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  1. #1
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    Best cheapo speakers?

    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.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
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    Pioneer 4" Bookshelf Speakers Pair SP-BS22-LR - Best Buy speakers&cp=1&lp=8

    Polk Audio R150 Bookshelf speakers at Crutchfield.com

    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.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
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  3. #3
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    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

    Amazon.com: Dayton Audio B652 6-1/2-Inch 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair: Electronics

    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
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  4. #4
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    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.

  5. #5
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    f

    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

  6. #6
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    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.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  7. #7
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    Harman Kardon HK 3250
    Harman Kardon HK 3250 Receivers reviews - Audioreview.com
    Polk Audio T15
    Polk Audio T15 Bookshelf Speakers reviews - Audioreview.com

    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

    Here is a pic of the actual speaker system I have.
    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?

  8. #8
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    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/resource...K3250%20om.pdf

  9. #9
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    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

    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


    You can find all these cables at partsexpress.com and monoprice.com for dirt cheap
    Last edited by blackraven; 12-16-2013 at 09:19 AM.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  10. #10
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    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.

  11. #11
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jeff1965 View Post
    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.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  12. #12
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    Yes, used the preamp outs to the cable like you suggested. Thanks for the help.

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