as a portable system.
The Cambridge Newtons (also Chinese) are just GREAT little speakers. Incredible construction and sound. I used them as computer speakers/near field monitors. Incredible construction (but then, they list for $250 from Cambridge).
But neither of them are as nice as the Mission 760i speakers I got NOS last year for $75 (including shipping).
Thinking about this, and remembering the Boston A-40s I have as test speakers and the AudioSource LS-1s (same as Minimus 7s) I have, I decided not only did I not need the Insignias, I didn't have any place to HIDE another pair of smallish speakers!
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Texas42
Well-Known Member
Well, I gave into the tidal wave of enthusiasm for this speaker and rode my surf board over to my BB and picked up a pair. Just hooked them up with some Diana Krall and I have to say....Wow, out of the box I am very impressed. Seems to get the female voice pretty well and I'm sure as the speaker settles in probably will sound even better. If I was to see this in a nice Audio Salon and give it a listen and examine the worksmanship...I'd guess it cost at least $500, if not considerably more. I offer the caveat I've only listened to it briefly at this point and haven't tried a lot of demanding stuff on it yet. I wonder if the Radiient Europa version with the supertweeter sounds appreciably better? Anyone yet have both for a comparison? Would be interesting I think. Now, I have to convince my wife that these just happened to follow me home. I'm already thinking about the 'dynamics' of that conversation.... :twak:
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Well day 2 of listening to these Insignia gems has made me a believer. When I compared them to my BA-40's yesterday I spoke too soon. These speaks blow them away. To be honest, I even like these better than my Monitor Audio B2's which cost me $275!!! I will defininately mod the cabinets and possibly the drivers. I'm even considering buying a second pair to stack in a top to top configuration. Thanks to the gent who started this thread!! :thmbsp:
TrexT said:
You just wait, it gets even better!
Get a rap or bass cd, and a powerful amp, and really stretch the surround.
They need break in.
It took my tweeters 3 days of constant loud play to turn on.
Efficiency increases too, but you gotta kinda hammer on em for the miracle to happen.
These are truly amazing speakers, and the mod squad is working overtime as we speak!
On the AV 123 forum, mods are being posted, including a new crossover!
These little bastards will play loud!
Just wait, give me some unclipped juice, and stretch that surround, you will see.
I think I was the first person the Internet to actually own a pair.
I saw a post with a link that someone thought was interesting, and I jumped right on em.
I got Danny from GR research involved, and they are being discussed on Madisound board too!
There is talk of a DIY competition to see who can best modify them!
These are here to stay, and I urge other "Doubting Thomas's" to get in on the fun, IF you can still find a pair locally?
C'mon guys, less then 50 bucks, and you can take em back, no questions asked, if not happy?
Isn't it time you had some fun too ?
Hey, What are you driving yours with? How much power?
I've seen those other sites with the mods. Very excited to see just how better these can get within reasonable cost of course. These drivers do look like the KEF's. I'm expecting a press release shortly saying stop the sale of these things!!
The biggest I got is 80wpc so that will have to do.
I've seen those other sites with the mods. Very excited to see just how better these can get within reasonable cost of course. These drivers do look like the KEF's. I'm expecting a press release shortly saying stop the sale of these things!!
The biggest I got is 80wpc so that will have to do.
Brudha
Shania before Mark Twain
ka7niq said:
What do you mean took 3 days for the tweeters to turn on?
The pair I got sounded like one of the tweeters was working and the other one wasn't. I'm going to return them and get another set. Looks like their Quality Control might be lacking. Either that or, in fact, it takes a while for them to 'turn on'.......
I had one tweeter that was a bit harsh out of the box but by the 3rd hour it was functioning as it should. I don't think it should take more than 10-15 hours to get it where it should be. If after 15 hours of play it still isn't right you should take the pair back. :yes: Good luck.
TrexT said:
Adcom GFA-545II. 100 wpc @ 8 ohms, 150 wpc @ 4 ohms. This speaker's impedance drops into the middle 5 ohm range.
2 days here now, and after fiddling with speaker placement and some break in, they sound better, much better. The highs are smoothing out nicely, and they can take some serious juice, as mentioned above. :thmbsp:
Brudha
Shania before Mark Twain
TrexT said:
Easier just to take them back for me. Just got back with another pair.....
DAMN!!!!! This is what it's all about!! Unbelievable sound coming from simple coaxial design speakers! The first pair were definitely bad (at least one of them). Got a lower box # in the lot series this time. Box 51 of 370. These definitely kick ass all over the Polk R15's!
Probably best bang for the buck going right now. 2 pair left at local Best Buy store - might have to pick them up tomorrow as gifts.
Anybody testing a 2 pair stack please chime in..........