Dorm room speaker advice for around $100

[riotact]

Hello all,

This is my first post here. I tried to get a music/home theater system set up in my room so I picked up a kenwood vr-306 receiver that I am happy with so far. For speakers I looked on craigslist and someone was selling a 5.1 divinci set up for $40. I bought them, hooked them up and now I want to cry because they are so awful.

So I know that I was stupid and fell for the white van speaker deal, and I feel a little embarrassed. However what can I do now? I was thinking about replacing the front speakers with something better and keeping the sub and rear speakers for now.

I know the sub is crap but I am trying to do this on the cheap and so far it is working for my room.

My questions are this then: What are some decent front speakers for under $100? Can I keep using the sub I have or will it cause my amp to short?

Thanks!
Nick

[riotact]

Also where should I get speakers?

If I buy them online then I pay a lot for shipping...

Should I get them used on craigslist? The problem with that is I dont know what is worth buying or not.

Someone here recommend these:
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics...duct.html?ak=1

Would I be able to find something like that at an electronics store?

[riotact]

Or what about these?

http://audio-etcetera.com/product_in...ucts_id=104460

[02audionoob]

I would suggest completely getting rid of the white van speakers. You're lucky you paid only $40. The scam is meant to bring higher prices than that. Craigslist with a budget of $100 is fine if you will just stick with reputable brands. Give us a city and I'll look at that city's Craigslist and see what's worth looking at.

Why are you looking at such large speakers for a dorm room? And are you sure you want a 5.1 setup that costs under $100? I'd rather have two speakers that cost $100 than six.

How about these...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...=1138085354138

[poppachubby]

Essentially you want a pair of quality used bookshelf speakers. Paradigm and Polk are a couple of decent names, their bookshelves are usually kicking around used for $50-$75 a pair. Combined with a sub you'll have more than enough sound for your dorm room.

Don't sweat the $40 bucks. There's a thread on here, the guy said he paid upwards of $1000 for those Davinci. So really, you spent $40 to learn that in audio, it's not always what it seems. One thing is for sure, you'll never buy without research now.

Find some decent looking ads and bring them here so we can look...

[markw]

Not knowing where you are, specific answers are hard to provide. For dorm use, I would a pair of large and used speakers and don'y be too critical of what it sounds like. Getting ctitical s difficult in that price range, particularly when dealing in used stuff. Check your local craigslist, garage sales or rummage sales..

[riotact]

I live in Indianapolis.

for my dorm I dont really need high quality and would rather them be loud but still good enough for me to listen to quietly...

whats the story with these?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1467999381.html

carmel is a super rich area, are these good speakers some rich person is trying to get rid of quickly?

[poppachubby]

I live in Indianapolis.

for my dorm I dont really need high quality and would rather them be loud but still good enough for me to listen to quietly...

whats the story with these?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1467999381.html

carmel is a super rich area, are these good speakers some rich person is trying to get rid of quickly?

You seem to have an attraction to White Van speakers. I didn't even look long enough to see a name or price. Keep looking...

[riotact]

haha ok im a noob :/

here are those sdat e-70's
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1464896420.html

are these worth it?

[riotact]

or how would those compare to these polk audio ones?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1469064570.html

[poppachubby]

or how would those compare to these polk audio ones?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1469064570.html

Ahhh, now you're talkin...I would try and make contact with him. Good chance this pair will be it for you! Nice find indeed.

If you go to see them try to get him to have them hooked up when you arrive. Listen to each speaker on it's own first, then listen to them both together. Another trick, you can quickly gauge the tweeter by placing your hand over it during playback, then move your hand away. This will allow you to hear the contribution its making to the sound, and to know what kind of condition its in.

Personally, I doubt you'll do much better for your price point. Wait until this evening if you like, more of the guys will come on here and you can get an extra opinion.

Good luck!!

[riotact]

Yeah those look really nice, but do you think its worth the extra $80 to go from the e-70's to the polk's?

and thank you so much for helping me out with this ...

[markw]

I've never heard or experienced SDAT speakers but Polk has been aroud for many, many years. IIWM, I'd go for the Polks.

[02audionoob]

How about this...

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1473244019.html

or...

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1473213036.html

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1454363844.html

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1441291959.html

and not these...

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1468452181.html

haha ok im a noob :/

here are those sdat e-70's
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1464896420.html

are these worth it?

When they say "digital speakers" on them you can keep moving.

[markw]

How about this...

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1473213036.html

A friend has some Advent towers from the mid 90's and by any standards they sound quite nice.

[poppachubby]

Nice finds noob!! I still think the Polks are a nice set...

[blackraven]

I would consider these speakers

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...9564/polk-r150

http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecom...x?product=C-50

http://www.dealsvista.com/deal/bosto...ay-cable/41979 these cost a little more but are worth it.

http://www.epinions.com/prices/Bosto..._string_~cs26b

The Bostons have a warmer sound and
are probably the best out of the bunch.

[02audionoob]

Nice finds noob!! I still think the Polks are a nice set...

I like the Polk set, too...but I'm wondering how big this dorm room is. My dorm room was 9 feet by 16 feet with two beds, two desks and two closets. I guess dorms have changed.

[riotact]

Alright now I have so many suggestions I feel lost again...

My dorm is about 15'x15' but as I am a freshman in college I would prefer loud decent sounding speakers to really good sounding not as loud speakers.

I'm still liking the polk's the best so far...

how would these three compare?
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...9564/polk-r150
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GCN3PU/...SIN=B001GCN3PU
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1469064570.html

[blackraven]

Go for the Polk floor standers or the BA's and a sub.

This energy sub is a great deal http://www.amazon.com/Energy-ESW-8-S.../ref=de_a_smtd

[02audionoob]

The Craigslist Polk pair by a mile, since you have room for them. Those appear to be the R50, which originally listed for over $600. They'll be cheaper than the Bostons and you won't need a sub.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/recent/r50/

[riotact]

Ok well the Polk guy sold them already.

how about these?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1466350616.html

[02audionoob]

Ok well the Polk guy sold them already.

how about these?

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/ele/1466350616.html

Cerwin-Vega speakers would be great for what you're describing you want. They will play loud and decent. They shouldn't require a sub. In fact, they're known for being bassy.

[markw]

If you wait for our response to your requests, someone else will most likely grab 'em.

Sometimes, ya gotta be bold and take a chance. You should have some good ideas by now from the info you received here.

[Auricauricle]

I'll go with noob, here. Cerwin Vega speaks will do the trick: they're reasonably priced and pump up the juice loud! When (not if) you spill beer on it, you won't lose any sleep. Even better, you can tell the girls your bed has the special "Magic Fingers" option...