Floor standing Speakers

[luvtolisten]

Hi Folks
A friend of mine is looking for a pair of floor standing speakers (new $400/pr or less) for his son as a Christmas present. Any recommendations?

[filecat13]

For $400 or less, you're probably talking used speakers. I can't think of a single $200 floor standing speaker to recommend to get him in at or under $400 a pair.

What kind of music does the kid like? Hip Hop? Country? Pop? Jazz?

At that low price he'll need to focus on a speaker that plays to the strength of the preferred musical genre(s)

[cackalacky]

With that budget, Parts Express would be a good place to start. Askk them for a recommendation. There are some quality bookshelf speakers in that range (PSB and Audioengine come to mind). For the very best bang for buck, DIY with full range transducers would be the way to go.

[JohnMichael]

The Polk R300 or M20 have a list price of $199 each. The Polk TSi 300 has a dual midrange/woofer for a list of $209 each. I think they would be good entry level towers. Polks can be found discounted so I would consider a pair.

[blackraven]

I would take a serious look at these. They are $100 over his budget though-
WHARFEDALE DIAMOND 10.3 (ROSEWOOD) **DEMO** at Music Direct (http://www.musicdirect.com/p-93086-wharfedale-diamond-103-rosewood-demo.aspx)

or these for $480pr-
WHARFEDALE EVO2-20 TOWER SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct (http://www.musicdirect.com/p-15529-wharfedale-evo2-20-tower-speakers-pr.aspx)

[luvtolisten]

filecat 13- If it was me I would go the used route, but it's a gift and he wants something in a box, new. I think his son likes all kinds of music, but not so much Hip-Hop.

cackalacky- Yes you are absolutely right, there is a lot more selection for good qualtiy bookshelf speakers in that price range.I have looked at those DYI kits from PE. The deal killer has always been the price of the cabinets& shipping.

J.M.- Great suggestion. As it happens Polk isclosing out it's "Monitor" series for the new"TSi"series. The differences are minor I've read, with the "Moniitor" series being the preferred series due to a front firing port vs. a down firing port. Here a sale I found with free shipping!:
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more! (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006531%2050012345%2040000494&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=494%7C82-290-208R%5E82-290-208-TS%2C82-290-206R%5E82-290-206-TS%2C82-290-206%5E82-290-206-TS%2C82-290-207%5E82-290-207-07%23%2C82-290-209%5E82-290-209-TS)

Blackraven- Also some good suggestions. I'm a Wharfedale fan, I own the bookshelf version of the EVO2 20's (EVO 10's) and really like them. I'll pass your link along too. Haven't heard the Diamond 10's but all the reviews I've read have been quite favorable.

[luvtolisten]

One more to add: Thanks again guys for your help!

Newegg.com - Polk Audio Monitor70 Series II Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Cherry) Each (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290209)

[Poultrygeist]

The TriTrex heavily discounted at $259 are the best floor standers you'll find anywhere close to that budget. Transmission line speakers have a huge following. Just read the many favorable reviews on this kit. PE videos show how easily these puppies are assembled and no doubt this could be a fun father/son project. I wish I had a son to share that experience.

TriTrix MTM TL Speaker Components And Cabinet Kit Pair 300-702 (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=300-702)

[Poultrygeist]

Here's some information on transmission lines speakers.

Transmission Line Theory (http://www.quarter-wave.com/TLs/TL_Theory.html)

[Kursun]

You may try Yamaha NS-777 speakers:
NS-777 - Home Speaker Systems - Speakers - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States (http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/speaker-systems/home-speaker-systems/ns-777/?mode=model)
Excellent for their price...

[Poultrygeist]

Kursun,

The Yamahas are $449 each!

[blackraven]

Here are a pair of Boston Acoustics-
Amazon.com: Boston Acoustics Classic II CS260 Floor standing Speakers, Black Walnut: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Acoustics-II-CS260-standing/dp/B005GNWH70/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_5)

I always have like the sound of the CS26 bookshelfs.

These Pioneers are supposed to have a nice sound-
Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-FS51-LR Floorstanding Loudspeakers (Black, Pair): Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS51-LR-Floorstanding-Loudspeakers-Black/dp/B004H1M4NO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_14)

Here are a pair of CW's-

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Cerwin Vega! VE-8 8" Tower Speaker (http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-VE-8-Tower-Speaker/product-reviews/B000EHYHJY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1)