Best cheapo speakers? [Archive] - Audio & Video Forums

PDA

View Full Version : Best cheapo speakers?



jeff1965
11-28-2013, 05:23 PM
Would like some recommendations for inexpensive speakers that would best fill this bill.

1. Inexpensive, I mean it guys. Cheap. Below a hundred for a pair. If you read this post on the day I posted it it is Thanksgiving. That means tomorrow is Black Friday and Cyber Monday is coming up. Keep that in mind 'cause there might be some good sales going on that you already know about.

2. A pretty flat response. I want to use them for mixing music. Just as a hobby. No recording studio here.

3. Size doesn't matter. I have enough room to accommodate a speaker with a decent sized woofer.

4. I'll power them with a little amp.

5. They will be close to me. Don't need to fill a big room. My ears won't be more than three feet away at most.

6. The secondary use for them will be to act as my regular computer speakers and will listen to music through them, but the main purpose will be for them to work well for mixing.


Thanks in advance for your help.

JohnMichael
11-28-2013, 05:38 PM
Pioneer 4" Bookshelf Speakers Pair SP-BS22-LR - Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/4-bookshelf-speakers-pair/5086955.p;jsessionid=CF8466A92600CB8EEBB5A48473506 DF0.bbolsp-app03-165?id=1218610014045&skuId=5086955&st=pioneer) speakers&cp=1&lp=8

Polk Audio R150 Bookshelf speakers at Crutchfield.com (http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107R150/Polk-Audio-R150.html)

These are two speakers on or close to your budget. I am not sure what is available in a powered speaker for your budget. Good luck.

blackraven
11-28-2013, 07:27 PM
I second the Pioneers. Here are a few others-

Amazon.com: Infinity Primus P153 Two-Way 5 1/4-Inch Bookshelf/Satellite Speaker (Black, Each): Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Primus-P153-Bookshelf-Satellite/dp/B004649W1Y)

Amazon.com: Dayton Audio B652 6-1/2-Inch 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-B652-Bookshelf-Speaker/dp/B002RMPHMU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_44)

The Dayton speakers above are a bargain especially if you add additonal sound absorbing material to the inside of the cabinets which is easy to do.

BIC America 612" 2Way Bookshelf Speakers Pair DV62SIB - Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/bic-america-6-1-2-2-way-bookshelf-speakers-pair/2770017.p?id=1218350601548&skuId=2770017)

jeff1965
12-15-2013, 12:47 AM
I went with the Polk speakers 'cause they were on sale for $50 a pair on best buy. Wanted the Pioneers, but couldn't pass on the Polk deal. I'll come back later and let you know how they sound. I also got a Harmon Kardon receiver on Ebay to drive them. It was about $60 bucks and the receiver had great reviews on this site. It's older, but seller said it was in very good condition. Should be in soon. Will let you know more about that too.

The receiver will drive 4 speakers. How would I go about hooking up a subwoofer to it? How does adding a subwoofer affect the power going to the two main speakers? I don't really think of "fidelity" when it comes to something like a subwoofer. Could I just run speaker wire from one of the speaker outs to a subwoofer and be good to go? My old computer speakers had a subwoofer I might be able to use.

Mr Peabody
12-15-2013, 07:29 PM
The Harman Kardon should be a great receiver, they are a cut above most having wide bandwidth, totally discrete circuitry and high current output. Guessing, not knowing which computer speakers you have, the sub is most likely not compatible with your receiver. If you did buy one with speaker input connections you could run the sub off the second set of speaker terminals

blackraven
12-15-2013, 08:45 PM
What HK receiver do you have? Check the manual or look it up on line. It should have a sub out, if not you can get a sub with speaker level inputs and connect it directly to the speaker outs of the receiver along with the speakers. Hooking up a powered sub to the receiver will not affect the power. The newer 2ch HK receivers have 2 sub outs and bass management.

jeff1965
12-16-2013, 12:51 AM
Harman Kardon HK 3250
Harman Kardon HK 3250 Receivers reviews - Audioreview.com (http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/receivers/harman-kardon/hk-3250/prd_118895_1593crx.aspx)
Polk Audio T15
Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers reviews - Audioreview.com (http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/bookshelf-speakers/polk-audio/t15/prd_444813_4290crx.aspx)

My old computer speakers were Cyber Acoustics. It had a powered sub and two satellite speakers. Here is a link that is to a cyber acoustic subwoofer that looks similar to what I have. If you will notice, it has one of those little mini-plug audio inputs. (you might have to scroll through the pics to find the picture of the back)
Cyber Acoustics CA-3090 3-Piece Flat Panel Speakers at TigerDirect.com (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=501782)

Here is a pic of the actual speaker system I have.
Cyber Acoustics CA-3550WB Black 2.1 Speaker System (http://www.head-fi.org/products/cyber-acoustics-ca-3550wb-black-2-1-speaker-system)

Could I simply run speaker wire to a mini-jack and plug in the subwoofer?
Would I somehow plug both left and right speaker outs from the receiver into one mini-jack plug? Would that blow anything up?

jeff1965
12-16-2013, 01:00 AM
here is a link to a pdf of the hk manual - it is a pdf - maybe that'll be useful info for helping me figure out if I can use that sub
http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/HK3250%20om.pdf

blackraven
12-16-2013, 08:30 AM
Jeff, the receiver has preamp outputs, you can hook a powered sub to that. It looks like you will need an RCA Y connector to a single ended sub cable so that you can hook both preamp channels to the sub.

Dynex RCA YAdapter DX-AD102 - Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dynex-rca-y-adapter/9390633.p?id=1218097973202&skuId=9390633)

If the input to your sub is a mini jack you will need this instead-an RCA to mini adapter instead or the Y. Take a look at this MSA-1 cable-

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/index.htm

Hosa Cable YRA154 Stereo 1/8 Male to Dual RCA Female Y Cable 6 Inch (http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-HOS-YRA154?src=Y0802G00SRCHCAPN&gclid=COLl9-SYtbsCFahDMgodBUcAjw)


You can find all these cables at partsexpress.com and monoprice.com for dirt cheap

jeff1965
12-17-2013, 12:16 AM
I did as you suggested. It worked. Very happy. Everything sounds great. I think you audiophile guys would be impressed with the sounds I'm getting for under $120.

blackraven
12-17-2013, 09:24 AM
I did as you suggested. It worked. Very happy. Everything sounds great. I think you audiophile guys would be impressed with the sounds I'm getting for under $120.

Glad to hear that it works and sounds good. Do you have both preamp outputs going into 1 cable? If not, then you are getting the bass from only 1 channel.

jeff1965
12-18-2013, 11:45 AM
Yes, used the preamp outs to the cable like you suggested. Thanks for the help.